
Health and Wellbeing Philosophy and Approach to Weight
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) members have identified professional concerns across the province on the prevalence of weight stigmatization and its impact on health. It was recognized that there was a need for a coordinated approach to guide public health in supporting health promotion efforts, while minimizing the harmful consequences of using weight-centred language and a weight focus (i.e. weight loss). ODPH supports this alternate health promotion philosophy and health behaviour model as a best practice approach to foster health and wellbeing at the population level and to minimize harm caused by the consideration of an individual’s weight as a behaviour (individual choice), rather than an outcome of many complex interacting factors, many out of an individual’s control.
Resource Information
Date
June 26, 2018
Author
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health
Type
Strategy/Framework
Setting
Children's Service/Child Care, Community-at-large, Primary Care, School, Workplace
Age
Prenatal, Infant, Toddler (1-3), Children (4-11), Youth (12-17), Adults (18-64), Older Adults (65 and over)
Topic
Chronic Disease Prevention, Health Equity, Healthy Weight | Obesity, Mental Health
Language
English
Jurisdiction
Local/Municipal/Regional, Provincial, National
Tags
body mass index, chronic disease prevention, health equity, mental health, obesity, primary care, strategy, weight