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 individuals and companies who have pledged and given consent for their details published online.
Individuals:
- Claire Lee
- Lindes Callejas-Diaz
- Gail Pinnock
- Alastair Lynn
- Harry Rutter
- Colin Simpson
- Manel Riera
- Jean-Philippe Magema
- Vandhana Patel
- Jim Hewes
- Alejandra Noble
- Rochelle Blacklock
- Lucy Whitman
- Jill Hamilton
- Sebastien Murcia
- Catherine Lin
- Kimberley Peever
- Ashish Desai
- Peter Small
- Jean-Philippe Chaput
- Annick Pilon
- Marie-Eve Brideau
- Hilda Mulrooney
- Brad Hussey
- Stina Ståhl
- Andre Tchernof
- Pascal Turbide
- Alba Xhixha
- Jessica Macfarlane
- Melissa Smith
- Elaine Moores
- maria ines alonso
- Jose Eduardo Garcia Flores
- Amy Smith
- Kelly Gardner
- James Byrne
- Charlotte Matthysen
- Michelle Vicari
- Essa Aleassa
- Vanessa Terrier
- Cassandra sääf
- Andrea Regina
- Lisa Plank
- Wendy Clem
- Madalena Dearden
- Joseph Nadglowski
- Zahraa Abdul Sater
- David Hopson
- Jacqueline Jacques
- Janice Knapp
- Nick Jeal
- Christine Hellendy
- Mahsa Ghoreishi
- Rosie Childerhose
- Rolando Villarreal
- Ashley McCarthy
- Christel Glinker
- Kelly Scott
- Paul Davidson
- Bruno da Costa
- Robin Blackstone
- Rosanne Rust, MS, RDN
- Callum Garner
- Desmond Hughes
- James McCarthy
- Melanie Gelfand
- Patrick Ferreira
- Richard Larouche
- Sandi Niklas
- Isabel Silva
- Heather Angell
- Vanessa Terrier
- Taniya Nagpal
- Andrew Beamish
- Mohammed Alkilani
- Stephanie McCarville
- Leigh Anne Linville
- Kenneth Drouillard
- Catherine Goulet-Delorme
- Jeanine Sherman
- Arya M. Sharma
- Sasha High
- Susan Sheldon
- Carley O'Kane
- Sara Squires
- Alexandro Zarruk
- Michael Mantell, Ph.D.
- Matt Hutter
- Anil Asrani
- Dana Gibson
- Rachael Wall
- Ashleigh Middleton
- Allie Lougheed
- Lorna Andersen
- Fatima Waqar
- Macarena Rueda
- Annick Buchholz
- Nadia Nappi
- Anthony Pascale
- Michel Blais
- Kathryn Bourque
- Rebecca Warne
- Elizabeth Dettmer
- Hyeri Debora Yook
- Frederic Bost
- Cecilia Prieto
- Kelly Proulx
- Alexandre Benani
- Mirto Foletto
- Leonie Harrison
- Geeta Achyuthan
- Lauren Wedekind
- Connie Stuart
- Jacob Seidell
- Eva Wright
- Sylvain Iceta
- Hari Vasan
- margaret easton
- Christina Blekkenhorst
- Ali Zentner
- Veronica Kacinik
- Sofiia Desiateryk
- Jilla King
- Heidi Bednarchuk
- Lynne Johnston
- Samer Humadi
- Carol Frederick
- Sarah Chapelsky
- Jonathan Gabor
- Ivana Anusic
- James Crosbie
- Daniela Consonni
- Alisa Cohen
- Ashley Bissett
- Amanda Waning
- Karyn Rasmussen
- Santosh Agarwal
- Marie-Claude Bossé
- Susie Birney
- Carol Harper
- Professor Suzanne Norris
- Cynthia Hennessey-Lewis
- Elly Park
- Christina Norlin
- Louise Borre
- Sheri MacKenzie
- Cathy Breen
- Ben Whelan
- Karen Gaynor
- A Michael Ianniruberto
- Nicole Houghtaling
- Kristine Godziuk
- Laurie Twells
- Walter Lindstrom
- Faris Alassaf
- Velos Christou
- Vanessa Folope
- Allen Browne
- Julie Kleeberger
- Marc Kochamba
- Shona Jackson
- Donna Cameron
- Amy Buttar
- Tony Goldstone
- Pete Avara
- Christine Chikurunhe
- Dima Aboukasm
- Valerie Carney
- Silvia Mauri
- Michelle Archer
- Andrea Bretal
- Tracy Clarke
- Brittany Gurgel
- Marcela Rodriguez Flores
- Ekaterina Tibilova
- Jillianne Hill
- Coreen Rivard
- Bernadette Keenan
- Lucille McGraw
- Maryfrances White
- Karen Patte
- Nicola Michaud
- Dr James Krahn
- Justine Thacker
- Judith MacDonald
- Joe Pascale
- Karlijn Burridge
- Anne Siemaszkiewicz
- Rose Gorniak
- Jodi Mitchell
- Majella O’Keeffe
- Brett Dutra
- Michael Sutker
- Shabnam Kar
- Jennifer Brown
- Sarah Gullins
- Deborah Stewart
- Gillian Martin
- Priti Chawla
- Rosa Tricia Asiain Vazquez
- Ahmad Bashir
- Hilary MacKenzie
- Kozeta Miliku
- Nancy Robinson
- Luca Busetto
- Stephanie Julien
- Barbara Kermode-Scott
- Lars Alling
- Jessica Catchpole
- Ghislain Grodard
- Gurpeeet Aujla
- Ghislain Grodard
- Sheila Abadiano
- Vincent Attalin
- Joerg Zehetner
- Klaus Andersen
- Elizabeth Egan
- Elke Smith
- Nada Alsaleh
- Sara Kirk
- Maureen Hirschfeld
- Charlie Hirschfeld
- Giovanni Ceccarini
- Marlène Galantier
- Sheena Bhageerutty
- Laurence Philip
- Maria Eusebi
- Lianna Titheridge
- Violaine Pluche-Cullerre
- Francesco Cavagnini
- Rodriguez chantal
- Anna Belligoli
- Nathalie Mazure
- Paolo Pilla
- Lucio Gnessi
- Massimo Cuzzolaro
- Warren Collmer
- Camillo Ezio Di Flaviano
- Laure Fredj
- Marina Payen
- Shelly Russell-Mayhew
- Monique Romon
- Debrus Gregory
- Venkatesh Kanakala
- Paolo Sbracciaa
- Bhav Barot
- Alexis Elias Malavazos
- Godenir Corinne
- Andrew Tsang
- Christine Rosenbloom
- Elaine Hildebrandt
- Maria Letizia Petroni
- Riccardo Dalle Grave
- Giulio Marchesini
- Antonio Pratesi
- Maria Grazia Carbonelli
- Hellas Cena
- Ashleigh Knowles
- Emily Pummill
- Melody Harding
- Claudio Maffeis
- Sebastien Grigioni
- Anna Ciampolillo
- Stefanie Gerlach
- Lucia Frittita
- Denise Millard
- Philippe Palat
- Rachael Millard
- Martina de Zwaan
- Ashlee Worden
- Pierre Dechelotte
- Micheal Pellen
- Nagammapudur Balaji
- Bex Foreman
- Sarah Nutter
- Katrina Boutilier
- Sandi Tymchuk
- Maureen Busby
- Gregory Pacyk
- Agnes Maurin
- Nina Crowley
- Manoel Galvao Neto
- Luiz Mestieri
- Martine Laville
- Rodolfo Vasconcelos
- Mourad Lyoubi
- Ambro Bohsali
- Emanuele Bosi
- Caterina Conte
- Ana Karen Aguilar
- Jennifer Laberge
- Arianna Salgado
- Sonia Angélica Muñoz Cruz
- Danielle Lefebvre
- Julie St-Pierre
- Audrey Chognard
- Angelica Magdaleno
- Rosanna La Carrubba
- Abhinav Gupta
- Ms Glassar
- Ghislaine Picard
- Martina de Zwaan
- Joyce Cheung
- Vicki-Anne Rodrigue
- Gabriel Sophie
- Béatrice Morio-Liondore
- Suzanne Grady
- Camille Canaple
- Begoña Gil Barcenilla
- Lise Lafargue
- Christine Poulh
- Farnaz Rahimi
- Nicole DiBiagio
- Miriam Avendaño
- Stefan Engeli
- Eduardo Márquez
- Paloma Zubieta
- Carly Hughes
- Beth Greenslade
- Anna Dayer Jankechova
- Maxime St-Pierre
- Béatrice Eulalie
- Agnès Maurin
- Emilie Boisvert
- Sergio Bernasconi
- Laura Boyer
- Sue Jacques
- Jennifer Sargent
- Marianne Guenot
- Riccardo Lera
- Raffaele Limauro
- Alberto Borraccino
- Francesco Baggiani
- Federica Zanetto
- Alexander Warren
- Carol Pizzuti
- Karl Miller
- Maureen Quigley
- Dennis Smith
- Sharon Krzyzanowski
- Ciara Lopez
- Walter Pories
- Dale Bond
- Jacques Himpens
- Bruce Schirmer
- Chris Eagon
- Daryl Tol
- Willie Pallares
- Yeiris Soto
- Corrigan McBride
- Mitchell Roslin
- Nadia Edeis
- Dina Benetti
- Margot Bergevin
- Erika Becerra-Vera
- Rachel Ignomirello
- Julien Lacoue-Labarthe
- Jo Hart
- Sophie Thomas
- Dorothee Lauvaux
- Christian Tatschl
- Elisa Bagni
- Werner Göttling
- Nakul Bhatia
- Sridar Govindaraj
- Grace Pailing
- Ane Kokkvoll
- Lizette Franks
- Olivia Sewell
- Vincenzo Trischitta
- Mélissa Philis
- David Sánchez-Carracedo
- Eva Pereda-Pereda
- Seedo Seedo
- Heather Whittemore
- Sanjana Khaira
- Cristina Parrino
- Antoine Epin
- Daniel Jones
- Guido Donato
- Chiara Maffei
- Stefania Brovero
- Lavanya Parashivakumar
- Christine Feillet-Coudray
- Elizabeth Morris
- Jilly Gibson Miller
- Mckenzie Dow
- Emer O' Malley
- Claudia Coelho
- Mirjam Heinen
- Colin Simpson
- Valentina Vitiello
- Eva Pereda-Pereda
- Elena Ruiz-Úcar
- Riccardo Dalle Grave
- Prof Pierre Dechelotte
- Jacob C. Seidell
- Engeli Stefan
- Luca Busetto
- Sara FL Kirk
- Raghav Bansal
- Mirto Foletto
- David Sánchez Carracedo
- Alessandra Valerio
- Professor Harry Rutter
- Caterina Conte
- Desmond Hughes
- Lucia Frittitta
- Bethany Glassar
- Michelle Vicari
- Nina Stuart
- Robin Quinn
- Isabel Silva
- Cecilia Prieto Bravo
- Alba Xhixha
- Jacques Himpens
- Laurie Twells PhD
- Michael Vallis
- Amy Smith RN CDE
- Melody Harding
- Francesco Baggiani
- Jean-Philippe Chaput
- Sharon A. Krzyzanowski
- Hellas Cena
- Daniel B. Jones
- Jennifer Brown
- Allen F. Browne
- Ian Patton
- Jacqueline Jacques
- Mary Forhan
- Sarah Nutter
- Stephanie McCarville
- Marcela Rodríguez Flores
- Dawn Hatanaka
- Karlijn Burridge
- Ashley McCarthy
- Fatima Waqar
- Michael Sutker
- Catherine Lin
- Emilie Boisvert
- Raffaele Limauro
- Christel Glinker
- Dr Lynne Johnston
- Rochelle Blacklock
- Dr Hilda Mulrooney
- Monique Romon
- Julie St-Pierre
- Matthew M. Hutter
- Lauren Wedekind
- Danielle Lefebvre
- Patricia M. Nece
- Paul Davidson
- Inés Alonso
- Anna Dayer Jankechova
- Cristina Parrino
- Gregory Pacyk
- Susie Birney
- Simone Davies
- Jean-Philippe Magema
- Stefanie Gerlach
- Heather Angell
- Bernadette Keenan
- Veronika Benesova
- JP (Juthika Pal)
- Andrew Tsang
- Jenny Cargiuolo
- Beth Greenslade
- Christine Hellendy
- Zaher Toumi
- Massimo Cuzzolaro
- Gail Pinnock
- Jonathan Gabor
- Jose Eduardo Garcia- Flores
- Ali Zentner
- Ben Whelan
- Jennifer Laberge
- Mr Mike Pellen
- Maria Letizia Petroni
- Mohammed Al-Anati
- Elena Ruiz-Úcar
- Karen Gaynor
- Olivia Sewell
- Jilla King
Organisations:
- The French Speaking Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (SFNCM), Chairman: Prof Pierre Dechelotte
- HOBS- Hälsa oberoende av storlek
- Hughes Krupica
- La Ligue contre l'obésité
- Obesity Action Coalition
- Obesity Canada
- SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE OBESIDAD -S EEDO
- Obesity Canada
- London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare
- Italian Society of Pediatrics, "Adolescence" study group
- Obesity Group of the British Dietetic Association
- Approach Center of excellence in kids Obesity (Montreal, Canada)
- PCOS Vitality
- Société Française de Nutrition
- International Medical Press
- Tallaght University Hospital
- Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO)
- European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)
- ETHICON, JOHNSON & JOHNSON
- German Obesity Society (Deutsche Adipositas-Gesellschaft)
- MTYBariatrics
- Diabetes Training Inc (Canada)
- LIGUE CONTRE L'OBESITE
Partner Organizations
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)
- American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
- American Diabetes Association (ADA)
- Diabetes UK
- European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)
- International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and metabolic Disorders (IFSO)
- Obesity Action Coalition (OAC)
- Obesity Canada
- The Obesity Society (TOS) – USA
- World Obesity Federation (WOF)
Other Scientific and Patient Societies
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)
- American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
- Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD)
- The Australian National Association of Clinical Obesity Services (NACOS)
- Australian and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society (ANZMOSS)
- Austrian Society for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery
- Brazilian Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SBCBM)
- British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS)
- Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons (CABPS)
- Canadian Association of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (CACPR)
- Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists/Association Canadienne des ergothérapeutes
- Canadian Psychiatric Association
- The Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM)
- CIHR-SPOR Chair in Innovative, Patient-Oriented, Behavioural Clinical Trials.
- Chilean Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
- Colegio Mexicano de Cirurgia Para la Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabolicas
- Croatian Society of Obesity
- Dietitians of Canada
- Dutch Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (DSMBS)
- The Endocrine Society (USA)
- European Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ECPO)
- French Clinical Research Network in Obesity (FORCE)
- French Society for Research and Care of Obesity (AFERO)
- French Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SOFFCO-MM)
- Hellenic Medical Association for Obesity (HMAO)
- Hellenic Society for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery
- Hellenic Society for the Study of Obesity, Metabolism and Eating Disorders
- Hong Kong Association for the Study of Obesity
- Hong Kong Obesity Society
- Hong Kong Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- Hungarian Society for the Study of Obesity
- International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN)
- International Society for the Perioperative Care of the Obese Patient (ISPCOP)
- Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (IrSPEN)
- The Israeli Association for the Study of Obesity
- Italian Obesity Society (SIO)
- Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO)
- Latin American Federation of Obesity (FLASO)
- The Lithuanian Society of Bariatric Surgery
- Mexican Society of Obesity
- National Lipid Association (USA)
- Norwegian Society for the Surgery of Obesity
- Obesity Australia
- Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN)
- Obesity Collective
- Obesity Medicine Association (USA)
- Obesity Society of Nigeria
- The Obesity Surgery Society India (OSSI)
- Obesity UK
- Romanian Bariatric Society
- Romanian Federation of Diabetes, Nutrition, Metabolic diseases
- The Royal College of Physicians -RCP- (UK)
- Russian Society of Bariatric Surgeons
- Sociedad Argentina de Cirugia de la Obesidad Enfermedad Metabolica y Otras
- Relacionados con la Obesidad
- Sociedad Argentina de Obesidad y Trastornos Alimentarios
- The Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad y Enfermedades Metabólicas (SECO)
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
- Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM)
- The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT)
- South African Society for Surgery Obesity and Metabolism
- UK Association for the Study of Obesity
- Kayl Association for Combating Obesity
Scientific/Medical Journals
- The Annals of Surgery
- Cell Metabolism (Cell Press)
- Cell Reports Medicine (Cell Press)
- Clinical Obesity
- The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
- Med (Cell Press)
- All Nature Research Journals
- Obesity
- Obesity Reviews
- Obesity Science and Practice
- Obesity Surgery
- Pediatric Obesity
- Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (SOARD)
- Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism (Cell Press)
- Trends in Molecular Medicine (Cell Press)
Academic Institutions and Hospitals
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. Melbourne, Australia
- The Charles Perkins Institute, University of Sydney (Australia)
- Geisinger Obesity Institute; Geisinger Health System; Danville, PA (USA)
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
- King’s College London (UK)
- London Bridge Hospital, London (UK)
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center (USA)
- Specialized Centers for Obesity Management -GCC-CSO (France)
- St Vincent Private Hospital, Dublin (Ireland)
- Summer M. Redstone Center, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George
- Washington University (USA)
- Technische Universität Dresden; Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus (Germany)
- Transcampus of Technische Universität Dresden; Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav
- Carus (Germany) and King’s College London
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK)
- University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity (USA)
- The Veneto Obesity Network (Italy)
- The Center for Obesity and Diabetes, Oswaldo Cruz German Hospital, Sao Paulo,
- (Brazil)
- 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
Our Partners

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

American Association for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

American Diabetes Association

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

World Obesity Federation