Background: This presentation uses video to highlight the prevalence of subtle weight stigma in everyday interactions (starting in childhood) and even in ED treatment settings. Experiential exercises will allow us to safely explore our own weight biases. Consequences and solutions will be presented, especially as related to the "fight against obesity."
1. Video clips and images introducing the topic of weight stigma
a. Clips and images from mainstream movies and media portraying not-so-subtle messaging of weight stigma
b. Clips and images from mainstream movies and media portraying subtle messaging of weight stigma
i. Everyday interactions with strangers
ii. Well-intentioned interactions from family members
iii. Children's programming
c. Video with testimonials of those affected by weight stigma and the effects
i. Clips from HBO's Weight of a Nation
2. Audience reactions and anecdotes
3. Placing weight stigma in the context of the “fight against obesity”
a. Versus historical views on higher weight bodies
4. Reviewing relevant research
a. Research related to its prevalence
i. In children's programming
ii. In medical health
iii. In advertising
iv. In families
v. As related to gender
b. Research related to its consequences
i. Effects on children
ii. Effects on cortisol levels
iii. Effects on caloric consumption
iv. Effects on public health
v. Effects on perception
5. Weight stigma in eating disorder treatment settings
a. Experiential exercise exploring our own weight biases
i. Audience reactions
b. Internalized weight stigma in our clients
c. How changes in diagnostic criteria have shifted the paradigm
i. Population seeking treatment is increasingly diverse in body size
ii. Stigma among peers, especially of different ED diagnoses
d. Subtle weight stigma messaging in ED interventions
e. Audience examples
6. Possible solutions and considerations
a. Returning to the “fight against obesity”
i. Reviewing the relevant research on weight related to health
a. Video clip from TedTalk
b. HAES
c. Intuitive eating vs. dieting
b. Acknowledging weight stigma
i. Client's internalized weight stigma
1. Exploring societal, cultural, familial, and environmental messaging
ii. Dynamics of two, possibly diversely-sized, bodies (that of clinician and client) in the room
iii. Creating a safe milieu within treatment groups for clients of all body-sizes
c. Providing psychoeducation on weight stigma to client and family
d. Becoming savvy consumers of the images we allow into our everyday lives
e. Helping clients begin to shift their criticism and focus of and on their bodies
f. Encouraging client involvement in advocacy
Living in an image-driven society, weight stigma is everywhere we turn. There are subtle, and not so subtle, messages in the media, in our daily interactions with strangers, and in our well-intentioned interactions with family members, just to name a few. These messages are something society at large often accepts and sometimes even welcomes in the context of the “fight against obesity,” as many of us believe size and health are irrefutably related. As the “fight against obesity” continues to gain momentum, unfortunately so do the unforeseen ill effects of weight stigma, and the eating disorder treatment setting is not immune. Weight stigma can permeate the treatment setting in clients internalized weight stigma, in treating professionals’ own biases, in ED peer communities online and in milieus, and even in our most trustworthy interventions. Especially with the recent changes to diagnostic criteria, the population seeking eating disorder treatment will likely be of increasingly diverse body sizes. Thus, now more than ever is the time for us to turn our attention to the impact we as treatment professionals can have on the fight against weight stigma! In order to have the greatest positive impact with our clients, with our communities, and within ourselves, we as treatment professionals must 1) look inside, 2) evaluate our eating disorder interventions for underlying negative weight messages, 3) and get vocal about the issue in session and outside of the session. Topics discussed in this presentation will include relevant research pertaining to weight stigma and its effect on society, how to identify the subtle messages of weight stigma, how to facilitate self-exploration of internalized weight stigma, and how to address and decrease weight stigma in the eating disorder treatment setting. Experiential exercises will provide an eye-opening look at the insidious nature of weight stigma. Videos, images, and discussions will keep audience members active in the presentation.
Jamie is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for food, and is currently the Supervisor of Adult Dietary Programs at Center for Discovery. Since becoming a dietitian, she helps people meet their nutritional needs without losing sight of the social and emotional value of food. With a non-judgmental approach, Jamie helps people create a healthy relationship between food, mind, & body. Jamie has worked with all five levels of care and has spoken on the topic of eating disorders at the national and international level. Jamie has worked in this field since 2007, supporting clients where they are in recovery.
Dr. Jennifer Henretty graduated summa cum laude with her BA from Ohio Wesleyan University before going on to earn her MS and PhD at University of Memphis, where awarded the prestigious S.Howard Bartley Scholar Award and Enrico E.Jones Memorial Award. She has been in the therapeutic industry for over 10 years, treating eating disorders in adolescent and adult populations in all five levels-of-care. She has authored multiple publications; has functioned as an ED subject expert on the Answers4TheFamily radio show, on Dr. Phil, and for the LA Times; and serves as the president of the LA Chapter of iaedp.
