Addressing Weight Bias: How Inclusivity Drives Healthy Customer Outcomes.
This is Article #8 in our Think Piece Series that addresses how the Health & Fitness Sector can successfully support individuals who are using Anti-Obesity Medications (AOMs). ??????
ARTICLE PREFACE This topic is timely since it coincides with the completion of the ObesityWeek? 2024 Conference that just took place in San Antonio, Texas from November 2 to 4, 2024. The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) defines weight bias as negative attitudes, beliefs, and judgments directed toward individuals based on their body weight. This bias can manifest as stereotypes and discrimination, often leading to unequal treatment and social stigma.
The OAC emphasizes that weight bias is pervasive in many areas, including healthcare, workplaces, education, and media, and it significantly impacts the mental and physical well-being of those who experience it.
The OAC advocates for reducing weight bias by promoting understanding, empathy, and policies that foster equitable treatment and combat stigmatizing behavior toward individuals of all body sizes.
We all know that one of the most difficult topics to talk about is not only “biases” in general, but also our own “biases” in particular.
Ann & I have not only survived the biases that we have encountered over our lifetime, but we are going through our own biases as well today.
Let’s Be Real and Honest: No One Feels Comfortable Talking About Their Own Biases.
However, if we, as a Sector, truly want to create successful, customer-centric support programs for individuals at various stages of their obesity management journeys, we need to address the concept of Weight Bias within our Organizations.
These are our 3 questions for our Readers:
1.??? Why should individuals managing obesity choose to “Join” our Support Programs?
2.??? Why should individuals participating in our Support Programs choose to “Stay” engaged?
3.??? Why would individuals benefiting from our Support Programs choose to “Refer” others to Join our Programs?
This Topic and The Health & Fitness Sector Ann and I would like to thank Amy Thompson and IDEA for originally publishing Weight Bias in the Health and Fitness Industry, written by Cassandra Padgett and Natalie Digate Muth. This article was initially published on July 13, 2020, and then updated on July 9, 2024. https://www.ideafit.com/weight-bias-in-the-health-and-fitness-industry/
The following 7 points captures the essence from Cassandra & Natalie’s Article: 1.??? The Fitness Sector has a cultural bias towards Fit People.?
2.??? The Sector has been focused on getting Fit People Fitter. ?
3.??? The Sector tends to be judgmental & spread the stigma about Obesity.
4.??? We have to de-stigmatize our Industry that focuses on ideal, thin & muscular body types.?
5.??? In fitness settings, our Sector has to create welcoming spaces for all body sizes that can encourage participation and reduce fear of judgment.
6.??? With additional training, the Sector must create, deliver & manage inclusive programming options that support the outcome goals of Customers who are facing obesity-related challenges.
7.??? We must create a teaching/learning environment that is inviting, welcoming, supportive & psychologically safe for customers who are in various phases of their.?
As a minimum, the following graphic identifies four steps that Owners/Operators should take to start the process of reducing and eventually eliminating Weight Bias.
Create An Inclusive Fitness Environment. An inclusive fitness environment is about creating a space where everyone—regardless of size, ability, or background—feels welcomed and valued.
It’s a strategic business decision that builds community, drives member recruitment, retention, referrals and supports better mental and physical health for more people.
This approach breaks down stereotypes, reduces stigma, and builds trust, boosting your facility’s reputation as a positive, socially responsible space. Plus, it sparks innovative programming that keeps things fresh and appealing for a diverse crowd.
When members feel seen and accepted, they stick around, bringing word-of-mouth growth and loyalty that’s priceless.
It’s more than just good business; it’s about creating a hub or a destination where everyone can chase their health, wellness and fitness goals, knowing they belong and are supported.
This Graphic identifies the benefits of this strategic business decision.
Create Anti-Weight Bias Practices As an Operator investment, Fitness facilities need to create anti-weight bias practices to ensure all members feel respected, included, and supported. Reducing bias fosters a welcoming environment, promotes health equity, and increases customer recruitment, customer retention & customer referrals.
This Graphic identifies how Anti-Weight Bias Practices can impact our operations. ?
Embrace & Utilize Person-First Language Concept??????????????????????????????????????????? ????? Person-First Language is a concept that’s all about putting the person before any label or condition. It’s a way of talking and writing that makes sure people are recognized as individuals first—not just summed up by a disability, illness, or any other trait.
This approach is about respect, plain and simple. It takes away the stigma and reminds everyone that a condition is just a piece of someone’s story, not the whole thing.
This Graphic summarizes the Benefits of Person-First Language.
Think About It: Instead of saying "an obese person," you’d say "a person with obesity." Instead of "disabled person," it’s "a person with a disability." It’s a small change in wording, but it packs a punch when it comes to showing that people are more than their conditions. They deserve to be seen and treated with dignity and empathy, whether you're catching the subway in NYC or enjoying the sun in South Florida.
This next Graphic provides a list of examples of Person-First Language as it relates to Weight Bias.
The Need for Weight Bias & Weight Bias Sensitivity Training While these 2 concepts may seem similar, there is a difference even though they share common goals of reducing weight-biased stigma and promoting more inclusive environments, according to the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC).
Weight Bias Training emphasizes understanding, according to the OAC, the underlying mechanisms of bias and teaches strategies for recognizing and mitigating these biases. It often includes discussions, interactive sessions, and practical tools for identifying and addressing biases in professional and personal contexts.
The OAC also states that Weight Bias Sensitivity Training often involves role-playing, storytelling, and exercises that promote empathy and interpersonal skills.” It aims to change not just awareness but also behavior by fostering a deeper understanding of how to interact sensitively with others.”
Since an understanding of both of these concepts are equally important in any Anti-Weight Bias Campaign, we recommend that Operators recruit an appropriate Licensed Professional to conduct this type of training.
This list can include, as a minimum, the following Professionals: 1.??? Licensed Psychologists
2.??? Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
3.??? Healthcare Professionals with Advanced Training
4.??? Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists with Specialized Training
SUMMARY.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Recognizing biases requires deliberate effort, tools for reflection, and an open mindset.
Education, training, and continuous self-reflection help organizations and individuals become more aware of their biases and take steps to mitigate them.
Developing an anti-weight bias training program builds on this awareness by requiring deep understanding, credible content, engaging methods, customization, expert input, and leadership support.
Such programs are essential for fostering an inclusive, supportive, and bias-free environment that encourages continuous improvement and genuine culture change.
At the end of the day, our collective goal, if we decide-to-accept-it, is to provide customer-centric support to individuals who are at various stages of their obesity management journeys.
Once again, none of our Operational & Programming Assumptions are absolute. These assumptions are designed to continue the Operational & Programming conversations within the AOM Space in the Global Health & Fitness Sector.
The “Only Absolute” is that there are “No Absolutes”!
As always, please give us your feedback so that we can continually evolve our Think Pieces.
Legal Disclaimer: The information that Ann & I are providing is for educational, operational & programming purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Our intention is to provide customer-centric operational & programming support for AOM Customers.
Ann Gilbert: Club Owner/Operator, Hybrid FitPro, Coach, Speaker, Educator & Author. Creating Health & Fitness Sector Programming Solutions for Active & Inactive Agers Since 1983. [email protected]
Bob Esquerre: Business Growth Strategist & Operations Analyst: Health & Fitness Sector Hybrid FitPro, Coach, Speaker, Educator, Author. Creating?Health & Fitness Sector Business Solutions Since 1993. [email protected]
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National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach; ADAPT Certified Functional Health Coach; Certified Professional Food Addiction Coach
2 周Thank you for including me in the tag! Important points to consider.