The Challenge of Weight Stigma for Women in the Preconception Period: Workshop Recommendations for Action from the 5th European Conference on Preconception Health and Care

Briony Hill (), Alexandra Azzari Wynn-Jones, Kimberley J. Botting, Emma H. Cassinelli, Michael P. Daly, Caitlin Victoria Gardiner, Stephanie J. Hanley, Nicola Heslehurst, Regine Steegers-Theunissen, Sarah Verbiest and Helen Skouteris ()
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Briony Hill: Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Alexandra Azzari Wynn-Jones: Independent Researcher, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1HG, UK
Kimberley J. Botting: Department of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK
Emma H. Cassinelli: Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT12 6BA, UK
Michael P. Daly: Centre for Public Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PN, UK
Caitlin Victoria Gardiner: Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Bush House, Strand Campus, King’s College London, 40 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG, UK
Stephanie J. Hanley: Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Nicola Heslehurst: Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
Regine Steegers-Theunissen: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Department of and Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Sarah Verbiest: School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Pittsboro Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550, USA
Helen Skouteris: Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: Weight stigma is a well-recognised public health issue affecting many members of society including women during the preconception period. The impacts of preconception weight stigma on women are significant and may result in decreased access to and uptake of healthcare, and mental health concerns. The consequences of this weight stigma may translate to negative maternal outcomes and even intergenerational effects on the child. Eliminating weight stigma is therefore imperative. The aim of this paper is to report recommendations to reduce weight stigma for preconception women produced at a workshop with clinical and academic experts on preconception health and weight stigma at the 5th European Conference on Preconception Health and Care. The recommendations are related to two key areas: general societal recommendations prompting all people to acknowledge and adjust our attitudes towards larger-bodied people; and healthcare-specific recommendations imploring clinicians to upskill themselves to reduce weight stigma in practice. We therefore call for urgent approaches to address societal weight-stigmatising attitudes and norms related to both the general population and preconception women, while providing professional development opportunities for healthcare professionals relating to weight stigma. Eliminating weight stigma for preconception women may have positive impacts on the outcomes for mothers and children during pregnancy and beyond.

Keywords: weight stigma; preconception; healthcare; obesity; recommendations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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