MA(ResMthds)Contemp Human Geog

Fatness and the Urban Environment: A study of fat experiences through the lenses of racism, Class and Health

The main objective of this proposed research is to advance critical geographical understandings of fatphobia within the UK, exploring the intersections of fatphobia, racism and classism. Fatphobia refers to a pathological fear of fatness often manifested as negative attitudes towards fat people. My research will build on geographical work on 'obesogenic environments' and fatness, which draw attention to the ways in which social, political and economic factors shape people's consumptive practices.

My research will explore the themes of racism and poverty in the UK, to assess the impact of environment on health through considering fatphobia, classism and racism. This project will expand understandings of ethnic minority populations in the UK, who are critically under researched. This project will address a gap in knowledge as previous work on obesogenic environments which has predominantly been quantitative, with a limited focus on lived experience within obesogenic environments and intersections with forms of discrimination.