From doctors' offices to family gatherings, larger-bodied people report being bombarded with unsolicited advice about their eating and exercise habits. The underlying message? They "just need to lose weight" to fix almost any health problem . Society's focus on weight has shaped how most Australians view health and body weight , often pushing them towards unhealthy thoughts and behaviors in the pursuit of an "ideal" body shape.
However, the way society thinks about ob*sity and body weight is changing, with science backing the shift. [Historical reflections on the word "obesity" reveal its offensive origins, with advocates suggesting the term ob*sity should be used with an asterisk to acknowledge this. To show our respect, we will adopt this language here.
] Policymakers and health researchers are increasingly recognizing the harms of stigmatizing language and attitudes towards larger-bodied people. Let's unpack how the thinking on ob*sity has shifted over time and what this means for public health and health care in Australia. From personal responsibility to a complex, chronic disease Until recent years, managing body weight was predominantly considered a personal responsibility .
Ob*sity was considered a result of a poor diet and a lack of physical activity, underpinned by personal and moral failure. This narrative was reflected in public health policies that used language such as " war on ob*sity " and "ob*sity epidemic." Such language was shown to reinforce negative stereot.