| Title | Storytelling for Raising Awareness About Obesity and Encouraging Healthy Lifestyle |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | The Case of Travel Writing in Slovenia |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.6.2026.8 |
| Landing page | https://press.um.si/index.php/ump/en/catalog/book/1110/chapter/1140 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Copyright | University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press |
| Publisher | University of Maribor Press |
| Published on | 2026-05-19 |
| Long abstract | Using storytelling as a tool in preventing and addressing obesity can be an effective and engaging approach. Its power lies in conveying information, creating emotional connections, and fostering behaviour change. Storytelling can be employed across various strategies, including educational and personal narratives that are tailored, culturally sensitive, and focused on promoting positive actions like healthier nutrition and increased physical activity, particularly accessible forms such as walking. Stories should inspire and empower individuals towards healthier practices. Sharing personal makes messages relatable and motivating. Furthermore, storytelling can mobilize communities to advocate for policy changes and support initiatives promoting access to healthy food, healthcare, and environments conducive to active living, like safe parks and walking trails. Personal narratives spark conversations, challenge stigma, and motivate collective action against obesity's root causes. Critically, storytelling extends beyond personal accounts. Incorporating literary stories that depict active lifestyles or journeys (pilgrimages, explorations, transformative walks) can provide powerful metaphors and inspiration. Leveraging literary tourism – visiting locations associated with beloved stories or authors – offers unique opportunities. Imagine interactive digital or real-world trails combining walking routes with narrative content about health, local food culture, or excerpts from relevant literature, making physical activity an engaging, story-driven experience. Consequently, storytelling fosters understanding, empathy, and action, paving the way for a healthier future. |
| Print length | 18 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Dr. Jasna Potočnik Topler is a full professor and English language lector at the University of Maribor. Her field of research spans across multiple disciplines, encompassing tourism, cultural tourism and its subtypes, tourism communication, and education. She is the author of several monographs, scientific articles, conference lectures, and an editorial board member of many journals, in addition to delivering guest lectures at foreign universities (such as Plymouth, Udine, Perugia, and Zagreb). She has been engaged in several international projects (as coordinator or partner), projects with the local community and students.Brežice, Slovenia. E-mail: jasna.potocnik1@um.si
Dr. Charles Mansfield taught tourism management on post-graduate and undergraduate degrees, and literature and culture within the Faculty of Business at Plymouth University. His research focuses on city branding and cultural heritage tourism. He has published on literary tourism and in 2018 was awarded an ERASMUS+ Mobility to develop Plymouth's research and teaching with its French Riviera counterpart in Cannes. His doctoral researchers use literary travel writing as part of their methodology for their PhDs, and Mansfield has recently published more on this innovation in the practice-led thesis and on narrative inquiry in tourism development projects. In summer 2024, he was awarded a British Council writer's commission under the UNESCO Cities of Literature initative.Totnes, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. E-mail: cmeserveorg@gmail.com