Fardels of the heart

obesity and the unbearable heaviness of being

Paul Komesaroff

pp. 139-152

in: Clinical ethics and the necessity of stories, Berlin, Springer, 2011

Abstract

Health problems related to excessive weight or obesity have acquired major importance in modern Western societies. In Australia it is said that nearly two thirds of people are overweight and about one third are obese. A long list of health problems is attributed to or associated with excessive weight and the economic cost is said also to be great.