Weight Stigma (14/4 2026)

University of Southern Denmark, Graduate School of Health Sciences

Stigmatisation of people with high weight is common and widespread in Denmark as well as in most of the world. As the prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing, so is the problem of weight stigmatisation. People with high weight do not only suffer from increased risks of diseases because of their weight, but also from the consequences of stigmatisation: shaming and discrimination. Indeed, stigma is independently known to affect health, for example in terms of stress, depression, eating disorders, high blood pressure and delayed diagnoses. Many PhD students do research into problems related to overweight and obesity and this course aims to target them. Stigma affects the quality of communication between health professionals and patients/citizens with high weight. How should we communicate with and about people with high weight?

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