The illustration from Dr Dave Baldwin's book "Fitness to
Fly for Healthy Bastards" which was included in an Otago
District Health Board report on obesity management. Dr
Baldwin's book offered down-to-earth health advice for
aviators.
An illustration depicting the complications of obesity
was removed from an Otago District Health Board report on
obesity management after board member Judith Medlicott
described it as being on a par with a Nazi caricature of Jews.
The illustration, drawn by Bulls general practitioner and
aviation medicine specialist Dr Dave Baldwin, was from one of
his two books on men's health.
It was reproduced in the Otago Daily Times in August
in conjunction with an interview with Dr Baldwin.
Afterwards. the newspaper received several requests from
people who wished to use the illustration for educative
purposes because they appreciated its light-hearted approach.
Mrs Medlicott, in a letter tabled at the
Otago and Southland community and public health advisory
committee meeting held in Invercargill yesterday, said the
illustration brought fat people into ridicule and contempt.
It implied fat people were ugly, stupid, uncouth and
over-indulged in alcohol and unhealthy food, she said.
It was also in breach of the Human Rights Act because it
discriminated against disability.
Mrs Medlicott, who is not a member of the committee, said she
found it deeply offensive.
One of the authors of the report, Prof Barry Taylor,
apologised to Mrs Medlicott and any others who might have
been offended and agreed to remove the illustration.
He said it had been intended that the illustration would
supplement the text of the report and identify the
complications of being overweight, but he agreed that it
looked "somewhat uncouth".
He knew there were some well-dressed, significantly
overweight people and it did give the wrong impression.
Prof Taylor and fellow project team member Adele Knowles said
they would respond to Mrs Medlicott directly on the issue,
and a further question she raised about the outcomes of
bariatric surgery and mortality rates.
Dr Baldwin could not be reached for comment last night.
- elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
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