Body Inclusivity is crucial for promoting health and well-being
Body inclusivity is crucial for promoting health and well-being for everyone, regardless of body size. Weight bias, stigma, and discrimination are major public health issues that disproportionately affect people in larger bodies, as well as racialized communities, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and other communities burdened by structural health inequities. Weight bias, stigma, and discrimination can occur in many settings—such as healthcare, schools, workplaces, and the media—and often lead to negative health, social, and economic outcomes. Addressing these concerns is essential to creating a healthier, more inclusive society for all.
Public health has contributed to weight bias, stigma, and discrimination through practices that focus on weight loss, and connect weight to eating and physical activity. Not only have these approaches been shown to be ineffective at making people change their behaviours and improve health status, but can result in harm. Linking a person’s weight to their health simplifies and often misrepresents their experience; it overlooks other factors that impact health, such as income, access to food, and how people are treated based on their weight.
Embracing a weight-inclusive approach means promoting health and well-being without judgment or discrimination based on body size, while supporting practices that are inclusive to people of all sizes and shapes. Additionally, incorporating this approach in public health recognizes that the pursuit of health or well-being is not determined by one's size or shape, but may also involve improving emotional and mental well-being. Regardless of where people are in their health and well-being journey, they deserve dignity and respect.
Key strategies for reducing weight bias and promoting body inclusivity include:
- Acknowledging our own biases and assumptions and addressing them with behavior change. This is important to mitigate their impact when communicating with clients, decision-making, and institutionalized practices.
- Challenging weight bias practices and beliefs within our institutions to reduce stereotypes and assumptions resulting in unequal healthcare access.
- Contextualizing health data, such as BMI, by acknowledging its limitations and potential harms.
- Creating inclusive programs and environments that support health for individuals of all body sizes.
- Using inclusive language and images in public health communications, and avoiding harmful terms such as "healthy weight" and "obesity*."
- Providing education and training on weight-inclusive practices for healthcare professionals, mental health workers, and child and youth workers.
- Partner with regional and provincial initiatives that advance weight inclusivity and engage meaningfully with individuals with lived experience.
- Supporting research that aims to reduce weight stigma, prevent eating disorders, and promote body inclusivity.
By embracing body inclusivity, we can create a future where individuals of all body sizes feel respected and supported in all aspects of their lives, including their pursuit of health. Health is defined by more than just a number on a scale—it includes physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
*The term "obesity" is placed in quotes to highlight its controversial use in literature, healthcare, and the media. Substantial research and social activism suggest that the term labels larger bodies as unhealthy or undesirable, and is rooted in racism and sexism. While some attempt to redefine “obesity” as a chronic disease, others argue that it remains stigmatizing. For these reasons, the term is used only in quotes. For more information on this, see Ontario Dietitians of Public Health Position Statement here.
Supports
The St. Joseph's Care Group Outpatient Eating Disorder Program provides support, treatment, and resources for individuals living with an eating disorder. If you are looking for more information of this support or want to know how to be referred to the program, click the link here.
Further information
Call the Nutrition Program: (807) 625-5900 or toll-free 1-888-294-6630
External Links
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health “Towards a Weight-Inclusive Approach in Public Health” :
- Guideline and Key Strategies can be found on pages 43-46.
- Resources for Further Learning can be found on page 47.
- Scenario Based Learning and Practical Suggestions can be found on page 57.
The #StopWeightBias Campaign by Obesity Action Coalition aims to raise awareness about weight bias in our communities and within ourselves. It advocates for equal treatment, dignity, and respect for people of all body shapes and sizes. To learn more about this campaign, click the link here.
The Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting size inclusivity in health. It advocates for the principles of Health at Every Size (HAES), which aim to eliminate discrimination and oppression against individuals in larger bodies, while ensuring equal access to resources and support for health and well-being. To learn more about ASDAH, click here.
The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) is an organization dedicated to providing resources, referrals, and support to Canadians affected by eating disorders. Each year, NEDIC organizes Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) to raise awareness about eating disorders and their impact on individuals and their loved ones. To learn more about NEDIC and their efforts to spread awareness, click here.
Eating Disorders Ontario-Prevention (EDO-P) offers evidenced-based prevention services across Ontario. In Thunder Bay, an EDO-P chapter is dedicated to providing awareness and offering resources about eating disorders to the region. For more information on EDO-P, click here.
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