Toward a Fat Pedagogy: A Study of Pedagogical Approaches Aimed at Challenging Obesity Discourse in Post-Secondary Education

Abstract

Over the last 15 years, a growing body of literature has found that dominant obesity discourse has led to significant increases in weight bias within social institutions, such as universities. Some critical fat scholars have articulated the need for more research on effective pedagogical strategies to address weight-based oppression in the post-secondary classroom. Interviews with 26 academics who challenge “obesity” discourse in university classrooms, identify four main themes, namely: framing, layering, connecting, and teaching. Building on insights from critical and feminist pedagogy, this paper offers insights into an emerging fat pedagogy.

KEYWORDS:

• pedagogy
• instructional strategies
• fat studies
• obesity discourse
• higher education

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to first express sincere gratitude to the 26 individuals who participated in this study and shared their stories, experiences, and course materials with me. Without their help this study would not have been made possible. I would also like to thank my four doctoral committee members Dr. Teresa Socha (supervisor), Dr. Connie Russell, Dr. Gerald Walton, and Dr. Joe Barrett, for help and inspiration in thinking critically about a developing fat pedagogy.

Notes

1. Within this larger field of critical fat scholarship there are a number of subfields, such as critical obesity research, critical weight studies, critical geographies of body size, and fat studies. These subfields represent different perspectives, paradigms, and ideologies. This study included participants from all of these various subfields.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Erin Cameron

Erin Cameron, (Ph.D. Lakehead University), is in the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation at Memorial University. She is currently co-editing the Fat Pedagogy Reader (Peter Lang, 2015) and has published in the areas of critical pedagogy, physical education, critical public health, health education, and sport development.