Obesity, Stigma, and Responsibility: Should the Concept of Agency be Abandoned?

Duckworth, JJ (2024) Obesity, Stigma, and Responsibility: Should the Concept of Agency be Abandoned? Journal of Controversial Ideas, 4 (2). ISSN 2694-5991

Preview

Text Obesity, Stigma, and Responsibility Should the Concept of Agency be Abandoned.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (187kB) | Preview

Abstract

Appeals to individual agency and responsibility are increasingly viewed as antithetical to the goals of reducing stigma towards overweight and obesity and are sometimes even framed as anathema to civil discussion in academia. The current paper argues that this is a naïve view of agency and responsibility and, contrary to helping prevent or reduce stigma, removing these concepts from our conversations around obesity may instead worsen outcomes for those most at risk. This paper provides background for what follows and an introduction to the topic, before detailing and responding to the most common arguments for the futility of agency: from subconscious processes; from biological determinism; from free will; from obesity as a disease; and from framing and stigma. It then considers the impact on research of this proposed framing / perspective. The final section considers three key shifts in conceptualisation which I believe are necessary to highlight the importance of agency in weight management, whilst also providing the best care possible to patients and society at large. The proposed conceptual shifts are: agency is necessary but often not sufficient as it is constrained; diseases are not created equal; and there are multiple pathways to obesity. Acknowledging these fundamental realities can help us avoid the schism currently developing in researchers’ and clinicians’ conceptions of overweight and obesity.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	42 Health Sciences; 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour; Nutrition; Prevention; Obesity; 3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviours or promote wellbeing; Metabolic and endocrine; Cardiovascular; Oral and gastrointestinal; Stroke
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Foundation for Freedom of Thought and Discussion
Date of acceptance:	6 August 2024
Date of first compliant Open Access:	5 June 2025
Date Deposited:	05 Jun 2025 12:01
Last Modified:	05 Jun 2025 12:15
DOI or ID number:	10.35995/jci04020011
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26528

View Item