Obesity, stigma and public health planning

Given the rise in obesity rates in North America, concerns about obesity-related costs to the health care system are being stressed in both the popular media and the scientific literature. With such constant calls to action, care must be taken not to increase stigmatization of obese people, particul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health promotion international 2009-03, Vol.24 (1), p.88-93
Main Authors: MacLean, Lynne, Edwards, Nancy, Garrard, Michael, Sims-Jones, Nicki, Clinton, Kathryn, Ashley, Lisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude to Health
DEBATE
Health Planning - ethics
Health policy
Health Promotion - ethics
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
North America
Obesity
Obesity - prevention & control
Obesity - psychology
Ontario
Planning
Prejudice
Professional-Patient Relations - ethics
Public health
Public Health Administration - ethics
public health planning
Self Concept
Social conditions
Stereotyping
stigma
Stigmatization
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Summary:Given the rise in obesity rates in North America, concerns about obesity-related costs to the health care system are being stressed in both the popular media and the scientific literature. With such constant calls to action, care must be taken not to increase stigmatization of obese people, particularly of children. While there is much written about stigma and how it is exacerbated, there are few guidelines for public health managers and practitioners who are attempting to design and implement obesity prevention programs that minimize stigma. We examine stigmatization of obese people and the consequences of this social process, and discuss how stigma is manifest in health service provision. We give suggestions for designing non-stigmatizing obesity prevention public health programs. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
ISSN:0957-4824
1460-2245
DOI:10.1093/heapro/dan041