healthcare providers need to become more aware of the biases they hold towards individuals living in large bodies.
the 2019 report from canada’s chief public health officer dr. theresa tam focused on
addressing different forms of stigma
. included in the report was one form of stigma — obesity or weight stigma — that has proven remarkably difficult to overcome. we are hoping to change that.
with recommendations and key messages aimed at health professionals, policy-makers and people living with obesity, we hope that this guidance will help to reframe the weight debate. shifting the emphasis from weight to health will help us reduce the prevalence and impact of weight bias and stigma.
the list of conditions that increase the odds covid-19 will make you seriously ill is getting longer.
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our health-disrupting environment
misrepresentations abound that frame obesity as a problem arising from a
lack of willpower, or from laziness or greed
. we use the language of war, viewing obesity as a battle, or something that needs to be fought.
the danger with this language is that it demonizes obesity and by extension, those experiencing obesity-related complications. this, in turn, affects their care. the new guidance seeks instead to humanize people with obesity, and ensure that they receive appropriate support.
the thing is, it’s not just about obesity. it is now well established that a complex web of factors affect every single one of us, regardless of weight status.
we are all exposed to a health-disrupting environment
. this manifests as excess body fatness in some, or as chronic disease markers in others.
recommendations include focusing on positive outcomes such as lower blood pressure, rather than lack of weight loss. photo, pixabay/peter holmes.
none of us is immune to these powerful environmental prompts. just like sisyphus in greek mythology was doomed to keep pushing a rock up a hill, only for it to roll back down again, our health-disrupting environment means that, as individuals, we are constantly pushing a boulder of health hazards up a ramp of social determinants.
the awareness, care, and treatment in obesity management (action) study surveyed attitudes toward obesity treatment from three key demographics: people living with obesity (pwo), healthcare providers (hcps) and employers.
at 36 years old i am a content marketer for a creative agency by day, busy mom of four (aged 16-6) by night. my journey as a person living with obesity began when i became pregnant with my first child.
growing up, i was slim. after i married at 20 and it turned into an abusive situation i retreated into myself and comforted myself with food, instead of taking up jogging (oh, how i wish i had, but it wasn’t a “thing” back then).
at 36 years old i am a content marketer for a creative agency by day, busy mom of four (aged 16-6) by night. my journey as a person living with obesity began when i became pregnant with my first child.
growing up, i was slim. after i married at 20 and it turned into an abusive situation i retreated into myself and comforted myself with food, instead of taking up jogging (oh, how i wish i had, but it wasn’t a “thing” back then).
today’s post comes from rebecca christensen. rebecca is a phd student in the dalla lana school of public health, epidemiology program at the university of toronto. she is also one of the current chapter representative on the oc-snp national executive.
weight bias, weight stigma and weight-based discrimination affect people of all ages and across settings, including in schools, at home, workplaces, healthcare systems and in popular media.
today’s post comes from rebecca christensen. rebecca is a phd student in the dalla lana school of public health, epidemiology program at the university of toronto. she is also one of the current chapter representative on the oc-snp national executive.
weight bias, weight stigma and weight-based discrimination affect people of all ages and across settings, including in schools, at home, workplaces, healthcare systems and in popular media.
today’s post comes from audrey st-laurent. audrey is a phd student in the department of kinesiology at laval university of quebec city. she is also the communications director of the oc-snp national executive.
i have been working in the field of obesity research, education and advocacy for over a decade. in that time, i have seen the field of obesity change significantly.
today’s post comes from audrey st-laurent. audrey is a phd student in the department of kinesiology at laval university of quebec city. she is also the communications director of the oc-snp national executive.
i have been working in the field of obesity research, education and advocacy for over a decade. in that time, i have seen the field of obesity change significantly.
our #bustthebias series is a collection of educational videos aimed to provide research and evidence-based information that clears the air on misconceptions about obesity.
canadians living with obesity face widespread weight bias and weight-based discrimination from strangers, educators, employers, health professionals, media and even friends and family.
rather than focusing on a person’s weight status, we should turn our attention to supporting every individual to achieve their best health.
health-care providers, and others, need to:
become more aware of the biases they hold towards individuals living in large bodies, and ensure that individuals are not defined by their weight status but as a whole person with physical, emotional and spiritual needs. use person-first language when communicating, as this avoids labelling people by their disease. for example, use “people with obesity” rather than “obese people.”
recognize that obesity is a complex chronic disease, that people experience challenges with their weight for many different reasons, and that a one-size-fits-all approach to addressing chronic diseases like obesity is not only unhelpful, it is also harmful.
counter the social narrative that consistently conflates health and weight. weight is not a behaviour and should not be a target for behaviour change interventions.
focus on positive changes in health status (such as lower blood pressure or improved mood), or health behaviours that can be modified (e.g., increased vegetable intake) instead of the negative (such as no weight loss).
learn to appreciate improvements in health regardless of weight status. obesity management should not be about how much weight a person can lose or how fast a person can lose weight, but about improving health and well-being.
tackling stigma in the media, educating health care providers and lobbying policymakers are just a few of the challenges that this national advocacy organization is taking on.
eight extraordinary canadians bravely shared pieces of their life with obesity in the form of letters to their younger selves, and despite stigma, discrimination and hurtful stereotypes, these are stories of hope, resilience and recovery.
eight extraordinary canadians bravely shared pieces of their life with obesity in the form of letters to their younger selves, and despite stigma, discrimination and hurtful stereotypes, these are stories of hope, resilience and recovery.
if you think about food all the time, behave in embarrassing ways around food and don’t want people to see how you eat, you may be a food addict, says dr. tarman.
dietitian and weight loss coach tedi nikova uses a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance therapy and commitment therapy to help clients overcome unhealthy relationships with food.
if you think about food all the time, behave in embarrassing ways around food and don’t want people to see how you eat, you may be a food addict, says dr. tarman.
dietitian and weight loss coach tedi nikova uses a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance therapy and commitment therapy to help clients overcome unhealthy relationships with food.
dr. sean wharton is working towards changing how we understand obesity, from how doctors treat patients to society's perspectives: "african-american women carry their weight on their hips and thighs. yet, they’re demonized when they should just be called beautiful."
dr. sean wharton is working towards changing how we understand obesity, from how doctors treat patients to society's perspectives: "african-american women carry their weight on their hips and thighs. yet, they’re demonized when they should just be called beautiful."
in just a few short years, obesity matters has united individuals, families, communities, and organizations to create awareness around obesity as a chronic condition, but there's more work to be done.
aashni shah has a message for others who are living with obesity: "stop looking at the number on the scale, find the things that inspire you, and start focusing on what you want your life to look like."
in just a few short years, obesity matters has united individuals, families, communities, and organizations to create awareness around obesity as a chronic condition, but there's more work to be done.
aashni shah has a message for others who are living with obesity: "stop looking at the number on the scale, find the things that inspire you, and start focusing on what you want your life to look like."
dr. tam notes in her 2019 report that “stigma affects us all. we are all vulnerable to the slow and insidious practice of dehumanizing others and we are all responsible for recognizing and stopping it.” we hope that, by including explicit guidance on reducing weight bias and stigma in the canadian context, we can help make obesity stigma a thing of the past.
the authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of dr. ximena ramos salas, director of research and policy for obesity canada, to this article
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