The Impact of Weight Bias & Stigma with Dr. Angela Alberga
Description
National obesity researcher Dr. Angela Alberga returns for a deep dive into one of the most pervasive and harmful forces in society: weight bias and stigma.
From subtle stereotypes to systemic barriers, weight bias shows up in ways we often don’t even see—especially in schools, sports, and healthcare. Its impact? Profound mental health effects, poorer care, and lifelong harm for many people living with obesity—especially children and teens.
In this conversation, we explore where weight bias hides, how it harms, and how we can begin dismantling it, across systems and as individuals.
In this episode:
Where weight bias hides in everyday environments—beyond the clinic
How stigma impacts young people in schools, sports, and healthcare
The mental health and long-term impacts of chronic exposure to bias
How bias becomes embedded in well-meaning systems—and how to disrupt it
- Practical first steps clinicians, educators, and leaders can take to address bias
Resources mentioned:
Canadian Pediatric Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: https://utm.guru/uitVE
Free course: The impact of weight bias & stigma: https://utm.guru/uitVF
Harvard Implicit Weight Bias Test: https://utm.guru/uitVH
- Obesity Canada’s positive image gallery: https://utm.guru/uiuXW
- Recognizing weight bias, stigma, & discrimination: https://utm.guru/uiuXY
- Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: Reducing Weight Bias in Obesity Management, Practice and Policy: https://utm.guru/uiuXZ
- Clinical Space Checklist to avoid weight stigma in equipment & our environments: https://utm.guru/uiuX0
- Free evidence-informed online learning module to reduce weight bias and stigma among health professionals, Balanced View: https://utm.guru/uiuX1
- Supportive Obesity Care, UConn Rudd Center & Rebecca Puhl: https://utm.guru/uiuX2
- Resources on how health professionals and families can hold sensitive weight-related conversations: https://utm.guru/uiuX6
Send us your questions or topic requests: scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca
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