Obesity image labelled offensive

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 [2]