You’ve heard of American studies, African studies, and women’s studies. How about fat studies?
Universities across the country have taken up the idea of adding courses in obesity studies – something Timothy Law Snyder, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said is a possibility at Fairfield.
“I think it would fit nicely as an interdisciplinary offering, perhaps as a cluster or honors course, given that many disciplines may shed light on this issue,” Snyder said. “Many of our courses emanate from faculty expertise or interest. A first step would be for interested students to find such a faculty member, or for a faculty to purpose the course.”
Fairfield senior Alissa Roman said she thinks an obesity course would be extremely beneficial to students.
“I believe that a fat studies class would give people an insight into what it is like to be obese in this country and to hopefully change people’s views on obese people,” said Roman, a sociology major who works as an intern at the Rudd Center for Food Policy at Yale. “The class would raise awareness of a global epidemic and how dangerous it is.”
A course studying obesity is already being offered at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and administrators at Pennsylvania State University have begun discussions about adding a similar course, according to The Daily Collegian, Penn State’s student newspaper. The professor for the course could not be reached for comment.
Roman, who hopes to hold a doctorate in this field of study said:
“I believe that students would be more understanding and not as quick to judge students who are obese, [as well as having] a better understanding of what these individuals go through. The obesity
epidemic is affecting everyone. Children are facing health problems that they should not face [until] they are adults like type II diabetes and high blood pressure, because they are obese.”
Steve Parker ’10 agreed. “I think the class would be a good addition to Fairfield because it provides a different perspective,” he said.
Freshman Carline Scherbarth disagreed.
“Although the subject may be informative I don’t know what use it would be to students unless they were planning on going into a health profession,” she said.
Snyder said the course could be offered as part of the curriculum in multiple schools. “I can imagine the faculty of Nursing and Business and other schools having interest,” he said.
Snyder said that in order for a proposed course to make its way into the curriculum, a faculty member must discuss the course with a curriculum committee. The committee may either approve the course or turn the idea down. However, if the idea is turned down, it is possible that can be appealed to the Dean.
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