Negative body image plagues most women and many men. It’s a truth that makes me sad but an issue I care deeply about because negative body image threatens our capacity to follow our passions, feel connected to and accepted by others, and experience joy. Negative body image is not a matter of vanity because it […]
You guys have seen me write A LOT about the problems of weight stigma. I even developed a free short guide for practitioners on how to provide non-stigmatizing care. But I understand that terms are often thrown around and their true meaning can seem vague or unclear. You may have even asked yourself, “What does […]
Are you considering the notion of body acceptance. Or perhaps someone in your life is urging you to consider body acceptance. Maybe you have heard the word body acceptance and thought to yourself, “Why in the world would I accept THIS body?” Body acceptance is a super challenging idea for nearly everyone. We have been […]
The words we use matter A LOT! They carry far more meaning than their simple definition might imply. I find that, as I work with both clients and clinicians on dismantling internalized weight stigma, many feel overwhelmed and intimated by the linguistics of it all. Learning to speak and process in a non-stigmatizing way is […]
I’m not a particularly brave person. I don’t say that in a self-deprecating way. I say it in a neutral way – like stating my preference for English muffins covered in PB&J for breakfast. But at a recent annual nutrition conference (which drew over 10,000 registered dietitians), my bravery was put to the test. I’d […]
The following post was written by Elizabeth Jarrard, RD. Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me. Right? Words like “fat” “obese” get tossed around a lot in our society. Unfortunately they are often also associated with words like “gross” or “lazy.” These words do hurt. The stigma of weight […]
Are you interested in hearing my take on weight stigma? Check out my video below! In honor of weight stigma awareness week I tackle some tough topics and share with you some important research. But in addition to this video, there are some absolutely amazing blog posts I’d encourage you to read. I have been blown […]
It is WSAW 2014. And this year’s post is inspired by a recent talk I watched on TED by the brave and smart Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Her talk is entitled “The Danger of a Single Story” and I loved it so much I embedded it here for your viewing pleasure. I think her message is applicable […]
Weight Stigma is judgment or stereotyping based on one’s weight, shape and/or size. If you don’t think that weight stigma has anything to do with you, please keep reading. It’s the number one form of bullying and discrimination in the United States today. A scientific study of 170,000 people showed that feeling fat is worse […]
Our next #endED Twitter chat is Wed, September 21st at 8:30pm EST with @BEDAorg to talk about about weight stigma. You might be asking what exactly is weight stigma? Weight stigma is bullying, teasing, negative body language, harsh comments, discrimination, or prejudice based upon a person’s body size. Weight Stigma is something that shames and […]