The Social Politics of Food – Obesity.

Essay Question: what role do food producers play in the rising levels of obesity. Essay Question: what role do food producers play in the rising levels of obesity. All essays must be printed or typed, lines spaced double or space-and-a-half, leaving a 2.5cm (one inch) margin all round, in a font no smaller than the one on this page, and should not exceed 2,000 words or 7 pages of A4. You must reference your essays properly, preferably using the Harvard style ? i.e., Author (year): page number in the text, full reference in bibliography at the end. Your bibliography should contain all items cited in the text. Please remember to check your spelling. Lapses of spelling and grammar will cost you marks. Obesity Recent years has seen a rise in obesity across western societies, so much so that it has been termed an epidemic by the World Health Organisation, with obesity among children a particular concern. Obesity is associated with poor health outcomes, particularly in relation to cancer, heart disease and Type II diabetes. In this session we explore the complex of factors that underlie this growing problem. We also examine critiques of the way obesity is presented in modern culture and the political role of these. Reading * Nestle, M and Jacobson, M F (2000) ?Halting the obesity epidemic: a public health approach, Public Health Report, Jan/Feb, 115 *Lang, T et al (2009) Food Policy, Oxford: OUP Twigg, J (2006) The Body in Health and Social Care, chapter 6 Julier, A. (2008) ?The political economy of obesity: the fat pay all?, in C.Counihan and P.Van Esterik (eds) Food and Culture: A Reader, An alternative view of the role of obesity. National Audit Office (2001) Tackling Obesity in England, Short Loan Collection and general collection Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Paediatrics and Faculty of Public Health (2004) Storing Up Problems: The medical case for a slimmer nation: Report of Working Party Nestle, M (2002) Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health