Abstract

Media headlines blare “Obesity Epidemic Becomes Worldwide Phenomenon” (Millner, 2014), reflecting and fueling societal concerns about a supposed global “obesity” epidemic (World Health Organization [WHO], 1998). Pop culture has profited enormously from this obesity panic by emphasizing appearance-standards and weight loss in lifestyle magazines, television shows, reality television programs, and television documentaries. Even respected health professionals have joined the obesity panic discourse, likening it to terrorism – “Unless we do something about it, the magnitude of the dilemma will dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist attempt” (Associated Press, 2010, para. 2).