Embracing Conversations on Weight Stigma:

A Call to Action

#ENDWEIGHTSTIGMA #ALLBODIESROCK #WeightStigmaAwarenessWeek #WSAW #WSAW24

September 23-27th, 2024 is Weight Stigma Awareness Week – sponsored by Within Health and the Body Equity Alliance.

As an eating disorder therapist dedicated to promoting Health At Every Size® (HAES) and fostering a diet-free mindset, I want to take a moment during Weight Stigma Awareness Week to shed light on a pervasive issue that affects us all: weight stigma. I might also use the word fatphobia and talk about anti-diet culture and weight bias – these are all related. This week provides a unique opportunity to open up conversations about weight bias and its profound impact on mental and physical health.

Understanding Weight Stigma

Weight stigma refers to the discrimination and negative attitudes directed at individuals based on their body weight. It manifests in various ways—from subtle social cues to overt bullying—creating an environment where people feel judged or marginalized for their size. From a mental health perspective, this stigma not only contributes to the development of eating disorders but also exacerbates anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

It also contributes to healthcare discrimination – doctors are guilty of bias, too! I have seen fatphobia over and over again – sometimes even in eating disorder treatment. Not only in healthcare, of course, but healthcare providers play a huge role in legitimizing fatphobia and contributing to the ever present food noise.

We all have some degree of internalized weight bias – how could we not? Our culture is extremely diet focused and there are all sorts of historical, discriminatory reasons. This is one of the biggest reasons we need to talk about it – people have no idea that BMI is a scientific joke or how connected fat phobia is to racism (Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings is a great resource to learn more about this)! My absolute favorite resource to start conversations about this is Poodle Science.

The Anti-Diet Movement and HAES

In my practice, I advocate for an anti-diet approach and the HAES philosophy, which emphasizes that health can exist at any size and that well-being encompasses physical, emotional, and social factors. This movement encourages individuals to reject the societal pressure to conform to narrow beauty standards and to embrace their bodies as they are.

This is not an easy thing to do and there is so much pressure to conform – even though we all know that diets are not effective (95% of the time). Weight stigma is so common that we do not even second guess it. As many as 60% of people with BMI classified obesity fall into the category of having “metabolically healthy obesity” (MHO) which is when a person’s only health issue is obesity – but their cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, eating and exercise habits are all “healthy” by the conventional standards. If a person falls into the MHO category, do you think that anyone asks them if they are healthy? Or do you think people assume poor health when someone is obese? And what impact does that have?

The Importance of Open Dialogue

One of the biggest barriers to addressing weight stigma is fear—fear of judgment, fear of backlash, and fear of being dismissed. This week, I urge everyone to confront these fears and engage in open discussions about weight stigma. Sharing personal experiences and insights can foster understanding and compassion, helping to dismantle the harmful narratives surrounding body size.

Strategies for Change

Educate Yourself and Others: Understanding the impact of weight stigma can empower you to challenge it. Share resources, articles, and personal stories that highlight the harm of weight discrimination.
Speak Up: If you witness weight bias, whether in casual conversation or in more formal settings, don’t hesitate to speak out. A simple “that’s not okay” can shift the conversation. The same conversations we need to be having about other aspects of mental health, wellness, and sensitive topics like suicidal ideation apply here also.
Practice Body Positivity: Embrace and celebrate diversity in body shapes and sizes. Share affirmations, positive images, and stories that uplift all bodies.
Support HAES: Encourage healthcare professionals to adopt a HAES approach, which prioritizes holistic well-being over weight. Advocate for treatment options that focus on health-promoting behaviors rather than weight loss.
Create Safe Spaces: Whether it’s in a therapy session, a community group, or on social media, foster environments where individuals feel safe to share their experiences without fear of judgment. I love communities like @PlusRaleigh and the safe spaces they are trying to create.

A Personal Reflection

As someone who has witnessed the devastating effects of weight stigma on clients’ lives – as well as my own – I understand the importance of creating a culture of acceptance and respect. Each conversation we have about weight stigma is a step toward healing—for individuals and society as a whole. They are difficult conversations, because weight bias is so deeply rooted in our collective culture – but that is why they are so important.

Let’s come together during Weight Stigma Awareness Week to lift the veil on these difficult conversations. By sharing our stories and supporting one another, we can dismantle the stigma that affects so many. Together, we can advocate for a world where all bodies are valued, respected, and celebrated—because everyone deserves to feel at home in their own skin.

Weight stigma is not just a personal issue; it’s a societal challenge that requires collective action. Let’s use this week to spark conversations, educate ourselves and others, and push for a future where kindness and acceptance transcend size. Together, we can create a culture that embraces all bodies and promotes health in every shape and form.

Thank you for joining me in this vital conversation. Let’s continue to break the silence and support one another on our journeys toward body positivity and acceptance.

One of the things I really appreciated about the Body Equity Alliance and Weight Stigma Awareness Week website is their great resource page – there are a ton of great books for all ages and web resources, podcasts, etc. that I thought was a really great list.