Key points
Your weight does not define your worth or your willpower. Belittling remarks, prejudice and discrimination related to body size can affect daily life, and also your healthcare.
Talking about weight may be necessary for your health. It should be done with respect, taking into account your history, your symptoms and your expectations.
What is weight stigma?
Weight stigma refers to attitudes and discrimination that devalue a person because of their body size. It can occur in the family, at work, in public places or in healthcare.
It is based, among other things, on the idea that weight reflects a lack of willpower or effort. Yet obesity is a disease with many causes.
Weight stigma in healthcare
In healthcare, stigma can take different forms: a remark that makes you feel guilty, assumptions about your lifestyle, or symptoms attributed to weight without adequate assessment. Unsuitable equipment can also make a consultation or an examination difficult.
Weight can contribute to some health problems, but it should not become an automatic explanation for every symptom. Every concern deserves to be listened to and assessed.
Talking about weight with respect
Mentioning weight, offering to weigh you or recommending a treatment is not in itself weight stigma. The professional should be able to explain why it is useful and how it relates to your health.
A respectful consultation leaves room for your questions, for the efforts you have already made and for the difficulties you have faced. Suggestions should be practical and suited to your situation.
A possible effect on seeking care
Fear of being judged can lead people to put off a consultation or avoid some examinations. If a past experience was difficult for you, you can talk about it with the team caring for you.
You do not have to wait until you have lost weight to ask for help.
How can you say that you feel uncomfortable?
It is not always easy to respond during a consultation. A few phrases can help:
- “That comment makes me feel uncomfortable.”
- “Can you explain the link between my weight and this symptom?”
- “Are there other causes to look for?”
- “What practical support can you offer me?”
You can ask for explanations or seek another opinion if the conversation remains difficult.
Our approach at the Centre
Our support is based on listening and respect, without any judgement about your weight, your history or your past choices.
Your history, your priorities and your quality of life are part of the assessment, just as much as the medical findings.
If a choice of words, a situation or the conditions of an examination make you feel uncomfortable, please let us know so that we can look for a solution with you.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
My doctor advises me to lose weight: is that weight stigma?
Not in itself. This advice may be medically relevant. It should be explained, suited to your situation and accompanied by suggestions, without judgement about you as a person.
Can I ask why I am being weighed?
Yes. You can ask what the measurement is for and say if it makes you uncomfortable. Weighing can be useful for follow-up or for the safety of your care; the team will explain the reason.
Can I come for a consultation even if I am afraid of being judged?
Yes. You can mention this concern when you book or during the consultation, without having to describe an experience you do not wish to share.
Medical review of the French version: Dr Pierre Fournier
Scientific sources and references
Sources accessed on 15 October 2026.
- Rubino F, Puhl RM, Cummings DE, et al. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nat Med. 2020;26(4):485-497. doi:10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x. View source
- Author
- Prepared for the Centre from the sources cited
- References
- See “Scientific sources and references” on this page