Biopolítica e confissão: Cenas do grupo terapêutico com pacientes obesos

Abstract

This work focuses on a research conducted in a Brazilian community hospital specialized in bariatric surgery (in Fortaleza, state of Ceará) with the aim of analyzing therapy group discussions with obese patients and how the patients are subjected by these discussions. The research used participant observation methodology. The group was composed of both male and female patients in the pre- and post-operative periods. Two obesity control devices were analyzed: biopolitics and confession. Bariatric surgery acts as a biopolitical strategy on the obese population body, and confession works as a technology of the self. Therefore, this work questioned how knowledge-power practices determine an obese body. Additionally, the research analyzed the resistance to medical-scientific discussions regarding body health, beauty and fitness.