Weight Stigma Awareness Week

Created & Co-Hosted by The Body Equity Alliance and Within Health

Join us in empowering and educating people to end the traumatic and destructive anti-fatness rooted in racism, shame, and discrimination around body shape and size.

Mission

Our

Weight Stigma Awareness Week’s mission is to eliminate anti-fat bias, which is rooted in racism, to end the resulting stigma, shame, trauma, and discrimination around body shape and size.

Join us for a week of deep conversations, action planning, and community.

September 23-27, 2024

Goals

What To Expect

Share: our content all year long. From social media posts to collected resources from trusted sources, we will provide what you need to work to eliminate anti-fat bias and weight stigma.

Contribute: by holding events with community supporters, partners, sponsors, and activists - in your local area, regionally or nationally.

Learn: with our week-long educational series featuring daily sessions from renowned thought-leaders dedicated to combating anti-fat bias and weight stigma

Join Us

Live

Register for our virtual events taking place throughout Weight Stigma Awareness Week. See the details for the full week of programming below.

Session Topics

Mental Health: Delve into the connection between anti-fat bias, weight stigma and resulting mental health issues like eating disorders, depression and anxiety.

Marginalization & Intersectionality: Unravel the complexities of anti-fat bias and the need to center those experiencing the greatest oppression

Sex & Desirability: Explore the dynamics of sex and desirability for larger-bodied individuals. 

Social Media, Bullying & Parenting: Unravel the intersections of anti-fat bias, bullying and harassment & the digital landscape, as well as, what parents and loved ones need to know about weight stigma.

Discrimination, Disability & Policy: Learn the challenges faced by those with lived experiences of navigating disabilities in a fat body, and the important policy initiatives happening at the state and city levels across the country.

Our Community

Take Action

Engage

Spread & Share #WSAW

Join us as we amplify voices and raise awareness during Weight Stigma Awareness Week! Together, we're tackling the pervasive issue of weight stigma by sharing stories, insights, and resources on social media. #WSAW #EndWeightStigma

Learn

Educate Yourself & Others

Knowledge is power during Weight Stigma Awareness Week! Join us in spreading education and understanding about weight stigma's impact. Share informative resources, articles, and insights to help break down stereotypes and promote empathy. Contact us if you’d like to contribute to our resource page!

Host

Your Own Event or Dinner

Be a catalyst for change during Weight Stigma Awareness Week! Host your own impactful watch party or inclusive dinner gathering to spark meaningful conversations about body positivity and acceptance.

Sponsor

Contribute To Inclusivity

Stand up for a more inclusive world by becoming a proud sponsor of Weight Stigma Awareness Week! Your support will help us shed light on the harmful effects of weight stigma and promote positive change. Together, we can create a society that celebrates every body. Contact us to be a part of this impactful movement.

Become a Champion of Body Liberation at Your Organization

Organizations can lead the way in promoting weight stigma awareness through donations, education, training, inclusive policies, and public campaigns, fostering a more compassionate and supportive environment for all.

Resources

Community
within health - cohost of weight stigma awareness week

Continuing Education

We are offering 5 continuing education credits and several other sessions for free!

Leadership Circle

This is a perfect option for small business supporters and partners who would like to support the cause via sponsorship or collaboration.

Corporate
Sponsors

Please contact our team to learn more about ways to get involved with WSAW.

About

Our Story

Weight Stigma Awareness Week is an initiative sparked in collaboration between two advocates combatting weight stigma and eating disorder awareness: Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, co-founder of Within Health, and Chevese Turner, founder of Body Equity Alliance. Both share a conviction that weight stigma is a societal concern that, only if addressed head-on, will we see the impact and actual progress needed. Wendy and Chevese - along with the WSAW community of activists, clinicians, policymakers, sponsors, and supporters who work tirelessly alongside them - combined their expertise and unwavering dedication to initiate a movement that challenges societal stereotypes and nurtures body equity and acceptance principles. The WSAW movement has ignited a spark that empowers individuals to embrace their bodies and fuels the growth of empathy, education, and understanding in our world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

  • You can get involved by sharing educational content on social media, hosting events, discussions, workshops, or simply spreading awareness about weight stigma. If you’d like to inquire about attending, sponsoring, or speaking - please contact cjohnson@withinhealth.com.

  • Absolutely! Sharing personal experiences can help humanize the issue and encourage open conversations. It can empower others who may be struggling with similar challenges.

  • Yes, there are various resources available, including articles, infographics, posters, and toolkits to help you promote awareness effectively.

  • Yes! The live events from the week will be recorded and shared. To get updates in real time as the resources become available, you can register for our mailing list.

  • Weight Stigma Awareness Week is an annual initiative dedicated to shedding light on the harmful effects of weight stigma and promoting understanding, empathy, and change.

  • Weight Stigma Awareness Week typically occurs during the last week of September, and the exact dates for the current year are September 25-29, 2023.

  • Weight stigma can have profound negative impacts on mental and physical well-being. Addressing it is crucial to fostering a more inclusive and accepting society.

  • Everyone is encouraged to participate! Individuals, organizations, communities, and advocates can contribute by sharing information, stories, resources, and promoting healthy discussions.