Letter: Don't Stigmatize Obesity

Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History photo

We are delighted with Alan Bisbort's cover story ["Food Follies," Feb. 23] about our new exhibition at the Peabody Museum, Big Food: Health, Culture and the Evolution of Eating. He reports that it is "a brilliantly conceived exhibition" and that it is "such a timely, intelligent and entertaining exhibit – for all ages – that it should be mounted… in every town… and out of civic duty, every American should see it."

Among the important messages in the exhibit is that overweight and obesity should not be stigmatizing. Therefore, we were disappointed with the choice of a cover photo that does not reflect the spirit of the exhibition. We hope that many in the region will join us at The Peabody Museum for "Big Food" (through December 2) – and walk away with the messages that food connects us all, that individual choice as well as the food environment are critical drivers of the human condition, and that working together we can nurture health in our homes and in our community. We want "Big Food" to be a catalyst for change. Big Ideas, Big Food.

-Curatorial Team

Jeannette Ickovics, Curator "Big Food", Director CARE and Professor, Yale School of Public Health

Richard Bribiescas, Chair, Department of Anthropology, Yale University

Jacqueline Bruleigh, Yale School of Public Health

Megan Orciari, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Marlene Schwartz, Deputy Director, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

Derek Briggs, Director, Peabody Museum

Jane Pickering, Deputy Director, Peabody Museum

 

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