Weight bias has dominated how people with obesity are portrayed for far too long — but we’re changing that narrative. This weekend, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company, the Stop Weight Bias Campaign unveiling a new bias-free obesity image gallery at this year’s HLTH Conference (Oct. 20-23). The free image gallery, part of Stop Weight Bias Campaign, is a collection of authentic, respectful images for the media and content creators to help shift public perception of obesity and challenge harmful stereotypes.
Why We Launched the Image Gallery
Weight bias remains a widespread issue, with the media often reinforcing negative stereotypes about obesity as a lifestyle choice rather than a disease. In movies, T.V. shows and advertisements, people with obesity are regularly seen in a comedic light. When many news outlets report on obesity, they more often than not use images that focus on the torso and crop out the rest of the body.
We created the Stop Weight Bias Image Gallery to combat these damaging portrayals and provide a more humanizing representation of people with obesity. They deserve to have their disease treated with the same level of respect and care as other chronic diseases.
The Impacts of Weight Bias
The consequences of weight bias are serious and far-reaching. Not only can it lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, but it can also worsen physical health. Weight bias often discourages individuals from seeking medical care and encourages social isolation, which compounds the challenges they already face.
Our Commitment
The Stop Weight Bias Campaign, brought to you by the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), is committed to ending weight stigma, pushing equality forward and shifting perceptions of obesity. Our partnership with Eli Lilly and Company is helping to grow this mission so we can ensure all individuals affected by obesity are treated with dignity and have access to the care and treatment they deserve.
Explore our new bias-free obesity image gallery HERE and join us in the fight to push equality forward.
