Since 2023, the Weight Stigma Conference has been hybrid with both in-person and remote attendance available. All sessions will be recorded and videos will be available for delegates after the event.
NOTE: Please note that our conference program is subject to change at any point before or during the conference.
Presenting authors only are listed below. For the full list of authors and abstracts, please see the conference booklet.
| Download conference booklet (available late-June) |
Day 1
| Day 1 | |||
| 8:00–9:00 | Registration and breakfast | ||
| 9:00–9:15 | Opening remarks | ||
| 9:15–9:30 | Welcome to Country | ||
| 9:30–10:30 | Keynote Presentation 1 | ||
| Dr Angela Meadows Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK Plus ça change: The science we need for the future we want |
|||
| 10.30–10.45 | Short break | ||
| 10:45–11:45 | Oral Presentations 1: The Fatphobic Lens | Oral Presentations 2: Culture | Session 1: Seminar |
| The anti-obesity orientation of weight stigma research, 1960-2024 Rachel Fox, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Grand Valley State University, USA |
Debating fatness online: A netnographic study of the Greek television romcom ‘You Are My Soulmate’ Spyridon Chairetis, Department of Communication, Media, and Culture, Panteion University, Greece |
Shifting the lens: Adopting a weight-inclusive approach in health promotion Amy Bast and Sarah Hayes-Robinson, Better Health Network, Victoria, Australia |
|
| NHS Healthcare inequalities –Core20PLUS5 Helen James, VCSE Nutriri, UK |
Compulsory thinness: Examining the interpersonal, structural, and institutional policing of fat bodies Amanda Levitt, Department of Sociology, Wayne State University, USA Brianna Sorensen, Department of Social Work, Loyola University, USA |
||
| Mana mōmona: Exploring fat (bias) for Māori Ashlea Gillon Aramoana, Ngāti Awa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāiterangi – Te Wānanga o Waipapa, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, New Zealand |
Beyond weight loss: The emergence of fat life writing Judith Schreier, Department of English and American Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany |
||
| BMI and the structural account of microaggressions Taryn Knox, Bioethics Centre, University of Otago, New Zealand |
Cultural variations in clothing sizes and their impact on weight stigma: A path to inclusiveness Ngoc Huyen Thi To, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Australia |
||
| 11:45–12:00 | Short break | ||
| 12:00–13:00 | Keynote Presentation 2 | ||
| Louise Adams Flourish Kirribilli, Untrapped Academy, and All Fired Up Podcast, Australia From liberation to corruption: How pharma hijacked weight stigma |
|||
| 13:00–14:30 |
Lunch 13:20 – 14:20 Dietitians Australia Workshop |
||
| 2:30–3:30 | Oral Presentations 3: Healthcare | Session 2: Workshop | Session 3: Workshop |
| Exploring the experiences of anti-fatness among fat, larger-bodied, and higher-weight clients in counseling Crystal Victoria Socha, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions, Rutgers University, USA |
Fat visibility through publishing Esther Rothblum, Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, San Diego State University, USA; founding editor Fat Studies journal Carla Pfeffer, Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, USA; current editor Fat Studies journal |
Living the liberation: A full-spectrum experience of narrative therapy, embodiment, and collective art Tessa Gordon, Embodying Hope, USA |
|
| “Just lose weight”: Weight-based medical bias and experiential expertise in intracranial hypertension Kelly Moes, School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry, Curtin University, Australia |
|||
| A legacy of public health justice: Where to next for long needle advocacy in vaccination programmes? Lesley Gray, University of Otago Medical School, New Zealand |
|||
| When weight impacts access to necessary health care: Eating disorder awareness in people who are not emaciated Sandi James, Sandi James Psychology, Australia |
|||
| 3:30–3:45 | Short Break | ||
| 3:45–4:45 | Panel Discussion | ||
| Reimagining size and weight inclusive health services Facilitator: Natasha Mitchell, host of ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas Panelists Tracy Taylor-Beck, Interim CEO, Women’s Health in the North, Australia Fiona Willer, President, Dietitians Australia, Australia Ana Ximena Torres, Elemental Collective, Australia |
|||
| 4:45–5:00 | Book launch: Weight and Wisdom | ||
| 17:00–18:30 | Poster Session and Reception | ||
Day 2
| Day 2 | |||
| 8:00–9:00 | Registration and Breakfast | ||
| 9:00–9:15 | Welcome and Recap | ||
| 9:15–10:15 | Keynote Presentation 3 | ||
| Dr George Parker School of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand No more excuses! Weight stigma is a reproductive justice issue |
|||
| 10:15–10:30 | Short Break | ||
| 10:30–11:30 | Oral Presentations 4: Towards Weight Inclusivity | Oral Presentations 5: Language | Session 4: Workshop |
| The Interplay of physical activity, fat attitudes, and motivation. A mixed-methods study of the lived experiences of fat exercisers and non-exercisers Becky Scott, Dept of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, UK |
Reappropriating fat: The impact of labeling on self and others Kaavya Iyer, Dept of Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA |
Developing research and practice priorities using the nominal group technique Trish Cain, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Australia |
|
| Shaping weight-inclusive public health initiatives: insights from a scoping review Evangeline Gardiner, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia et al. |
A new way to address weight stigma: undermining the performativity of stigmatising speech Carl Webber, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, New Zealand |
||
| Advancing size-inclusive practice in Northeast Victoria Courtney Nelson, Mel Hawkins, Gateway Health, Australia |
Against de-stigmatization without de-pathologization and towards intersectional justice Christopher Mayes, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University, Australia Jane Williams, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia |
||
| Understanding the paradigm shift: A researcher’s experiences facilitating weight-inclusive dietetic practice supervision Christina Turner, Dianne Reidlinger, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Australia |
Critiquing the polysemy of health Kathleen Self, Department of Religious Studies, St Lawrence University, USA |
||
| 11:30–11:45 | Short Break | ||
| 11:45–12:45 | Oral Presentations 6: Health Professions Education | Session 5: Workshop | Session 6: Symposium |
| Moving physiotherapy: On the creation of open access educational resources for knowledge mobilisation Patty Thille, Dept of Physical Therapy, University of Manitoba, Canada et al. |
Creating weight-inclusive learning environments Hannah Cory, Oregon Health and Sciences University–Portland State University School of Public Health, USA |
Creating weight-inclusive nutrition education curriculum: Partnerships for change Janet Gamble, Kelsey Rose, Sera Wideawake, Lizzy Pope, Jordan Levinson, Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, USA Katelyn Russell, Bromfield High School Health and Physical Education Department, USA Jessica LaClair, Vermont Department of Public Health, USA Bernice Garnett, College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont, USA Deb Hinchey, Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, USA |
|
| Bridging the gap: A scoping review of weight stigma reduction strategies in healthcare through a social justice lens Mahshid Fonoudi et al., School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Australia |
|||
| A mixed-methods investigation of weight bias and its reduction in medical students Joanne Rathbone et al., School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Australia |
|||
| Perspectives on weight bias among sport psychology professionals: A mixed-methods study Hannah Silva-Breen, School of Sport Sciences, West Virginia University, USA et al. |
|||
| 12:45–14:15 | Lunch | ||
| 14:15–15:15 | Oral Presentations 7: Lived Experience | Session 7: Workshop | Session 8: Workshop |
| Expanding femininity: Critical, collaborative autoethnographic narratives on fat, non-binary experiences Brooke Hull, Department of Graphic Design/Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Pennsylvania State University, USA Ratnadevi Manokaran, Gender Studies, University of Malaysia, Malaysia |
Fat on campus: Lessons from fat collegians Meg Evans, Dept of Leadership, University of Memphis, USA Erin Weston, Office for Student Success and Achievement, University of Georgia, USA |
From principles to practice: Dismantling weight stigma in our spheres of influence Hilary Smith, National Eating Disorders Collaboration, Australia Tom Scully, Reconnect Nutrition, Australia Fiona Sutherland, The Mindful Dietitian, Australia |
|
| Fat in the academy Sara Kieffer, Graduate School of Education, State University of New York, USA |
|||
| Fatness and the built environment: A study of fatphobia through the lenses of racism, classism and health Meghan Grant, Department of Geography, University of Liverpool, UK |
|||
| Fat dating: Navigating the dating world as a plus-size woman Demi Lynch, Faternise, Australia |
|||
| 15:15–15:30 | Short Break | ||
| 15:30–16:30 | Keynote Presentation 4 | ||
| Dr Fiona Willer UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Australia and School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Queensland University of Technology, Australia Unlearning bias, rebuilding trust: The case for weight-inclusive care |
|||
| 16:30–17:00 | Launch of Conference Statement, Prizes, Close | ||
Posters
| 1 | A body-based revolution meets a movement-based practice: Physiotherapists becoming HAES® Patricia Thille, Dept of Physical Therapy, University of Manitoba, Canada et al. |
| 2 | Non-weight centric approaches for fitness professionals: What information do certifying organizations share? Christy Greenleaf et al., Kinesiology, Zilber College of Public Health, University of Wisconsin, USA |
| 3 | Shame and self-criticism as psychotherapeutic targets for reducing the impact of weight stigma on depression in lipoedema Chantelle Clarke et al., School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Australia |
| 4 | Weight stigma in health-related undergraduate programs Alicia Rodney, Health Sciences, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada, et al. |
| 5 | Weight-inclusive healthcare policies: A critical qualitative analysis of current clinic practices Hillary K Hecht, Dept of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA |
| 6 | Weight stigma amongst nurses and nursing students: A scoping review of direct and comparative evidence Mahshid Fonoudi et al., School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Australia |
| 7 | Taking up space: The experience of fat students in higher education Rose Rezaei, Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness, Florida State University, USA |
| 8 | When treatment causes harm: Recognising and responding to treatment resistance Sandi James, Sandi James Psychology, Sydney |
| 9 | The impact of fear of weight discrimination on mental healthcare delay for binge eating disorder populations Kiki M Kline, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, USA |
| 10 | Weight stigma and engagement in physical health behaviour: Two meta-analyses Ankita Sehrawat, School of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK |
| 11 | Weight-inclusive diabetes prevention: Reducing intervention-related body shame with an ACT-based approach Megan Lipsett et al., Dept of Psychology, University of Oregon, USA |
| 12 | Weight stigma and body image pressure among LGBTQ+ individuals in Norway: Survey insights and recommendations Carina Elisabeth Carlsen, The Centre for Equality, Norway |
| 13 | The real cost of appearance ideals and weight-based discrimination in Australia Melissa Wilton, Butterfly Foundation, Australia |
| 14 | Understanding weight-related stigmatisation from family members: A qualitative study of the pregnancy experiences of women in urban India Mitanshi Dhanwani et al., Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, UK |
| 15 | A qualitative study of community members’ perceptions, societal norms, and weight stigma towards higher weight preconception, pregnant and postpartum women Haimanot Hailu, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Australia et al. |
| 16 | Introducing a size-inclusive approach to health in GP primary care Caitlin Long, Kardinia Health Clinic, Nicholas Brayshaw, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Australia, et al. |
| 17 | How size inclusive is the medical curriculum? New insights from Aotearoa New Zealand Lesley Gray, Otago Medical School, University of Otago, New Zealand, et al. |
| 18 | Unmasking weight bias: A critical reflection from a postgraduate dietetics student’s perspective Emma Grunwald, Dept of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia |
| 19 | Fat body diversity in Andalusian universities. Considerations on equality plans and the university student body Desirée Farfán González, Social Sciences, Criminology, and Behavioural Sciences, University of Cadiz, Spain |
| 20 | Spoken word meets medical pedagogy: Teaching weight stigma and fat liberation Antoinette Polito, School of Health Sciences, Elon University, USA |
| 21 | Evaluation of a curriculum-embedded weight stigma education module in dentistry and oral health therapy programs Zanab Malik, School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Australia et al. |
| 22 | Embracing size-inclusive care in health services Anneliese Twigg, Peninsula Health, Australia et al. |
| 23 | Fat labor: Conceptualizing the efforts of coping with fat oppression Ieva Miltina, Gender, Justice, and Society, Umea University, Latvia |
| 24 | From lived experience to digital action: Youth engagement in building a campaign to mitigate weight stigma Stephanie L Albert, Dept Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA |
| 25 | The Weight Inclusive Toolkit Initiative (WITI) – Decreasing weight stigma, valuing lived experience, and providing (weight) inclusive nutrition counseling resources to dietitian training programs across the U.S. Amanda Jochismen, Ragen Chastain, WITI, USA |
| 26 | Nursing faculty perspectives on weight inclusive care: A qualitative study of attitudes and barriers to practice and curriculum adoption Ashlie N Johnson, Psychology, Linfield University, USA et al. |
| 27 | The effect of weight-related microaggressions in physical activity environments on motivation and bodily attunement during exercise among higher-weight, currently exercising adults Alannah Moore, Dept of Psychology, University of Essex, UK et al. |
| 28 | Co-designing a weight-inclusive student nutrition clinic and integrated curriculum: A work in progress Gemma Jenkins, Dept Nutrition and Dietetics, Edith Cowan University, Australia et al. |
| 29 | Experiences of weight stigma in cancer care Rebecca Scupham, Cancer Council SA, Australia et al. |
| 30 | The impact of weight stigma education session for nurses Shannon L. Roosma-Goldstein, Kaiser-Permanente, USA |