from problems to solutions: Intersectional approaches to weight justice

The Annual International Weight Stigma Conference is an inter-disciplinary event that brings together scholars and practitioners from a range of backgrounds (e.g., public health, government and public policy, psychology, medicine, bioethics, sociology, anthropology, allied health professions, education, sports and exercise science, social sciences, media studies, business, law, activism, and the lay public) to consider research, policy, rhetoric, and practice around the issue of weight stigma.

This year’s theme “From problems to solutions: Intersectional approaches to weight justice” highlights the importance of moving beyond studies that demonstrate the extent of the issue, to work that demonstrates how to address and effectively mitigate the issue. By offering a space for learning, collaboration, and action, the conference aims to contribute to the dismantling of weight stigma and the enhancement of weight inclusive and liberatory practices, thereby fostering a more equitable, just, and inclusive society.

The two-day interdisciplinary programme will cover the entire weight stigma spectrum, from basic research through to implementation research, practice, policy, and activism, and feature an outstanding roster of international speakers and local experts.

We are accepting abstracts for oral presentations, posters, and longer sessions. We invite contributions across a wide range of disciplines and methodological and theoretical approaches. Intersectional approaches and perspectives from other groups with unequal access to power and privilege are especially welcome. We encourage submissions from scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and activists. Students are especially encouraged to submit proposals.

Visit our abstract submission page for more information.

* Some recordings may be unavailable due to presenter preference.

Weight Stigma Conference Bursary Fund

The Weight Stigma Conference is a not-for-profit event. The conference is funded by registration fees and sponsors whose support has made this event possible. In order to make the conference more accessible, we offer a small number of full and partial bursaries to people who might otherwise not be able to attend, but there is never enough funding to give a bursary to everyone who needs one. Since 2016, we have been crowdsourcing the conference Bursary Fund, and your generosity allowed us to provide 81 bursaries so far.

There are several ways that you can donate to the Bursary Fund. If you are planning on attending the conference this year, there will be a donation option on the Registration form. Otherwise, the simplest way to donate is to use the button below to pay via PayPal. This is our preferred option as there are fewer fees and charges involved at our end, and more of your donations can go toward the bursaries.

We have also set up a GoFundMe page for the 2026 Bursary Fund.
All funds raised via these methods are ring-fenced for bursaries and will not be used for anything else. Thank you again for your generosity in helping us make this possible. Alternatively, you can contact us to discuss other arrangements or to explore other sponsorship options.

Previous Conferences

Information about previous conferences, including conference brochure and abstract books, and speaker slides, is available here.

(Note, we apologise but this may not be possible from a mobile phone.)