The hottest Body positivity Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

Big Fat Imaginations

The Audacity. • 10161 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Fatphobia Body positivity
  1. Fatphobia limits opportunities and possibilities for individuals.
  2. People often make cruel and unkind comments about others based on their appearance.
  3. Fat Black women like Lizzo face disproportionate criticism and derision, focusing on their bodies rather than their achievements.

A FAT TALK Love Note

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith • 6505 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Body positivity Self-care Mental health
  1. The author's book Burnt Toast became a New York Times bestseller, leading to emotional reactions and celebrations.
  2. The community's support played a crucial role in the book's success, impacting various individuals and professionals in positive ways.
  3. The author expresses gratitude and pride for the collective effort that contributed to the book's achievement.

Reader Question - My Doctor Claims He Can "Jump Start" Weight Loss?

Weight and Healthcare • 878 implied HN points • 04 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Nutrition Medical Ethics Body positivity Health Research
  1. Behavior-based weight loss interventions usually fail to produce significant, long-term weight loss for most people.
  2. The idea of 'jump starting' weight loss with extreme food/caloric restrictions is generally ill-advised as it can trigger famine responses in the body, making it a weight-gaining machine.
  3. Promoting or selling products like liquid diets by medical professionals is not legally prohibited, but the evidence does not support the effectiveness of 'kick starting' weight loss as a long-term solution.
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The Burnt Toast Guide to Weight and Health

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith • 3439 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Health Education Body positivity Weight Loss Fat Liberation Diet Culture
  1. The Burnt Toast community welcomes people at different stages of understanding fat liberation and diet culture.
  2. The conversation about weight and health often confuses correlation with causation.
  3. Weight loss doesn't always lead to better health and can have risks, so the focus shouldn't solely be on losing weight.

The Scientifically Shaky Definitions of "Obesity"

Weight and Healthcare • 958 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Health Issues Body positivity Weight loss industry Fat Activism
  1. The weight loss industry manipulates the definitions of obesity to suit their profit-driven agenda, claiming it as a disease and influencing healthcare elements.
  2. Common definitions of obesity by organizations like the CDC and NIH raise questions about objectivity and scientific accuracy in diagnosing obesity.
  3. The push by the weight loss industry to expand the market for weight loss drugs raises concerns about pathologizing higher-weight bodies and the need to shift away from a weight-centric paradigm.

Quick Guide – Creating a Size-Accommodating Office

Weight and Healthcare • 439 implied HN points • 11 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Patient Care Inclusivity Body positivity
  1. Make sure your office has sturdy seating that can accommodate people of all sizes, from waiting rooms to treatment areas.
  2. Have the largest blood pressure cuffs available in every area where blood pressure is taken to ensure accurate readings for higher-weight patients.
  3. Provide the largest possible gowns for patients and consider if gowns are really necessary or if patients can wear their own clothing.

Things to Stop Saying and Doing in Front of Higher-Weight Patients

Weight and Healthcare • 798 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Body positivity Patient Advocacy
  1. Weight loss and food talk should not happen in healthcare settings without patient consent. It can be harmful and triggering, especially for patients recovering from eating disorders.
  2. Avoid any negative body talk in front of patients and do not label higher-weight patients as 'difficult' or 'challenging' based on their weight. Blaming the patient's body for healthcare failings is detrimental.
  3. Discuss sensitive topics like movement and repositioning out of earshot of the patient or involve them in the conversation. Healthcare should accommodate patients of all sizes without blaming the patient.

NYT Ethicist’s Weight Stigma Problem

Weight and Healthcare • 1597 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Body positivity Mental health Healthcare Self-care
  1. The columnist's response perpetuated weight stigma by disregarding boundaries and making assumptions about health based on weight.
  2. It's essential to respect others' boundaries, especially regarding personal matters like weight and health.
  3. Approaching conversations about weight and health should prioritize well-being, avoiding judgment, and listening to the individual.

Zepbound/Mounjaro Tirzeptatide for Weight Loss Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 718 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Medical Industry Research Healthcare system Body positivity
  1. The concept of 'ob*esity' as a disease and the idea that it is progressive and relapsing are constructs of the weight loss industry and not scientifically supported.
  2. The study promoting Zepbound/Tirzepatide for weight loss has ties to the pharmaceutical industry, raising questions about potential bias and conflicts of interest among the authors.
  3. The lead author of the study, Louis J. Aronne, has a history of promoting weight loss methods without substantial research backing, raising concerns about the credibility of research surrounding weight loss drugs.

Physician Demonstrates Medical Weight Stigma and Bias

Weight and Healthcare • 958 implied HN points • 06 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Fat Activism Body positivity
  1. Weight stigma and bias in healthcare can impact fat people, leading to unequal treatment and discrimination.
  2. Healthcare providers should focus on finding solutions to accommodate and care for fat patients instead of blaming and stigmatizing them.
  3. Fat people deserve equal rights, healthcare, and the right to celebrate their bodies regardless of their size or health conditions.

Resources to Fight BMI-Based Denials for Lumbar Spinal Surgery

Weight and Healthcare • 778 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Surgery Obesity Healthcare Body positivity
  1. BMI-based denials of care hold healthcare hostage for weight loss, making it inaccessible for many people.
  2. Studies show that being overweight or obese should not be a reason to deny lumbar spinal surgery.
  3. Healthcare systems should adapt to fit patients of all body types, rather than excluding higher-weight individuals from care.

Goodbye To Jenny Craig

Weight and Healthcare • 1178 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Dieting Weight Loss Body positivity Health Research
  1. Jenny Craig, a popular commercial diet program, is shutting down after decades. Despite its promises of weight loss, it failed to show long-term results in studies.
  2. Commercial diet programs like Jenny Craig often rely on a cycle of success and failure, blaming clients for weight regain without acknowledging the limitations of restrictive diets.
  3. The closure of Jenny Craig is a reminder of the lack of evidence behind many weight loss programs, as clients are left without sustainable results.

The Problem With the AMA's New BMI Policy

Weight and Healthcare • 978 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Body positivity Medical Practices Weight Stigma Healthcare Inequalities
  1. The AMA's new BMI policy acknowledges the historical harm, racist exclusion, and limitations of using BMI, suggesting it be used alongside other measures.
  2. The AMA's recognition of the limitations of BMI doesn't fully address the core issue of pathologizing bodies based on size, perpetuating weight stigma and inequalities in healthcare.
  3. The AMA's connection to the weight loss industry raises concerns about their motives behind the new policy, impacting healthcare decisions and patient care.

Case Study - Higher-Weight Patient Seeks CT Scan

Weight and Healthcare • 798 implied HN points • 08 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare access Advocacy Body positivity
  1. Higher-weight patients may face challenges in accessing appropriate healthcare services, such as imaging scans like CT scans.
  2. Patients should not have to navigate through healthcare system barriers on their own and should receive accurate information about medical procedures upfront.
  3. Advocacy and education are important for challenging medical weight stigma and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all patients.

NYT Ethicist's Weight Stigma Hypocrisy Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 918 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Ethics Healthcare Body positivity Mental health
  1. The column discusses weight stigma and hypocrisy in healthcare, pointing out discrimination based on body size.
  2. It highlights the importance of respecting boundaries and being cautious with compliments related to body size manipulation.
  3. The response from the Ethicist regarding concerns about weight loss drugs brings to light inconsistencies and potential ethical issues.

Weight-Neutral Health And Wegovy - Unprinted Interview

Weight and Healthcare • 858 implied HN points • 05 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Body positivity Medical Industry Health Research Drug Safety
  1. The concept of body-size-as-disease is constructed by the diet industry and lacks scientific grounding.
  2. Engaging in intentional weight loss contradicts being a part of the Health at Every Size community.
  3. Research suggests that weight-neutral interventions can offer similar cardiometabolic benefits with fewer risks compared to weight loss drugs.

How Do I Talk To A Colleague About Their Weight Stigma?

Weight and Healthcare • 858 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Body positivity
  1. Address weight stigma directly by pointing out negative comments and providing resources or education.
  2. Support patients indirectly by educating colleagues through patient interactions.
  3. Make generalized statements to address weight stigma if direct confrontation is not preferred, but remember it may not guarantee change.

Reader Question – Top Three Phrases for Dealing with Medical Weight Stigma

Weight and Healthcare • 619 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
🏥 Health Politics Weight Stigma Informed consent Body positivity
  1. Ask what treatment would be given to a thin person with the same issue to navigate weight stigma in healthcare.
  2. Assert your right to informed refusal to treatment when faced with weight-related recommendations or pressure.
  3. Redirect the focus of the conversation back to your healthcare needs and away from weight discussions using a phrase like 'I'd like to focus on...' to ensure patient-centered care.

The Alternative to “Obesity Medicine”

Weight and Healthcare • 818 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Medical care Body positivity Research
  1. A healthcare system should provide equal care to individuals of all sizes, moving towards truly weight-inclusive healthcare.
  2. Research and practices in medicine should include fat patients to improve outcomes for higher-weight individuals.
  3. Weight-inclusive healthcare could reduce weight cycling and improve the health of fat individuals, challenging the ineffective weight-centric care system that has been in place for decades.

Reader Question – Is Obesity an Addiction Like Alcohol or Gambling?

Weight and Healthcare • 758 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Mental health Body positivity Weight Stigma Eating Disorders
  1. Obesity is not an addiction like alcohol or gambling; it is simply defined by a BMI of 30 or higher.
  2. Alcohol use disorder and gambling disorders have specific diagnostic criteria and shared behaviors, while obesity is not behavior-based.
  3. The concept of food addiction is controversial, and pathologizing higher weight bodies can be rooted in racism and anti-Blackness and perpetuated by the weight loss industry.

Not Blaming Fat People For Failed Weight Loss Isn't Enough

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 23 Aug 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Healthcare Weight Stigma Fat Activism Body positivity
  1. Healthcare practitioners often blame and shame fat patients for failed intentional weight loss, creating barriers to compassionate care.
  2. The weight loss industry acknowledges the failure of behavioral weight loss interventions, but their push for risky methods like drugs and surgeries is dangerous.
  3. Instead of blaming fat people for weight loss failure, healthcare should focus on respecting and affirming their humanity while supporting their health.

Article Shows How the Media Creates Weight Stigma, Even When It Isn’t There

Weight and Healthcare • 678 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Health Research Media influence Body positivity
  1. The study analyzed the impact of warning labels on sugary drinks but the media misrepresented the findings, leading to weight stigma.
  2. Existing research shows that interventions focusing on positive, weight-neutral health messages are most beneficial for people of all sizes.
  3. Media coverage often perpetuates weight stigma and misinformation, impacting public perception and potentially harming individuals.

Is Beachbody's Rebrand Really About Honoring All Shapes and Sizes? Part 1

Weight and Healthcare • 678 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Physical health Mental health Diets Fitness Body positivity
  1. Beachbody's rebrand to 'BODi' does not truly represent a commitment to weight-neutral fitness, despite efforts to suggest otherwise.
  2. Their promotional materials and programs still heavily focus on weight loss and diet culture, with no substantial evidence provided for long-term weight loss efficacy.
  3. The rebranding claims to honor all shapes and sizes but seems to continue promoting weight loss and thin bodies as the ideal, lacking true fat-affirming or weight-neutral approaches.

Reader Question: What is Relapsing Remitting Obesity

Weight and Healthcare • 639 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Obesity Weight Loss Diet Industry Health Issues Body positivity
  1. Relapsing Remitting Obesity is a term used in the context of repeated weight loss attempts followed by long-term weight gain.
  2. This concept of weight cycling has been shown to have serious negative impacts on health outcomes, which may be wrongly attributed to body size.
  3. The re-branding of weight cycling as Relapsing Remitting Obesity by the weight loss industry serves as a marketing tactic to perpetuate the cycle of failed products and interventions.

Weight Watchers Expands Their Harmful Model - Adding Prescription Drugs

Weight and Healthcare • 738 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Prescription drugs Medical Industry Body positivity Pharmaceuticals
  1. Weight Watchers is expanding their model by adding prescription drugs, showing a pattern of prioritizing profits over people's well-being.
  2. Weight Watchers acquired Sequence, a telehealth company prescribing weight loss drugs with risky side effects and questionable efficacy.
  3. The company's approach includes misleading weight loss claims, lack of transparency, and a focus on short-term financial gains rather than long-term health.

Steps for Practitioners to Advocate for Higher-Weight Patients/Clients

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Advocacy Weight Stigma Healthcare access Body positivity
  1. Recognize that higher-weight individuals deserve respect and healthcare, regardless of their size.
  2. Shift to a weight-neutral paradigm to support patients in the bodies they have, focusing on health rather than weight loss.
  3. Identify gaps in caring for higher-weight patients, work towards a healthcare system accessible to people of all sizes, and advocate for systemic change.

Fighting Weight Stigma by Ending Weight Pathologization - Part 2

Weight and Healthcare • 519 implied HN points • 15 Jul 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Fat Activism Body positivity
  1. The study focused on using qualitative methods to understand weight stigma by involving medical students and fat community members in narrative workshops.
  2. Participants in the study recognized the complexities of weight stigma in healthcare, including the impact of assumptions, power dynamics, and lack of trust in fat patients' stories.
  3. The intervention helped create depathologizing and empathetic interactions, undermining the power dynamic in medical authority and emphasizing the importance of humanizing interactions to combat weight stigma.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Kids On Diets – Full Interview

Weight and Healthcare • 539 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Children's Health Dieting Body positivity Mental health Medical Ethics Weight Stigma
  1. Body Mass Index is not a reliable measure of health as people at the same weight can have vastly different health statuses.
  2. Factors like genetics, social determinants, and health-supporting behaviors matter more to overall health than weight.
  3. Research shows that diets are ineffective, especially for kids, and can lead to negative outcomes like eating disorders and weight gain.

Study Looks At Ways To Protect Ourselves from Weight Stigma

Weight and Healthcare • 619 implied HN points • 11 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Health Impact Research Analysis Body positivity
  1. The study highlights the detrimental impact of internalizing weight stigma on physical and mental health.
  2. Factors like alignment with the group 'Fat' and beliefs about weight controllability can predict resistance to weight stigma.
  3. Recognizing and challenging weight stigma, reframing self-identity as a fat person, and fighting against stigma messages are crucial steps to protect against weight stigma.

The Validation and Frustration of Stunkard et al.

Weight and Healthcare • 619 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Research Body positivity Medical Science Healthcare systems
  1. Stunkard et al.'s 1959 study on weight loss interventions revealed the ineffectiveness and harmfulness of most programs from as early as the 1950s.
  2. The study highlighted common flaws in weight loss research, such as short-duration studies, lack of specific data on individual outcomes, and the exclusion of unsuccessful participants.
  3. It's frustrating to see that the failure of weight loss interventions has been consistently validated since the 1950s, yet the weight loss industry continues to grow, offering dangerous and expensive solutions.

Things to Stop Saying/Doing To Fat Patients At The Start Of Their Appointments

Weight and Healthcare • 639 implied HN points • 25 Jan 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Stigma Medical care Self-Advocacy Inclusivity Body positivity
  1. Patients should not be told they are too big for equipment; it's the equipment that's too small.
  2. Facilities should proactively have gowns in all sizes for patients, rather than suggesting they wear two.
  3. Healthcare workers should avoid giving unsolicited food advice and respect patients' choice to refuse routine weigh-ins.

Study Finds Doctors’ Weight Loss Advice Is Rarely Effective

Weight and Healthcare • 599 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Weight Loss Body positivity
  1. Study found that doctors' weight loss advice is usually not effective, including generic suggestions like 'eat less, move more'.
  2. Doctors receive minimal education on nutrition and weight management, making it unfair to expect them to provide effective weight loss advice.
  3. Moving to a weight-neutral paradigm can improve doctor-patient interactions by focusing on health rather than body size, potentially benefiting patient care.