title: Obesity, stigma and public health planning.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. lynne.maclean@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garrard
authors.forename: Nicki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sims-Jones
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clinton
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ashley
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D006285:Health Planning / Q000941:ethics*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000941:ethics; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D009864:Ontario; D011287:Prejudice; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D011635:Public Health Administration / Q000941:ethics*; D012649:Self Concept; D013240:Stereotyping