Dr Samantha Thomas
Head of the Consumer Health Research Group (CHaRGe) at Monash University, Australia
Samantha’s research into the attitudes and expectations around obesity have both excited and saddened her. She speaks extensively in the media about the many complex factors that make up the puzzle of obesity, and how discrimination against fat people is apparently okay by society’s standards. Far from finding a “one size fits all” solution to obesity, Samantha advocates size diversity as a healthy approach to health, and listening to people to find ways to actually support their health, rather than imposing one solution on everyone.
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As one of the fat people constantly frustrated that public health campaigns, government and corporate messages are all ‘about’ me without consulting me, I applaud the work of Samantha in this area. Thanks for this interview: it was great to hear Samantha given space to talk beyond 30 second grabs and respond to some thoughtful questions. Whatever one’s stance on weight and health, fat stigma is clearly not okay and it is obviously not healthy or helpful. We need to keep working against it and it’s always great to see the promotion of some common sense and compassion in this area. Thanks Body Image Revolution for giving some airtime to a positive kind of ‘Fat Talk’.
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Dr Samantha’s understanding of the flawed marketing around obesity is brilliant as well as the confusion and shame that exists, none of which has helped to create a healthier community. We need more academics who ‘get it’ rather than those who are profiting from flawed science. We need scientists with intergrity and who accurately inform policy and industry to get the health shift that is so desperately needed.
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Fabulous presentation! Thanks Samantha for so much to digest..AND great accent too!
kia ora!
I LOVE the embracing the fat .. not as derogatory but in positive REAL LIVING! I laughed at your Fat Friendly terminology.. I think we could create a little fatty sticker .. ( F.F.)indicating a Fat Friendly place which could then be awarded to Drs pratices, shops, public transportation.. or even Fats OK.. FOK Yes!? That would be an OVERT in-your-face response to those who may have used such cruel language as F#@% Off! How THAT would create positive change our society!
Samantha I love that you are ‘regular’ sized & are our advocate in this cause! It means the ‘more slenders’ will more likely listen to you.. whereas they wouldn’t as readily listen to a fatty, cos they’d be dismissed as pushing their own fat-lil-barrow.
Loved the TOGS talk too! I suffer that regularly as I am an avid swimmer.. ( & you guessed it ALL those lengths dont keep me taut & trim! ) I have just recently designed my own : CUDDLY-COZZIE @ for comfort & confidence in the pool!
Thanks too for all the references & resources .. Lots to look up!
Grateful thanks for all you do to lighten our load!
Blessings!
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Another informative talk.
I am a fat girl, and have had many times been discriminated against, it feels awful and many times has left me feeling judge and a huge sense of guilt. I have been working really hard on not accepting this on many levels. speaking out, being fully in my presence and being self assured that while yes i need to more healthy, i also deserve a life and i deserve to be treated with respect. Everyone does.
this series is really empowering me.
thank you!
Ang
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