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2024 Equity Challenge

Day 13: Weight Bias

We need a world that insists upon safety and dignity for all of us — not because we are beautiful, healthy, blameless, exceptional or beyond reproach, but because we are human beings.

Today's Challenge

Read

Listen

Act

  • Share this policy brief on weight bias and weight stigma from the UIC School of Public Health at your workplace, especially if you work in public health, fitness, a medical field, community serving organization or school. Ask if there are ways your organization can use this information to be more inclusive in serving the community.
  • Weight bias and stigma are perpetuated every day in the ways we talk about ourselves, our children and others. Consider how statements like the following perpetuate negative beliefs:
    • Incessant commenting on body weight, e.g., “I feel so fat”
    • Complimenting others on their bodies or weight loss.
    • Talking about having a “beach body” or using body image as a measure of self-worth.
    • Anything related to weight loss as self-improvement.
    • Anything that equates thinness with superiority or virtue.
    • “I’m being so bad” when referring to eating certain foods.
    • Commenting on how much someone else is eating.
    • “Do I look fat in this?”
    • Anything assuming that people of certain body shapes or sizes aren’t athletic or can’t partake in physical activity.
  • Join us this Friday for our Community Action Friday at the Ann Arbor YMCA. This project involves a community mural painting developed by The Youth Volunteer Corps. This project is family friendly with shifts throughout the afternoon and early evening. You can get more information and sign up on our volunteer portal.