Each World Obesity Day (March 4th) is a reminder that we need to keep rethinking how we talk about and respond to obesity. This blog brings together key UK organisations and influential voices working to reduce weight stigma and ensure lived experience is at the heart of change.
A major milestone in this area is the International Consensus Statement and Pledge to Eradicate Weight Stigma, led by King’s College London and endorsed by over 100 organisations. It shifts the focus away from personal blame and highlights the biological, environmental, and social factors that contribute to obesity. The pledge calls for respectful language, non‑stigmatising imagery, and stronger advocacy across public systems.
The Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) brings together more than 60 organisations committed to stigma‑free, equitable, person‑centred care. Their work recognises how harmful stigma can be—and how often it prevents people from seeking support. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) also plays a vital role, providing practical guidelines for person‑first language and the use of non‑dehumanising imagery, which is especially important given how commonly stigma is experienced in healthcare settings.
Across the UK, public‑facing resources are growing too. Food Active’s Weight Stigma Resource Hub offers accessible tools and examples for practitioners and local authorities, challenging the idea that obesity is just a matter of personal choice and helping shift public understanding. At the same time, patient and public involvement (PPI) initiatives like Obesity Voices ensure people with lived experience have genuine influence over research, policy, and practice.
Several key individuals are also helping reshape national conversations. Sarah Le Brocq, Founder of All About Obesity CIC, is one of the UK’s leading advocates. She blends lived experience with scientific insight and national policy roles at NICE, NHSE, and the OHA. Her work reframes obesity as a chronic condition rather than a personal failing.
Ken Clare, Chair of the UK Coalition for People Living with Obesity (UKCPO) and co‑founder of Obesity Voices, is another long‑standing lived‑experience leader. He champions peer‑led communities and ensures that those most affected are shaping services, research, and strategy.
Scientific communicators such as Dr Giles Yeo, a genetics expert, also play an important role by challenging the “choice” narrative and promoting compassion grounded in evidence. And Dr Stephanie DeGiorgio works nationally to improve how healthcare professionals communicate about obesity, strengthening scientific understanding and reducing stigma in clinical settings.
Together, these organisations and individuals signal a positive shift in the UK – away from stigma and towards evidence‑based, compassionate, and inclusive approaches. On World Obesity Day, it’s more important than ever to amplify these efforts, challenge outdated assumptions, and ensure that every voice is heard, respected, and valued.
Written by Dr Alice Bullas, Sheffield Hallam University.
Edited by Co-Pilot AI (University Enterprise License).
Image: Wold Obesity