Obesity Thunder Bay wants more discussion on obesity issues

Obesity Thunder Bay wants more discussion on obesity issues

Stacey Goyan

News Editor

Paul Murphy’s approach to obesity issues is unconventional. He can be seen walking around campus, with his trademark “Obesity Thunder Bay” t-shirt, trying to engage the Lakehead community in the obesity discussion. If someone has an ear, Murphy sees his cue. “Basically it’s just hand-to-hand combat,” says Murphy.

Obesity Thunder Bay is Paul Murphy’s project that aims to increase involvement in the obesity discussion. Murphy, who is a self-described binge eater, understands the plights of people dealing with weight issues. The local man feels that by engaging more people in the obesity discussion, the more change he can effect.

“I think the very discussion is the action,” argues Murphy, who emphasizes shared accountability in the debate. Murphy feels that placing the individual at the center of his or her own health is essential to the obesity issue.

At the same time, Murphy advocates for the decentralization of blame from obese individuals. He believes that industry has created an environment that enables unhealthy eating behaviours, thus shares in the blame for obesity.

One of Murphy’s larger concerns is the stigma and discrimination felt by obese people. “Currently, 90% of people believe that obesity is about being stupid, lazy and unmotivated” he estimates. “We have been told to try harder,” said Murphy, who feels that an activity only solution only cements the problem.

Obesity Thunder Bay is still in its infant stages. The group has been trying to establish a mission statement and a structure while it operates on a grassroots level. Murphy could not specify exactly how many people are directly involved in the operation of Obesity Thunder Bay, but predicts that the group will be involved in a large scale Obesity conference and continue it’s work on enabling the discussion. Murphy singles out Lakehead University as one of his most receptive audiences. “This group of students seem to be very in-tuned with this social change,” claims Murphy. Murphy has spoken to classes and hopes that his form of consciousness-raising will help those dealing with an unsympathetic world.

Murphy says that he has attracted attention from an international crowd through online social tools. The group has attracted 83 members through its Facebook site and operates on social networking websites like Twitter, YouTube, and Ning.

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