Purpose
The purpose of this checklist is to serve as a tool for assessing the prevalence of weight bias within your organization and to ensure messaging reflects a weight-inclusive approach. A checklist is one tool to help identify successes and opportunities for improvement.
Recommendations
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) recommend using a weight-inclusive approach to minimize the harm associated with weight bias and discrimination. Weight bias is pervasive and the work to address it is ongoing. You may still be able to identify other opportunities for training and improvement within your organization beyond this checklist.
We encourage staff to review “Towards a Weight Inclusive Approach in Public Health: A Position Statement by the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health” and resources. If you would like support with this work, contact the dietitian at your local public health unit.
Assessment Criteria
References
AODA https://www.aoda.ca/
EQUIP Health Care. Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) Resources. University of British Columbia & Western University. Retrieved from: https://equiphealthcare.ca/resources/trauma-and- violence-informed-care/
International Size Acceptance Association. (n.d.). Guidelines for Identifying Size Discrimination in Educational Materials. Retrieved from: http://www.bodypositive.com/resouces.htm [Accessed October 6, 2023.]
Lorts C. (2021). The Language of Health: An Editorial Style Guide to Effectively Communicate to the Public. State Nutrition Action Committee. Arizona Department of Health Services. Retrieved from: https://www.azhealthzone.org/style-guide/ [Accessed October 6, 2023.]
National Eating Disorder Collaboration. (2011). Evaluating the Risk of Harm of Weight-Related Public Messages. Australia. Retrieved from: https://nedc.com.au/assets/NEDC-Publications/Appendix-Healthy- Weight-Related-Messages.pdf [Accessed October 6, 2023.]
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health. (2024). Towards a Weight-Inclusive Approach in Public Health: A Position Statement by the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health. Available from: odph.ca.
Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition. (2023). Table 2: Environmental Checklist. In Weight-Inclusive Approach Background. PEN, Dietitians of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.pennutrition.com/PrintPDF/ViewTool.aspx?trid=29929#Table2 [Accessed October 6, 2023.]
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2019). Addressing Stigma: Towards a More Inclusive Health System. The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/organizational-structure/canada-chief-public- health-officer/addressing-stigma.html [Accessed October 6, 2023.]
University of Connecticut (UCONN). (2019). Weight bias and stigma. In UCONN Rudd center for food policy & obesity. Retrieved from: http://www.uconnruddcenter.org/weight-bias-stigma.
