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.