The problem with “obesity prevention” programs
I will never forget hearing Linda Bacon, PhD say, imagine being a larger bodied child walking the halls during “obesity prevention week” seeing all the posters stigmatizing your body.
These public health campaigns are horribly, damaging and fat phobic, causing some children to suffer more than others. It upholds the pervasive idea that weight is a “personal responsibility.” As one young client shared with me, it feels like a personal failing and that I am not worthy of dignity.
These campaigns lead to body distress and shame. It promotes dieting, the perfect set-up for disordered eating and future weight gain.
“Obesity prevention” programs do not encourage sustainable health behavior change. What it does do is introduce weight stigma. As shared in multiple studies, weight stigma contributes to the following:
eating disorders and disordered eating behavior
social isolation and depression
putting off health care visits
decreased physical activity
body distress
What can you do as a parent or guardian?
Ask your child’s teachers and school administration staff how they will manage potential weight-based bullying and what they are doing to ensure weight stigma is not part of health curriculums.
Demand that your child’s school protects children from being targeted for their weight. This includes anti-bullying polices and the elimination of body shaming language.
Ask to see your child’s health and nutrition curriculum. Personally, I have asked that my son’s teachers let me know if health and nutrition topics are going to be discussed, and offer to teach health education topics free of charge.
Role model body respect and acceptance in your own family. This includes not connecting weight to personality traits, behaviors or conditions, e.g. they are in such control, look at how thin they are. Or he clearly doesn’t work out.
If this post has you fired up (which I hope it does), check out these resources to stop the perpetuation of weight stigma:
Linda Bacon’s collection of anti-weight stigma resources for Parents, Teachers & School Administrators
Weight Stigma Awareness Week toolkits for Individuals, Friends & Family
Weight Stigma Awareness Week toolkits for Providers
FatPhobia101: Six Tools to Dismantle Weight Stigma from Everyday Feminism