ESPEYB17 11. Obesity and Weight Regulation Consensus Statement (1 abstracts)
11.16. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity
Rubino F , Puhl RM , Cummings DE , Eckel RH , Ryan DH , Mechanick JI , Nadglowski J , Ramos Salas X , Schauer PR , Twenefour D , Apovian CM , Aronne LJ , Batterham RL , Berthoud HR , Boza C , Busetto L , Dicker D , De Groot M , Eisenberg D , Flint SW , Huang TT , Kaplan LM , Kirwan JP , Korner J , Kyle TK , Laferrère B , le Roux CW , McIver L , Mingrone G , Nece P , Reid TJ , Rogers AM , Rosenbaum M , Seeley RJ , Torres AJ & Dixon JB
King’s College London, Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Science, London, UK
To read the full abstract: Nat Med 2020;26(4):485–497.
More than 100 medical and scientific organizations supported this international consensus statement, which describes impressively how unscientific public narratives of obesity cause weight stigma and stimulates discrimination of obese people. Consequently, the statement calls for strong policies and legislation to prevent weight-based discrimination.
The consensus group reviewed published evidence and developed statements using a Delphi process. Weight stigma occurs everywhere in our societies and unfortunately quite severely also in healthcare settings. There is clear scientific evidence that this weight stigma results in psychological as well as physical harm. This is observed in the workplace, during education, and in healthcare settings. It has been shown that obese individuals are less likely to seek and to receive adequate care and social support.
The main contents of the statement are as follows:– Weight stigma is frequent amongst healthcare providers. The authors demand professional teaching by academic institutions and professional bodies on the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of obesity, including stigma-free skills and practices.– Obesity stigma in our societies is based on unproven assumptions which say that obesity is the cause of a lack self-discipline and personal responsibility. Patients are blamed for a failure. Current scientific evidence however shows that the regulation of body energy homeostasis and body weight is not entirely under volitional control, and that biological, genetic and environmental factors contribute substantially to obesity.– The influence of media on the stigmatization and discrimination of obese people is relevant. Media are able to shape public attitudes and beliefs. The consensus group demands media to produce fair, scientifically accurate, and non-stigmatising descriptions of obese people.– This consensus article is an excellent basis for education, training and contains the relevant scientific data as an basis for discussions, innovative projects and action. The final aim of this statement is to stimulate the development of educational and policy initiatives to end discrimination against people with obesity, as well as to facilitate access to care for people with obesity who are in need of it.
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