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A pledge to end the social stigma of obesity

In a paper published in Nature Medicine on World Obesity Day 2020, a team of experts, led by Professor Francesco Rubino from King’s College London, outline an International Consensus Statement and related Pledge to Eradicate Weight Stigma.

The consensus statement and Pledge have been developed through a conference jointly organised by the World Obesity Federation, American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Diabetes UK, European Association for the Study of Obesity, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders, Obesity Action Coalition, Obesity Canada, The Obesity Society.

On behalf of all our partners, we invite organisations and single individuals to sign up to take the Pledge and help eradicate weight-based stigma and discrimination

Pledge to eliminate weight bias and stigma of obesity

We recognise that:

  • Individuals affected by overweight and obesity face a pervasive form of social stigma based on the typically unproven assumption that their body weight derives primarily from a lack self-discipline and personal responsibility.
  • Such portrayal is inconsistent with current scientific evidence demonstrating that body weight regulation is not entirely under volitional control, and that biological, genetic and environmental factors critically contribute to obesity.
  • Weight bias and stigma can result in discrimination and undermine human rights, social rights, and the health of afflicted individuals.
  • Weight stigma and discrimination cannot be tolerated in modern societies.

We condemn:

  • The use of stigmatising language, images, attitudes, policies, and weight-based discrimination, wherever they occur.

We pledge:

  • To treat individuals with overweight and obesity with dignity and respect.
  • To refrain from using stereotypical language, images, and narratives that unfairly and inaccurately depict individuals with overweight and obesity as lazy, gluttonous, and lacking will power or self-discipline. 
  • To encourage and support educational initiatives aimed at eradicating weight bias through dissemination of current knowledge of obesity and body weight regulation.
  • To encourage and support initiatives aimed at preventing weight discrimination in the workplace, education, and healthcare settings.

Project team

Francesco Rubino, Rebecca M. Puhl, David E. Cummings, Robert H. Eckel, Donna H. Ryan, Jeffrey I. Mechanick, Joe Nadglowski, Ximena Ramos Salas, Phillip R. Schauer, Douglas Twenefour, Caroline M. Apovian, Louis J. Aronne, Rachel L. Batterham, Hans-Rudolph Berthoud, Camilo Boza, Luca Busetto, Dror Dicker, Mary De Groot, Daniel Eisenberg, Stuart W. Flint, Terry T. Huang, Lee M. Kaplan, John P. Kirwan, Judith Korner, Ted K. Kyle, Blandine Laferrere, Carel W. le Roux, LaShawn McIver, Geltrude Mingrone, Patricia Nece, Tirissa J. Reid, Ann M. Rogers, Michael Rosenbaum, Randy J. Seeley, Antonio J. Torres, and John B. Dixon 

Summary of Findings

Executive summary

Grade of Consensus (GoC): U = Unanimous; A = >90%

Weight stigma is reinforced by misconceived ideas about body weight regulation and lack of awareness of current scientific evidence. Weight stigma is unacceptable in modern societies, as it undermines human rights, social rights, and the health of afflicted individuals (GoC: A).

Research indicates that weight stigma can cause significant harm to affected individuals. Individuals who experience it suffer from both physical and psychological consequences, and are less likely to seek and receive adequate care (GoC: U).

Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, the prevailing view in society is that obesity is a choice which can be reversed by voluntary decisions to eat less and exercise more. These assumptions mislead public health policies, confuse messages in popular media, undermine access to evidence-based treatments, and compromise advances in research (GoC: A).

For the reasons above, weight stigma represents a major obstacle in efforts to effectively prevent and treat obesity and T2D. Tackling stigma is not only a matter of human rights and social justice, but also a way to advance prevention and treatment of these diseases (GoC: A).

Academic institutions, professional organizations, media, public health authorities, and government should encourage education about weight stigma and facilitate a new public narrative of obesity, coherent with modern scientific knowledge (GoC: U).

Impact

Over 100 medical and scientific organisations have endorsed the statement and pledge. See the list below of organisations and individuals who have pledged and given consent for their details to be published online.  

Organisations:

  1. The French Speaking Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (SFNCM), Chairman: Prof Pierre Dechelotte
  2. HOBS- Hälsa oberoende av storlek
  3. Hughes Krupica
  4. La Ligue contre l'obésité
  5. Obesity Action Coalition
  6. Obesity Canada
  7. SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE OBESIDAD -S EEDO
  8. Obesity Canada
  9. London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare
  10. Italian Society of Pediatrics, "Adolescence" study group
  11. Obesity Group of the British Dietetic Association
  12. Approach Center of excellence in kids Obesity (Montreal, Canada)
  13. PCOS Vitality
  14. Société Française de Nutrition
  15. International Medical Press
  16. Tallaght University Hospital
  17. Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO)
  18. European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)
  19. ETHICON, JOHNSON & JOHNSON
  20. German Obesity Society (Deutsche Adipositas-Gesellschaft)
  21. MTYBariatrics
  22. Diabetes Training Inc (Canada)
  23. LIGUE CONTRE L'OBESITE

Partner Organizations

  1. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
  2. American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
  3. American Diabetes Association (ADA)
  4. Diabetes UK
  5. European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)
  6. International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic Disorders (IFSO)
  7. Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)
  8. Obesity Canada
  9. The Obesity Society (TOS) – USA
  10. World Obesity Federation (WOF)

Other Scientific and Patient Societies

  1. American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
  2. American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
  3. Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD)
  4. The Australian National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS)
  5. Australian and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS)
  6. Austrian Society for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery
  7. Brazilian Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SBCBM)
  8. British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS)
  9. Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS)
  10. Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (CACPR)
  11. Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists/Association Canadienne des ergothérapeutes
  12. Canadian Psychiatric Association
  13. The Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM)
  14. CIHR-SPOR Chair in Innovative, Patient-Oriented, Behavioural Clinical Trials.
  15. Chilean Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
  16. Colegio Mexicano de Cirurgia Para la Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabolicas
  17. Croatian Society of Obesity
  18. Dietitians of Canada
  19. Dutch Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (DSMBS)
  20. The Endocrine Society (USA)
  21. European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)
  22. French Clinical Research Network in Obesity (FORCE)
  23. French Society for Research and Care of Obesity (AFERO)
  24. French Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SOFFCO-MM)
  25. Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity (HMAO)
  26. Hellenic Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
  27. Hellenic Society for the Study of Obesity, Metabolism and Eating Disorders
  28. Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity
  29. Hong Kong Obesity Society
  30. Hong Kong Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
  31. Hungarian Society for the Study of Obesity
  32. International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN)
  33. International Society for the Perioperative Care of the Obese Patient (ISPCOP)
  34. Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN)
  35. The Israeli Association for the Study of Obesity
  36. Italian Obesity Society (SIO)
  37. Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO)
  38. Latin American Federation of Obesity (FLASO)
  39. The Lithuanian Society of Bariatric Surgery
  40. Mexican Society of Obesity
  41. National Lipid Association (USA)
  42. Norwegian Society for the Surgery of Obesity
  43. Obesity Australia
  44. Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN)
  45. Obesity Collective
  46. Obesity Medicine Association (USA)
  47. Obesity Society of Nigeria
  48. The Obesity Surgery Society India (OSSI)
  49. Obesity UK
  50. Romanian Bariatric Society
  51. Romanian Federation of Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolic diseases
  52. The Royal College of Physicians -RCP- (UK)
  53. Russian Society of Bariatric Surgeons
  54. Sociedad Argentina de Cirugia de la Obesidad Enfermedad Metabolica y Otras
  55. Relacionados con la Obesidad
  56. Sociedad Argentina de Obesidad y Trastornos Alimentarios
  57. The Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabólicas (SECO)
  58. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
  59. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)
  60. The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)
  61. South African Society for Surgery Obesity and Metabolism
  62. UK Association for the Study of Obesity
  63. Kayl Association for Combating Obesity

Scientific/Medical Journals

  1. The Annals of Surgery
  2. Cell Metabolism (Cell Press)
  3. Cell Reports Medicine (Cell Press)
  4. Clinical Obesity
  5. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
  6. Med (Cell Press)
  7. All Nature Research Journals
  8. Obesity
  9. Obesity Reviews
  10. Obesity Science and Practice
  11. Obesity Surgery
  12. Pediatric Obesity
  13. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD)
  14. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism (Cell Press)
  15. Trends in Molecular Medicine (Cell Press)

Academic Institutions and Hospitals

  1. Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Melbourne, Australia
  2. The Charles Perkins Institute, University of Sydney (Australia)
  3. Geisinger Obesity Institute; Geisinger Health System; Danville, PA (USA)
  4. King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
  5. King’s College London (UK)
  6. London Bridge Hospital, London (UK)
  7. Pennington Biomedical Research Center (USA)
  8. Specialized Centers for Obesity Management -GCC-CSO (France)
  9. St Vincent Private Hospital, Dublin (Ireland)
  10. Summer M. Redstone Center, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George
  11. Washington University (USA)
  12. Technische Universität Dresden; Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus (Germany)
  13. Transcampus of Technische Universität Dresden; Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav
  14. Carus (Germany) and King’s College London
  15. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
  16. University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity (USA)
  17. The Veneto Obesity Network (Italy)
  18. The Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital, Sao Paulo,
  19. (Brazil)
  20. North Bristol NHS Trust

Parliamentary Groups

  • The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity – APPG
  • A Group of cross-party members of the House of Commons and House of Lords

Industry

  • Medtronic
  • Ethicon
  • WW (Formerly Weight Watchers)
  • Novo Nordisk
  • GI Dynamics

 

Individuals:

Academy for Eating Disorders Elaine Hildebrandt Kirstin Hellard Peter Small
Aggie Sobanska Elena Ruiz-Úcar Kobus DIjkhorst Philippe Palat
Agnès Maurin Elisa Bagni Kourosh Ghorbani-Zarin Phoebe Wood
Ahmad Bashir Elissa Myers Kristine Godziuk Pierre DECHELOTTE
Ajanta Kamal ELIZABETH DETTMER Kwang-Wei Tham Professor Suzanne Norris
Alastair Lynn Elizabeth Egan Lars Alling Professor Tim Underwood
alba xhixha Elly Park Laura Boyer Rachael Wall
Alberto Borraccino Emanuele Bosi Laura Falvey Rachel Elliott
Alessandra Valerio Emilio de Felipe Laura Johnson Rachel Ignomirello
Alexandre Benani Enda Mulvany laure fredj Rafael Bravo
Alexandro Zarruk Enrico Prosperi lauren grossman Raffaele Limauro
ALEXIS ELIAS MALAVAZOS Esmeralda Capristo Lauren Wedekind Raghav Bansal
Ali Zentner ESSA ALEASSA Laurie Twells Rasminder Kaur
Alison Palmer Estrella Menendez Lavanya Parashivakumar Rebecca Deans
Allen Browne Eugenia Romano Leigh Anne Linville rebecca fancini
Allie Lougheed Eva Gabarró Rodríguez Lianna Titheridge Rebecca Rawlings-Hall
Allison Ibrah8m Eva Pereda-Pereda Lindes Callejas-Diaz Rebecca Richards
Amanda Waning Exercise is Medicine Canada Lisa Plank Rhodri King
AMRO BOHSALI fabiana stolman Lisa Richardson Riccardo Lera
Amy Smith Faris Alassaf Lise Lafargue Riccardo Polzoni
Anders Backe Farnaz Rahimi Lizzy Cunliffe-Jones Richard Larouche
Andre Tchernof Fatima Waqar Louise Tully Rita Clifford
Andrea Bretal Federica Zanetto Luca Busetto Roberta Jaccheri
Andrew Beamish Federico Luis Moya Lucia Frittita Robin Blackstone
Ane Kokkvoll Fiona Kate Barlow Lucille McGraw Rochelle Blacklock
Angela Chesworth francesco baggiani LUCY NUGENT Rodolfo Vasconcelos
Angelica Magdaleno Francesco Cavagnini Luiz Mestieri Rosa Tricia Asiain vazquez
Anil Asrani Frederic BOST Lynne JOHNSTON Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN, LDN
Anna Belligoli Gail Pinnock Macarena Rueda Rosie Childerhose
anna ciampolillo Geeta Achyuthan Madalena Dearden RUBEN LOPEZ PUERTA
Anna Dayer Jankechova Gemma Fagan Mahsa Ghoreishi Ruth McCarthy
Antoine EPIN Georgia Giannopoulos Majella O’Keeffe S. Bryn Austin
ANTONIO PRATESI Georgie Sowman Manoel Galvao Neto Saida BAYNA
Arianna Salgado Ghislain Grodard Marcela Rodriguez Flores Samantha Boyce
Ashish Desai Ghislaine PICARD Marco Bueter Samer Humadi
Ashleigh Middleton Giovanni Ceccarini margaret easton Sandi Tymchuk
Ashley Bissett Giulio Marchesini Margy O'Connor Sandy Duxbury
Ashley McCarthy Gregory Pacyk Maria Grazia Carbonelli Sanjana Khaira
Asociación Bariatrica Hispalis Guido Donato maria ines alonso Sara Kirk
Audrey Chognard Hanen Samouda Maria Letizia Petroni Sara Squires
Béatrice Eulalie Harald Tigges Maria Yao Sarah Browne
Béatrice Morio-Liondore Harry Rutter Marianne Guenot Sarah Chapelsky
BEGOÑA GIL BARCENILLA Heather Angell Marie Mannion Sarah Deemer
Bernadette Keenan Heather Eggins Marie-Eve Brideau Sarah Gullins
Bernard North Helen Mccarthy Marina Payen Sarah Hart
Bex Foreman Helen Mitchell Marlena Skrabak Sarah Nutter
Boris Pomortsev Hellas Cena Marlène Galantier Sasha High
Brad Hussey Hilary MacKenzie Martha Acevedo Scott Schorer
Brendan Mallia-Milanes Hilda Mulrooney Martina de Zwaan sebastien grigioni
Brianna Leon Ian Patton martine LAVILLE seedo seedo
Brittany Gurgel Ioannis Linas Mary Forhan Sergio Bernasconi
Brooke LaFlamme Isabel Silva Maryfrances White Sergio Macho García
Bruce Schirmer Ivana Anusic Massimo Cuzzolaro Shabnam Kar
Bruno da Costa J. Chris Eagon Matt Hutter Sharon Krzyzanowski
Callum Garner Jacob Seidell Maura Murphy Sheena Bhageerutty
Camillo Ezio Di Flaviano Jacqueline Jacques Maureen Hirschfeld SHEILA ABADIANO
Carley O'Kane Jacqueline Rabenstein Maureen Mosti Shelley Martin
CARLOS ALBERTO CARDOSO DEL ALAMO Jacques Himpens Maxime Legendre Shelly Russell-Mayhew
Carly Hughes Jakob Jakobsen Maxime St-Pierre Sheree Bryant
Carol Frederick James Byrne Maxine Taylor Sheri MacKenzie
Carol Harper James Crosbie Mckenzie Dow Shona Jackson
Carol Pizzuti James Doering Megan Hicks Silvia Mauri
Carolina Siqueira James McCarthy Megan Smyth Simone Davies
Cassandra sääf Jan Jablonski Mélissa PHILIS Sofia Makin
Caterina Conte Janet M Lambert Melissa Smith Sofiia Desiateryk
Catherine O Sullivan Janet Peterson Melody Harding Solveig Sigurdardottir
catherine birken Janice Knapp Michael Crotty Sridar Govindaraj
Catherine Lin Javier Arce Michael Mantell, Ph.D. Stefan Engeli
Cathy Breen Jean O'Connell MICHAEL PELLEN Stefania Brovero
Cecilia Prieto Jean-Philippe Magema Michael Sutker Stefanie Gerlach
Charlie Hirschfeld Jean-Philippe Chaput Michael Vallis Stefano Gorini
Charlotte Matthysen Jeanine Sherman Michel Blais Stephanie Tölle
Chiara Maffei Jennifer Brown Michel Suter Stephanie Ray
Chloe Barry Jennifer Sargent Michelle Archer Stina Ståhl
Christel Glinker Jessica Catchpole Michelle Vicari Sue Jacques
Christian Tatschl Jessica Walsh Miguel Brito Susan Sheldon
Christina Blekkenhorst Jill Hamilton Miriam Avendaño Susana Fernandez
Christina Norlin Jill Harrison Mirjam Heinen Susie Birney
Christine Chin Jilla King Mirto Foletto suzanne grady
Christine Feillet-Coudray Jilly Gibson Miller Mitchell Roslin Sylvain Iceta
Christine Hellendy Jim Hewes MOHAMMAD ALKILANI sylvain iceta
Christine Rosenbloom joanna nicholls Mohammed Al-Anati Sylvie UTHURRIAGUE
Christof Buser Joanna Tan Monica Roldan Suarez Tami Higa
Claire Lee Joanne Cloughton Mourad LYOUBI Taniya Nagpal
CLARA CCOUILLANDEAU Joanne wong Ms Glassar Tim Edgar
Claudia Coelho Jodi Mitchell Nadia Edeis Tony Goldstone
Claudio Maffeis Joëlle BERNARDON Nadia nappi trewtewhr bdfhbnhjf
connie stuart Joerg Zehetner Nadya Isack Triona Lord
Corrigan McBride Jonathan Gabor Nagammapudur Balaji Valentina Vitiello
Cristina Parrino Jose Eduardo Garcia Flores Nakul Bhatia Vandhana Patel
cynthia buffington Joseph Nadglowski Nancy Robinson Vanessa Terrier
Dale Bond Joseph O Leary Nathalie MAZURE Velos Christou
Dalila Ribeiro Joyce Cheung Niamh Arthurs VENKATESH KANAKALA
Dana Gibson Judith MacDonald Nicola Heslehurst Verónica Vázquez Velázquez
daniela consonni Julia Reading Nicola Michaud Veronika Benesova
Danielle Lefebvre julie kleeberger Nicola Nzuza Vicki-Anne Rodrigue
Daryl Tol Julie St-Pierre Nicole Houghtaling victoria millay
David Hopson Julien Lacoue-Labarthe Nicole Pearce Victoria Buiza Fernández
David Sánchez-Carracedo Justine Thacker Nina Crowley Vincent Attalin
Dawn Hatanaka Juthika Pal nina Stuart Vincenzo Trischitta
Deborah Ng Kaitlyn Poole Obesidades Mexico Walter Lindstrom
Deborah Stewart Karen Gaynor Olivia Sewell Walter Pories
Deepa D Karen Capuzzi P Wupperman Warren Collmer
Dennis Smith Karen L Godfrey Paloma Zubieta Wendy Clem
Desmond Hughes Karen Patte Pam Sheeran Werner Göttling
Diana Maria Castillo Serrano Karen Tan Paolo Pilla Willie Pallares
Dima Aboukasm Karl Miller Paolo SBRACCIA Ximena Ramos Salas
Dina Benetti karlijn burridge Pascal Turbide Yasmin King
Donna Cameron Kathryn Bourque Patricia Mayorquin Yeiris Soto
Dorothee LAUVAUX Kathy Hebert Patrick Ferreira Zaher Toumi
Dr Niranjan P Kayl Association for Combating obesity non-profit organization Patty Nece Zahraa Abdul Sater
Eduardo Doval Keith Godfrey Paul Chesworth Zulema Rodriguez
EDUARDO Márquez Kelly Proulx Paul Davidson  

 

Our Partners

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK

European Association for the Study of Obesity

European Association for the Study of Obesity

International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic Disorders

International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic Disorders

Obesity Action Coalition

Obesity Action Coalition

Obesity Canada

Obesity Canada

The Obesity Society

The Obesity Society

World Obesity Federation

World Obesity Federation