Gender Studies Professor criticizes anti-obesity efforts as ‘fatphobic’.

A Dangerous New Front in the Culture War on “Fatphobia”

A Canadian gender studies professor claims‍ that new drugs deployed in the⁤ fight against obesity are a “dangerous” new front in the culture war on “fatphobia.”

Fady Shanouda is an associate professor at the Feminist Institute⁢ of Social Transformation at Carleton University ⁢who ‌specializes in “fat studies” and ​”fatphobia.” On Monday, the ⁣fat professor wrote about the new hype around Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes medication ‍being‌ prescribed ‌off-label to induce​ weight loss, perpetuating the “harmful idea of ‌a ​future without fat.”

“It is steeped in fat-hatred that ⁢could further damage ​our‍ relationships to ‍our bodies and food,” Shanouda explained. “The language used around Ozempic is​ about ending ⁤the so-called ‘obesity epidemic.’ The very description is laced with the idea of eradicating ‌fat people.”

Shanouda went⁣ on to note ⁣that⁣ Ozempic fails to “cure obesity.”

“Certain users of the drug have lost significant weight, but they will ‌need to‌ take this ⁤costly ‌medication in perpetuity,” the professor wrote.

In May, The Wall Street Journal titled their coverage of the new medication with the⁤ headline “Obesity Could Be Pharma’s Biggest Blockbuster Yet.”

“Patient testimonies have focused not only on the dramatic effect on their waistlines, but also on how quickly many seem to pack the pounds back on if they stop taking the injections,” the Journal reported. “That may not be ideal for patients,⁢ but for Wall Street it is a feature rather‌ than a bug.”

According to ‍Shanouda, however, the⁢ primary problem with Ozempic extends‌ to the drug’s use to eliminate obesity in the ⁤first place.

“In a world marked by scientific uncertainty, the promise of ‘a cure’ ‌as a ‌magic elixir is the ultimate expression of science vanquishing the bad enemy,” Shanouda wrote.⁤ “Drugs such as Ozempic can be understood as a form of ‘pre-emptive obesity ‍biopolitics,’ a term used by⁣ United Kingdom geographer, Bethan Evans, to describe policy interventions that seek ⁤in the present to prevent fat futures.”

The blog post follows New ⁢York City Mayor Eric Adams declaring obesity a protected class in⁢ May.

The Public Health Crisis ‍of⁤ Our Time

Obesity, meanwhile, a symptom of a toxic ‌diet, remains the public health crisis of our ⁣time. People who are obese are at higher risk‌ of high blood pressure,⁣ diabetes, heart ‌disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and many types⁣ of cancer, just ​to name a few.

According to the Centers ​for⁤ Disease Control ⁤(CDC), 1 in 3 American adults 18 and older were considered ⁤categorically obese in ⁢2021. The CDC reported that nearly 1 in 5 children aged 2-19 ​were already obese between 2017 and 2020. Harvard researchers estimated before the coronavirus lockdowns ​that roughly ‍half the American population will become obese ‍by the end of the⁤ decade.

A study ​from the University of Colorado Boulder published in February found that ​people ​who are obese are‍ up to 91 percent more likely to face an early death. Obesity, in​ the meantime, lowers quality of life, jeopardizes fertility, and hampers military readiness. Every consequence of obesity, from the explosion of chronic disease to the⁣ risks to national ⁣security, is exacerbated by a cultural erasure of “fatphobia.”

Tristan Justice ​is the western correspondent for The Federalist and the author of Social Justice Redux, a conservative newsletter on culture, health, and wellness. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and ⁤The Daily Signal. His work has ‍also been featured in Real ⁣Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from ‍George Washington University where​ he majored ​in political science ⁢and minored in journalism. Follow him⁢ on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at [email protected]. Sign‌ up for Tristan’s email newsletter here.