Communicating About Weight in Dietetics Practice: Recommendations for Reduction of Weight Bias and Stigma

by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

WEIGHT BIAS REFLECTS negative societal attitudes based on body weight and may include judgments about a person’s body shape or size if that size is not in concordance with societal expectations. A significant focus of weight bias research has been the stigma directed toward people in larger bodies, known as obesity stigma or, more commonly, weight stigma. Weight bias has been shown to be pervasive throughout American society and culture, including among some within the field of dietetics. Negative beliefs and attitudes may include perceptions of people in larger bodies as lazy, sloppy, noncompliant, or lacking self-discipline. These stereotypes may implicitly or explicitly influence how Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) interact with people with obesity within the many different professional roles in which RDNs serve. This article discusses the importance of addressing weight bias and weight stigma in the dietetics field and presents current controversies relating to weight stigma. The authors propose actionable strategies for communicating about weight across different aspects of dietetics, from policy to training to practice.