Healing Without Harm: Why Weight Inclusive Care Matters
Did you know there is a week every September dedicated to raising awareness about and dismantling weight stigma?
Well, there is! And this year’s theme is “Healing Without Harm: Ending Weight Stigma in Healthcare.”
When I decided to become an eating disorder specialist, I had no idea how much of my energy would be poured into advocacy related to weight stigma. This typically takes two forms in my clinical practice:
- Coaching, prepping, and supporting my clients to speak up and advocate for weight inclusive care.
- Speaking up and advocating for weight inclusive care on behalf of my clients.
Examples of this advocacy include:
- Assuring my clients that they can ask their medical providers for clinical interventions OTHER than weight loss. Together we workshop language they feel comfortable bringing to their appointments. For some clients, they write down and read from a script due to how challenging it can be to self-advocate.
- Calling or emailing my client’s medical providers to provide context (past or present eating disorder for example) and clinical rationale for a weight inclusive approach.
- Providing thoughtful yet clear feedback when my client’s medical care has been negatively impacted by weight stigma. For example, informing a dermatologist that their marketing for “cool sculpting” in the waiting room was harmful to my client who was there for an annual skin check.
- Being vocal and clear with my clients about my fierce and unwavering beliefs that they deserve weight inclusive care and that when they receive poor care – IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT OR THEIR BODY’S FAULT.
Did you know that Within Health and The Body Equity Alliance have created many resources for both clinicians and individuals?!
Knowledge, community, and support are essential to weathering the persistent anti-fat bias each of us are confronted with everyday.
Please join the FREE week of Weight Stigma Awareness events planned for September 22-26, 2025. The lineup looks INCREDIBLE!!! Plus, on their site you’ll see a free toolkit, resources for additional learning, as well as practical steps for you to take action. You do not have to recreate the wheel when everything you need can be found on the Weight Stigma Awareness Week page.
And in case you missed it, I also have a free resource, “Weight Stigma in Dietetics Practice” which offers you very practical ways to identify and address unintentional weight stigma in your own clinical practice.
In solidarity!
I wanted to remind you about the library of free resources I offer to support dietitians and clinicians who wish to grow their skills, deepen their confidence, and serve clients with compassion and skill.
In addition to my guide on weight stigma, you’ll see digestive disorders, body image, a quiz to know if working with eating disorders is a fit for you and more … there are 10 free downloads in all.