Making schools and young people responsible

A critical analysis of Ireland's obesity strategy

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12288151
AutoresMichelle Share (0000-0003-3953-7318, Trinity College Dublin, autor de correspondencia), Michael R Strain (University of Staffordshire), Michael Strain
Año2008
Volumen16
Número3
Páginas234-243
Fecha de publicación2008-03-05
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth & Social Care in the Community (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0966-0410 • E-ISSN: 1365-2524
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1365-2524.2008.00763.x
PMID18328056
OpenAlexW1949328619
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas31

Worldwide reports of an obesity 'epidemic' prompted the Irish government to appoint a multidisciplinary Taskforce, whose report was published in May 2005. This paper critically analyses the report and its recommendations for reducing health risks among families, children and young people. Using a Foucauldian perspective, we question the report's individualizing focus and support for a strategy which responsibilises schools, families and young people and relies on individuals to do 'the right thing'. Specifically, we examine the Taskforce recommendations for the education sector, and identify their dependence upon a discourse of governmentality, under categories of individualization, responsibilization and freedom of choice, participation and techniques for management of the self. We conclude that the report fails to address the multi-faceted and complex nature of obesity, and obscures the social, economic and material realities of the lives of pupils and schools

Childhood obesity · Government (linguistics · Governmentality · Irish · Multidisciplinary approach · Obesity · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Child and Adolescent Health · Law · Medicine · Obesity and Health Practices · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet