Posts Tagged ‘stigma’

“Obesity, in particular, stands out as a modifiable risk factor,” says a recent article on modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for breast cancer. Why is this phrase, so often used to define obesity, such an irritant? This is a catchphrase with a lot of history and it’s that history that is the source of friction. […]

It would be odd to think that medical schools would stigmatize the most prevalent chronic disease that medical students will encounter. But stigmatizing obesity in medical schools is all too common, even today. Kofi Essel and colleagues published a study of the obesity bias observed by third year medical students at George Washington University School […]

A new study in Lancet suggests that we are overdue for fresh thinking about early childhood obesity prevention. This is because programs built upon a premise of engaging parents in the effort turn out to be ineffective. The conclusions of this research are stark: “This study is the most comprehensive individual participant data meta-analysis in […]

Empathetic, respectful care sounds like a reasonable expectation for a primary care visit. New research, conducted by the Obesity Action Coalition, Drexel University, the ABOM Foundation, and Thoughtform, shows the way to take this from an aspiration to reality. Simply stated, persons living with obesity want more respect and less finger pointing in primary obesity […]

We have a problem with the word obesity. The we in this thought is all of us, because after decades of watching the prevalence of obesity grow, people are still phobic about obesity when it comes close to home. Research tells us that obesity is not the worst word we can use to talk about […]

For years, people living with obesity have been given the same basic advice: eat less, move more. But while this mantra may sound simple, it’s not only ineffective for many, it can be deeply misleading and damaging. Obesity is not just about willpower. It’s a complex, chronic, relapsing condition, and it affects around 26.5% of […]

This has been quite a week for easy reading news nuggets about diabetes. First we had the news that Barbie is getting a nifty heart-shaped CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) patch and an insulin pump. Then comes a news blurb from CDC telling us that one in three teens have prediabetes. Should we celebrate the news […]

“People with neurodiversity have a greater risk of obesity, yet the involvement in policy development and research of people with neurodiversity and obesity is minimal.” Stuart Flint, Joe Nadglowski, Kim Murray, and Julia Simonetti tell us in the latest issue of Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology that collecting data on lived experiences from people who face […]

A new interview with ConscienHealth founder Ted Kyle offers a long view of more than two decades of work on obesity. The interview explores a core question that people ask all the time: Are we making progress in flipping the script on obesity? Or are we still fighting the same misunderstanding of obesity that has […]

Today marks the first day of Obesity Care Week. This is a time to recognize the importance of high-quality, science-based, and compassionate care for people living with obesity. True commitment to care means embracing advocacy, evidence-based treatment, and respect for individuals affected by this chronic disease. Organizations like the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) and The […]