Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Deferred
Paragraph: 96
Integrate weight stigma training into healthcare curricula and review obesity campaign language.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Government undertakes an urgent review of its current campaigns related to obesity and alters any language or media used that fail to 36 The impact of body image on mental and physical health mention being underweight is as big a risk as being overweight. We also recommend that training on weight stigma is integrated into undergraduate and trainee curricula in all medical, nursing and other allied professional programmes to address stigma early on. This requires professional bodies and Health Education England to update their curricula and training standards, coupled with training offered to all current clinical staff, on how best to discuss weight and health.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response details guidance for doctors offering non-surgical cosmetic procedures and the importance of informed patient choice, but does not address the recommendation to review obesity campaigns for language or integrate weight stigma training into medical, nursing, and allied professional curricula.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
96
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
OHID uses a person-centred approach when writing about obesity and is guided by organisations such as Obesity UK ’s Obesity Language Matters Guide and the principles of good practice for interactions between healthcare professionals and people living with obesity. OHID also researches and advises how best to talk to families about their weight in the most enabling and positive way. OHID ’s Better Health adult obesity campaign was developed with guidance from public health experts. OHID has also liaised with appropriate organisations, including a consultant psychiatrist, a charity working with people living with obesity and relevant physical activity organisations. In addition, OHID has worked with the charity Beat to ensure that feedback from those living with eating disorders is fed into the campaigning process. Campaign materials are extensively researched to ensure that the campaign is not seen as judgemental or blaming and does not stigmatise people for how they live their lives. The people featured in the campaign are shown positively – making manageable changes to improve their health. The main tool to which we guide those who are overweight or living with obesity is the NHS Weight Loss Plan app , which asks users to enter their height and weight as part of the set-up process and, if they are a healthy weight or are underweight, they receive a message explaining that this weight loss tool is not appropriate for them. Better Health’s information on children’s weight now includes evidence-based tips to help parents talk about weight and healthy growth with their child, if they choose to, and the National Child Measurement Programme ( NCMP ) is trialling new approaches and resources to help parents and healthcare professionals talk about weight in a supportive way via an ‘extended brief intervention’ as part of the child and family weight management services grant . The NCMP updates annual operational guidance for all delivery staff, including school nursing teams, to ensure measurements are conducted in a sensitive and non-stigmatising way. OHID has also developed guidance to support practitioners delivering the programme locally to engage in supportive conversations with parents about the NCMP and their child’s health.
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