It’s Weight Stigma Awareness Week, and in honor of that, I’ve put together a round-up of articles and blog posts I’ve written (and one podcast I’ve appeared on) about this important topic. If you’ve been reading me for a while, you probably know what weight stigma is, but just in case, it’s also known as weight bias or weight discrimination. In other words, discrimination or stereotyping based on a person’s size. Weight stigma also manifests as fat phobia, the dislike or fear of being or becoming fat.
Weight stigma happens, well, everywhere. In healthcare. Among family and friends. In education and employment. On social media. In housing and transportation. In the fitness industry. That’s to name a few. If you’re on social media, you can follow #WSAW2019 and #ComeAsYouAre. And if you’re a registered dietitian (or other healthcare provider) who wants to learn more about weight stigma, a link to a hour long webinar I gave for Today’s Dietitian earlier this year is available below (and here). Now, here’s your reading list:
Weight stigma
- “The health impact of weight stigma” (Today’s Dietitian)
- “Weight bias in dietetics education” (Today’s Dietitian)
- “It’s time for wellness for all, regardless of weight” (The Seattle Times)
- “On wellness, weight and whitewashing” (Nutrition By Carrie blog)
- “World Obesity Day won’t reduce weight stigma, but these 6 facts might” (The Seattle Times)
- “What it means when we talk about obesity, why it matters, and what we can do about it” (The Washington Post)
- “The many reason a British writer was wrong to disparage Nike’s plus-size mannequins” (The Washington Post)
- “Why are we suppressing joy and creating barriers to health?” (Nutrition By Carrie blog)
- “What to say (or not to say) to your overweight child” (The Washington Post)
- “What seeds are you sowing with your words?” (Nutrition By Carrie blog)
- “Weight stigma: Keys to understanding” (Today’s Dietitian webinar)
Health At Every Size
- “Beyond Health At Every Size: A body manifesto (Nutrition By Carrie blog)
- “Seven reasons not to compliment someone on weight loss” (The Washington Post)
- “Giving up on dieting could be good for your health” (The Seattle Times)
- “Lighten up dieters! Focus on health, not weight” (The Seattle Times)
- “HAES and society” (Nutrition by Carrie blog, Part 1/4)
- “HAES and the healthcare system” (Nutrition By Carrie blog, Part 2/4)
- “Health obsession and ‘body projects’” (Nutrition By Carrie blog, Part 3/4)
- “Dieting, eating disorders and embracing HAES” (Nutrition By Carrie blog, Part 4/4)
Dieting and weight cycling
- “The truth about weight loss ‘success stories‘” (Food Psych Podcast)
- “Potential perils of weight cycling” (Today’s Dietitian)
- “Be kinder to yourself. Research shows it could make you healthier.” (The Washington Post)
Eating disorders
- “The overlooked crisis of eating disorders among middle-aged women” (The Washington Post)
- “Anorexia knows no body type—and thinking otherwise can be a barrier to treatment” (The Seattle Times)
- “It’s a dangerous eating disorder that affects people with diabetes. So why haven’t you heard of it?” (The Seattle Times)
Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, is a Pacific Northwest-based registered dietitian nutritionist, journalist, intuitive eating counselor, author, and speaker. Her superpowers include busting nutrition myths and empowering women to feel better in their bodies and make food choices that support pleasure, nutrition and health. This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized nutrition or medical advice.
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