New Book: The Obesity Culture: Strategies for Change Public health and university-community partnerships

Posted by on January 26, 2009

We hope you will be interested in a new book by Francis Johnston, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania and Ira Harkavy, Director of Penn¹s Netter Center for Community Partnerships and PHENND Co-Chair, The Obesity Culture: Strategies for Change Public health and university-community partnerships.

As many of you know, work on community health and nutrition has been a major part of the Netter Center¹s university-assisted community schools efforts since the early 1990s.  Frank Johnston has been the key faculty member working on these programs.

The following is the publication announcement on the book from the publisher:

The obesity culture: strategies for change Public health and university-community partnerships (publication date 31 March 2009)

Rampant in the consumer economy, and coexisting alongside poverty in developing countries, obesity is a global burden. It is also a public health problem that affects advantaged and disadvantaged communities with maximum penalties for the poor.  ­The roots are found within an obesogenic culture and they grow from preconception and through into childhood. The personal and social price is economic, psychological and physical such that obesity becomes an indicator of a culture gone wrong.

Francis E Johnston, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, and Ira Harkavy, Director of the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, combine to suggest strategies for change based on community schools and university partnerships. They draw on experience at Sayre School and the Agatston Nutrition Institute which have witnessed student, faculty, and community partnership at work.

Johnston and Harkavy propose that university-community partnerships are uniquely poised to break down the culture of obesity.  Such partnerships benefit all: community, schools, university. There are research
opportunities. There is student learning and motivation. Better community health. The obesity culture is both principled and practical as evidenced in the table of contents: 1) Introduction 2) Obesity in the 21st century 3) The burden of obesity 4) Obesity as ill-defined problem 5) Patterns and paradoxes of the obesity culture 6) The power of partnerships: universities schools and communities 7) The Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative 8) The Sayre High School-Penn University assisted community school initiative 9) On societies, mirrors and obesity.

To reserve copies of The obesity culture: strategies for change Public health and university-community partnerships call toll free 888-216-7611 or visit http://www.enfielddistribution.net/theobesityculturestrategiesforchange.aspx

To enjoy the prepublication price of $24.50 (vs publication price $37.50) quote PPPM