Attitude and practice of elementary Physical Education teachers toward obesity from the perspective of discourse theory

This research focuses on attitude and practice of elementary Physical Education(PE) teachers in relation to obesity. The question is the messages, symbols, conversations and teacher-centered interpersonal behaviors; how does provide attitude to obesity? The impacts of reinforced discourse likely affect obese student’s desirable feelings about their bodies, intentions of short-term or long-term physical activities, definition of exercise in daily life and habits. The data were collected using observations on PE class and interviews. Analyzes were carried out by description of the concepts used in the discourse theory of Lacla and Moff (۱۹۸۵). Results showed that there are two approaches: creating “fear of obesity” and “health responsibility”. In both approaches, obesity is a priority and special consideration is given to obese students in the classroom. The major difference between these approaches is to create different perspectives to obesity, it means that attitude and practice by the teacher can be accompanied by a sense of personal responsibility with awareness and the other hand, it can be affected by an undesirable and humiliating feeling to obesity

Keywords:

Obesity , health responsibility , fear of obesity , discourse , teacher , student , چاقی , مسئولیت سلامت , ترس از چاقی , گفتمان , معلم , دانش آموز