Margret Westwater-Hobbs

Citation

Thesis Title
(D)-graded female bodies and the emergence of weight-loss surgery: A discourse analysis of narratives relating a precarious moment in the medicalisation of women's weight

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Within the last century, as large bodies came to be regarded as unattractive and deviant, the project of appearance has become entangled in projects of health.  Alternative understandings of large body size and the possibilities for large-body health have been effectively silenced.  Ms Westwater-Hobbs explored the conspicuous creep of cultural prescription, morality and trade - including Direct-to-Consumer advertising - driving the proliferation of surgery for weight loss within New Zealand.  This thesis explored some unexpected, unpredictable, and adverse outcomes experienced by weight-loss surgery patients particularly when surgeons had minimal experience, training and oversight.  It is suggested that greater attention to informing consent might stem the tide of surgery uptake and improve the provision of care for weight-loss patients.

Supervisors
Professor Jenny Carryer
Professor Mandy Morgan
Dr Suzanne Phibbs