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The 'obesity crisis' and school physical education

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

The article builds on a number of recent critical reviews to argue that claims that we are experiencing an obesity crisis are almost entirely without foundation. The possibility is explored that this crisis is manufactured through a complex process of the social production of knowledge. The article marshals evidence to challenge the basis upon which crisis claims are made. In the context of this challenge, the relationship of this alleged crisis to school physical education is explored. Despite ambivalence from physical educators over the place of health-related exercise in their programmes, I propose that they may find it increasingly difficult to resist calls for physical education to be held accountable for children's health. This is because the notion of the obese child generates a powerful and increasingly pervasive cultural symbolism of degeneration. I conclude that there is a need for a critical pedagogy in physical education to provide a morally and educationally defensible form of engagement with obesity discourse.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 121-133

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Sport, Education and Society (Volume 11, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/05/2006

Publication status

Published - 01/05/2006

ISSN

1357-3322

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/229079
  • Scopus: 33646374449

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