Weight Stigma Awareness Week Day 5: Continuing The Conversation

As Weight Stigma Awareness Week comes to a close, I want to wrap up with a quick summary of the topics we discussed, blog post topics for the upcoming weeks/months, and recommended resources to help continue to challenge weight stigma. Please note that while weight stigma week is over, there is still much work to be done. Stay tuned for more ways to raise awareness and challenge weight bias.

Before we start our summary: check in with yourself. How are you doing with all of this content? We are doing some heavy stuff here. Challenging weight stigma is hard work. It forces us to challenge notions that we have been told and believed our entire lives and now here I am telling you that stuff is wrong? That’s not easy. Depending on where you are in this process, you may start to feel really incongruent. On one hand, some of this new content might start to make sense and be something you can jump on board with, but at the same time everyone around you is talking about their newest diet or workout to modify their body size.

Please remember to be kind and compassionate towards yourself during this process. Remember that it IS a process and that it won’t be a linear journey. We can’t just wake up one day and be completely free of weight stigma. It’s something we have to actively work towards every day. Please remember that nobody on this journey is perfect and that this something that all of us struggle with time to time, no matter how long we have been working to challenge this stuff.

Most importantly, know that you are not alone in this journey. Others are here to support you and lift you up. And if you need a little extra boost, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  This can be via phone, e-mail or scheduling a session. This is something that we can work through together.

Trigger Warning: Please remember that the word “Fat” may be mentioned and that is simply meant to be a neutral description like I would use the words “tall”, “short”, “thin” etc. Please check out “What is Weight Stigma and Why Should I care?” to see my full explanation.

Summary of Weight Stigma Awareness Week 2019:

• What is Weight Stigma and Why Should I care? An introduction to weight stigma and weight stigma awareness week
• How Weight Stigma Impacts Education, Employment and Healthcare
• Unpacking Our Own Weight Bias
• The cross section of Weight Stigma and Eating Disorders

Topics to look forward to in the upcoming weeks Weight Stigma Awareness:

• Why the Words We Use Matter
• Unpacking Thin Privilege
• Poodle Science and Health At Every Size
• The problems with the “War On Childhood Obesity”
• Debunking the myths of diet culture and intentional weight loss
• How to Combat Weight Stigma in Our Daily Lives
• Intuitive Eating Mini Series

Recommended resources I used on my journey challenging weight bias:

*Please note while all of these are great resources that they do not replace medical or mental health advice!
*Remember, all of us are in different places in our weight stigma awareness journey. The creators of these resources are human and can be overall great, yet still have some unintentionally biased comments. I trust you to do what you need to do in regards for you own self-care. However, just because something contents slight traces of bias it does not mean that it is not an overall helpful source.

Documentaries:

– Fattitude (www.fattitudethemovie.com)

Podcasts

– FoodPysch by Christy Harrison

– You Can Eat with Us with Libre Connections

– Unpacking Weight Science with Fiona Willer

– Do No Harm

– The Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast with Dr. Janean Anderson

– Body Kindness with Rebecca Scritchfield

Books:

– Health At Every Size by Linda Bacon

– Body Respect by Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor

– 8 Keys To Recovery From an Eating Disorder Carolyn Costin

– Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

Workbooks:

– Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

– 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder Carolyn Costin

– Body Image Workbook by Thomas F. Cash

Social Media

– Instagram

– Themilitantbaker

– Bodyposipanda

– Theantidietplan

– Beauty_redfined

– i_weigh

– Chr1styharrison

– thefuckitdiet

– streetsmart.rd

– body_peace_liberation

– bodyimage_theapist

– rebeccascritchfield

– isabelfoxenduke

(And many, MANY more)

My To-Read list and other resources I have am in the process of exploring:

*Note: These are sources that have been recommended to me by other members of this community whom I trust. However, as I have not yet personally read/listened to these resources I cannot ensure the level they are “fat” friendly.

Podcasts:

–BodyPosiPanada

– The Fat Lip

– Friend of Marilyn

– Escape Diet Prison

– Fearless Rebelle Radio with Summer Innanen

– Finding Body Freedom with Caitlin Croeteau

– Don’t Salt My Game with Laura Thomas

-Body Love Project

Books:

– You Can Eat with Us by Laura Thomas, PhD

– Shrill by Lindy West

– You Have The Right To Remain Fat by Virgie Tovar

– The F**k it Diet: Eating Should be Easy by Caroline Dooner

– The Obesity Myth: Why America’s Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health by Paul Campos

– The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

– Beauty Sick by Renee Engelen, PhD

I’m sure there are many helpful resources that I missed or just could not create that long of a list before it became too overwhelming. Be on the lookout for more resources to be added under the “Resource” Tab on my homepage. Stay tuned for more posts regarding weig