Why donât they just pull themselves together and eat less? Public perceptions of animal use in obesity research

T.B. Lund; J. Lassen; P. SandÃ¸e

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Why donât they just pull themselves together and eat less? Public perceptions of animal use in obesity research

In: Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

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T.B. Lund

T.B. Lund tblu@life.ku.dk

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J. Lassen

J. Lassen
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P. SandÃ¸e

P. SandÃ¸e
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 395â399

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867103_064

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Opinion polls and previous research have demonstrated that, in Europe, public acceptance of laboratory animal use is depends heavily on the purpose for which the animals are being used. For instance, the use of animals in cancer research is widely endorsed, whereas their use in the testing of cosmetics is generally rejected, partly on the basis of the view that people should stop using cosmetics. A similar argument may form the basis of critical attitudes to the use of animals in research into obesity and other so-called lifestyle-related diseases. Previous qualitative research indeed suggests that animal research into obesity may be rejected by some because they believe that overweight people could just pull themselves together and eat less. Drawing on survey data from two representative Danish samples collected in 2010, this paper investigates the acceptability of animal experimentation relating to obesity. We also ask whether findings from qualitative research, where people stress personal responsibility as a reason for rejecting obesity research, can be replicated in a quantitative study. Further perceptions and ethical values lying behind an attitude of rejection are also examined. Our results show that obesity-related animal research occupies an intermediate position in public acceptability. It is clearly less acceptable than using laboratory animals in cancer and cardiovascular research but considerably more acceptable than cosmetics testing. Data also show that rejecters do not tend to have discriminatory views or less knowledge of the severe consequences of obesity. Their negative stance is based primarily on the view that obesity is self-inflicted and that people therefore must bear the consequences of their overeating.

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Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

E-Book ISBN:: 9789086867103

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 30 Oct 2010

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- Life Sciences

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Why donât they just pull themselves together and eat less? Public perceptions of animal use in obesity research

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Global food security: ethical and legal challenges

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Why donât they just pull themselves together and eat less? Public perceptions of animal use in obesity research