Am J Public Health June 2010 PMID 20075322

Obesity stigma: important considerations for public health.

Rebecca M Puhl, Chelsea A Heuer

Mentions

318
Peak: 15 in Sep 2019
across 5 sources since Nov 2016

Extended reach

1,187,468
potential audience

Total likes

6,371

Video views

38,574

Mentions per month

Nov 2016 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News238 articles
  • X / Twitter43 posts
  • Blogs20 articles
  • Facebook14 posts
  • YouTube3 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discussions emphasize that weight stigma exacerbates health issues, citing research and notable public health articles, with phrases like 'makes people sicker' and 'stigma worsens health outcomes' underscoring the strong stance against shaming. The tone consistently advocates for respectful, evidence-based approaches, exemplifying deep engagement and concern for social justice.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the article’s stance that weight stigma harms health and should be addressed, with some posts explicitly referencing evidence and research cited in the publication.

InterestHigh interest

Posts demonstrate strong curiosity and relevance, as evidenced by references to specific studies, such as the AJPH article and other scientific resources, indicating these discussions are driven by a genuine desire to understand and share key insights.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many comments engage deeply, critiquing the harmful effects of stigma, debating public health approaches, and highlighting the importance of respectful language, showing active involvement with the material.

ImpactModerate impact

While impactful in raising awareness about stigma’s harms and linking to influential research, many posts remain within the realm of discussion and sharing, with fewer indications of direct influence on policies or behaviors.

Abstract in brief

  • Weight stigma and discrimination against obese individuals are widespread and negatively impact their mental and physical health, yet these issues are often overlooked in public health discussions.
  • The common belief that stigmatizing obese persons may encourage healthier behaviors is not supported by evidence; instead, stigma worsens health outcomes and creates disparities.
  • Addressing weight stigma is crucial for promoting social justice and improving the effectiveness of public health strategies aimed at reducing obesity.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
AJPH
@AMJPublicHealth · X

Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrimination threaten health, increase health disparities for vulnerable populations, & make obesity interventions less effective (Open Access) https://t.co/028kNmGRda https://t.co/uFXjd4q9MG

Sep 27, 2019 · 16 likes · 15 shares · 12,475 followers View post →
AJPH
@AMJPublicHealth · X

NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that found "Stigma & discrimination toward obese persons are pervasive & pose numerous consequences for their psychological & physical health": https://t.co/028kNmGRda https://t.co/kPiXF3uaqn

Aug 26, 2019 · 16 likes · 12 shares · 12,475 followers View post →
EASO
@EASOobesity · X

Important review by @RebeccaPuhl on #Obesity #Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Hm9lIHr49O Many thanks @Eggface @ncbi https://t.co/Mz9GXYkliI

Sep 16, 2019 · 4 likes · 18,875 followers View post →
Ted Kyle
@ConscienHealth · X

@cynthiamich @FionaQuigs @ZaherToumi @AbdTahrani @WeightDebate @DrDenisePsych @EASOobesity @Mpmok @DrSdeG No doubt you mean well, as the people behind this unfortunate campaign likely do. But stigmatizing people, equating their physical status with a behavior (smoking), serves only to discourage people from routine health screening. https://t.co/OnCazsnsAh

Jul 4, 2019 · 4 likes · 1 share · 11,451 followers View post →
kivan
@KivanBay · X

@epicciuto Pew pew. Not going to clutter your mentions too bad with stuff, but since you asked up above, here's some papers that I think are pretty great: https://t.co/v34wBKmara https://t.co/pTfIc6xpuR https://t.co/IJZEJBXAZr I salute you on your journey into the world of fat studies! https://t.co/F8uXOeB7em

Mar 9, 2019 · 2 likes · 14,540 followers View post →
Helen West RD
@HelenlouWest · X

@drandyhills @DrStuartFlint And a general overview from RP: 'Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health' https://t.co/40JzPvH8a4

Jun 30, 2019 · 2 likes · 11,042 followers View post →

All mentions

Living Empowered®
@livingempowered · X

Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health - PMC https://t.co/UEbZgtVt4i

Jul 18, 2025 · 674 followers View post →
beck ☾
@gothssad · X

@bigsmashdawg @sepphierose there’s literally proof that shaming fat people for being fat gives them worse health issues and makes them gain more weight. You are not helping anybody https://t.co/aLlkR5fEC8

Jun 3, 2025 · 572 followers View post →
Derek Griffin
@DerekGriffin86 · X

@PracticeMoving We absolutely need to discuss it. Many people with obesity are stigmatised for not "choosing" to exercise etc. https://t.co/koE9nB9WtI

Nov 29, 2022 · 1 like · 38,340 followers View post →
Anne
@annelovesfilm · X

One of the many, many reasons you shouldn’t talk about diets to people you perceive as fat: Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Y9bAHR4Efi

Aug 14, 2022 · 1,099 followers View post →
Bonnie Rawson
@BonnieRawson4 · X

Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/oM8nMT3EFk

Mar 25, 2022 · 1 like · 2,289 followers View post →
THEE mj
@scib0rg · X

@WhatQueerIsThis The stigma around wt, instead of making fat ppl motivated to be thinner (in the eyes of society, "healthier"), is making people sicker: Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/VLkV2Y2nbR

Sep 1, 2021 · 5,419 followers View post →
GillesdeH
@GillesdeH · X

@miekevanstigt @SiccodeKnecht @lalalalinder https://t.co/uXkYqrf37E

Feb 4, 2021 · 248 followers View post →
Rae
@raeofneptune · X

Bacon L. (2010). Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth about your Weight. BenBella Books. Puhl RM & Heuer CA (2010). Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 6, 1019-1028. https://t.co/PBxEsHON2Z

Jan 15, 2021 · 508 followers View post →
Alfredo Morabia
@AlfredoMorabia · X

Sharing your coronavirus experience on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is vital to fighting the pandemic https://t.co/gU2uXji2IC @HuffPostUKLife #citesAJPH @PublicHealth @AMJPublicHealth Citing: Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Du0hkgXQFA https://t.co/Zv3r1NuXF3

Jan 13, 2021 · 2,235 followers View post →
Paul Davidson, PhD
@PaulDavidsonPhD · X

@SACCHIT74 @NeilFlochMD Here are a few resources to gain more information about the subject if you wish. https://t.co/01BDssRzOa https://t.co/BQpSvm6O6B https://t.co/AmeykUjPW5

Nov 8, 2020 · 1 like · 4,400 followers View post →
Hannah Quinteto Buenrostro
@HannahQB1 · X

Am J Public Health. 2010 June; 100(6): 1019–1028. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.159491 Tomiyama et al. BMC Medicine (2018) 16:123 https://t.co/4hCE1Ze3Li Lancet 2019; published online Jan 16. https://www. https://t.co/BSvRDjUUIt article/ PIIS0140-6736(19)30080-7/ fulltext

Oct 12, 2020 · 37 followers View post →
Alfredo Morabia
@AlfredoMorabia · X

COMMENTARY: New guidelines reduce the stigma of obesity in health care https://t.co/mFtpnkA3mM via @MSN #citesAJPH @PublicHealth @AMJPublicHealth Citing: Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Du0hkhfs4a #obesity #stigma #publichealth https://t.co/FJ1Y0XxTSs

Aug 10, 2020 · 2,235 followers View post →
Addison Allee
@AddisonAllee · X

RT @HFinAZ: Important article that confronts our weightism and the harmful effects on emotional AND physical health. Obesity Stigma: Import…

Mar 21, 2020 · 1 share · 23 followers View post →
Cathy Farrow
@CathyFarrow1 · X

Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Fp7wDLhTFF

Mar 5, 2020 · 660 followers View post →
✞
@millerbr2019 · X

Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/KcLDfYWX9u

Oct 9, 2019 · 119 followers View post →
Journal of Patient-Centered Research & Reviews
@JPCRR · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 433 followers View post →
Kings Bandwagoner
@arnoldshir · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 306 followers View post →
Clare Ruday
@RudayClare · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 465 followers View post →
Lina Brou, PhD, MPH
@lina_brou · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 93 followers View post →
PublicHealthMaps
@PublicHealthMap · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 6,347 followers View post →
Jillian Regan
@JillianReganMPH · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 1,964 followers View post →
Haley Delgado
@haley_delgotti · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 433 followers View post →
ISA Associates, Inc.
@ISA_Associates · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 12 followers View post →
jake the
@yerownrisk_ · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 649 followers View post →
APHA
@PublicHealth · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 484,167 followers View post →
Matt Ruscigno
@MattRuscigno · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 5,597 followers View post →
SUNY Downstate School of Public Health (SPH)
@DownstateSPH · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrim…

Sep 27, 2019 · 15 shares · 689 followers View post →
AJPH
@AMJPublicHealth · X

Popular Science article on how fat-shaming actually makes obesity worse cites AJPH research about how stigma & discrimination threaten health, increase health disparities for vulnerable populations, & make obesity interventions less effective (Open Access) https://t.co/028kNmGRda https://t.co/uFXjd4q9MG

Sep 27, 2019 · 16 likes · 15 shares · 12,475 followers View post →
EASO
@EASOobesity · X

Important review by @RebeccaPuhl on #Obesity #Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Hm9lIHr49O Many thanks @Eggface @ncbi https://t.co/Mz9GXYkliI

Sep 16, 2019 · 4 likes · 18,875 followers View post →
AJBM
@BioMmedicine · X

Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/IxiDvAgFjx #fatshaming

Sep 16, 2019 · 502 followers View post →
AJPH Think Tank
@AJPHThinkTank · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 1,699 followers View post →
Jillian Regan
@JillianReganMPH · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 1,964 followers View post →
Tolu
@TolufaseTolu · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 1,838 followers View post →
APHA
@PublicHealth · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 484,167 followers View post →
Pranav Reddy, MD, MPA
@born_reddy · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 1,023 followers View post →
Kunal Sindhu
@sindhu_kunal · X

RT @AMJPublicHealth: NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that fo…

Aug 26, 2019 · 12 shares · 403 followers View post →
AJPH
@AMJPublicHealth · X

NBCNews OpEd on the dangerous lack of anti-bias training for doctors treating #obese patients cites AJPH study that found "Stigma & discrimination toward obese persons are pervasive & pose numerous consequences for their psychological & physical health": https://t.co/028kNmGRda https://t.co/kPiXF3uaqn

Aug 26, 2019 · 16 likes · 12 shares · 12,475 followers View post →
Ted Kyle
@ConscienHealth · X

@moderationmaven @rustnutrition @InglesDietitian @CancerResearchU @EWardRD @CancerDietitian Leia, you're right. There is a better way. They can promote health without promoting stigma. No need to suggest that obesity (a condition) is like smoking (a behavior). #Truth is better. See this article by Rebecca Puhl and Chelsea Heuer. https://t.co/XpCYqK5Brf

Jul 5, 2019 · 1 like · 11,451 followers View post →
Fiona Quigley
@FionaQuigs · X

RT @ConscienHealth: @cynthiamich @FionaQuigs @ZaherToumi @AbdTahrani @WeightDebate @DrDenisePsych @EASOobesity @Mpmok @DrSdeG No doubt you…

Jul 4, 2019 · 1 share · 4,339 followers View post →
Ted Kyle
@ConscienHealth · X

@cynthiamich @FionaQuigs @ZaherToumi @AbdTahrani @WeightDebate @DrDenisePsych @EASOobesity @Mpmok @DrSdeG No doubt you mean well, as the people behind this unfortunate campaign likely do. But stigmatizing people, equating their physical status with a behavior (smoking), serves only to discourage people from routine health screening. https://t.co/OnCazsnsAh

Jul 4, 2019 · 4 likes · 1 share · 11,451 followers View post →
Helen West RD
@HelenlouWest · X

@drandyhills @DrStuartFlint And a general overview from RP: 'Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health' https://t.co/40JzPvH8a4

Jun 30, 2019 · 2 likes · 11,042 followers View post →
Healthy Futures
@HFinAZ · X

Important article that confronts our weightism and the harmful effects on emotional AND physical health. Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health https://t.co/Eo23vWCCbI

Jun 9, 2019 · 1 share · 72 followers View post →
kivan
@KivanBay · X

@epicciuto Pew pew. Not going to clutter your mentions too bad with stuff, but since you asked up above, here's some papers that I think are pretty great: https://t.co/v34wBKmara https://t.co/pTfIc6xpuR https://t.co/IJZEJBXAZr I salute you on your journey into the world of fat studies! https://t.co/F8uXOeB7em

Mar 9, 2019 · 2 likes · 14,540 followers View post →