The pen kills more than the sword, it was once said. Whatever the individual’s perception, there is no doubt that the terms used to define a situation can influence what others think about what is being talked about. And not always in positive terms. In this sense, if obesity is discussed, stigma and imprecise language make access to treatment more difficult and worsen people’s quality of life. To address this problem, on the occasion of World Obesity Day, the World Day of awareness on the disease on March 4, promoted by the World Obesity Federation, Parole O_Stili in collaboration with Lilly launches the first European glossary that promotes a more respectful, inclusive and accurate language when talking about obesity, providing concrete tools to the media, institutions, health professionals and citizens.
How to behave
Almost 60% of adults and around one in three children in Europe are overweight or live with obesity. Stigma and imprecise language make access to care more difficult and worsen people’s quality of life. The dictionary collects and delves into twenty-five key words and concepts, such as “body shaming”, “fatphobia”, “clinical stigma”, “plus size”.
Just think about the first of these terms, body shaming: it almost becomes “body shaming”, often fueled by social media and distorted aesthetic standards. It can target anyone, criticizing specific physical defects or characteristics. And it has a devastating impact leading to a drastic drop in self-esteem, social isolation, anxiety, depression and eating disorders (such as binge eating), especially among adolescents. It’s just an example of how these words must be studied, understood, remembered. For each expression, the collection highlights offensive and denigrating judgments and comments – even in common use and apparently positive – which are in reality inappropriate and harm the sensitivity of others. Having explained each term, the glossary invites us to reflect on the impact that the use of certain words could have, encouraging inclusive and respectful linguistic choices.
Starting today the glossary, published last year in Italian under the patronage of the Obese Patients Friends Association, will be available in three other European languages - Polish, Romanian and Czech – and soon also in Croatian and Hungarian. Furthermore, in all the countries involved, Patient Associations are actively involved in giving their endorsement to the project, with the aim of expanding dialogue beyond national borders and promoting a culture of shared care. Rosy Russo, president of Parole O_Stili, comments:
“Words have a real weight: they can hurt, exclude or blame those who live with obesity, but they can also become treatment tools. With this glossary we want to offer conscious and respectful linguistic tools, because changing words is the first step to changing the outlook and restoring dignity to people”.
We’re talking about a disease
Obesity is defined by the World Health Organization as a complex and multifactorial chronic disease, determined by the interaction of biological, genetic, environmental, social and cultural factors. It cannot be reduced to a question of individual responsibility, but in the public narrative it is often associated with guilt or lack of will. According to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, the stigma linked to obesity negatively affects access to care, the quality of diagnoses and adherence to treatments. People living with obesity report frequent experiences of clinical judgment or simplification, which can lead to diagnostic delays or avoidance of care by the National Health Service. Stigma thus disproportionately affects those who are already exposed to social, economic and cultural fragility, worsening health inequalities.
“The stigma associated with the disease continues to represent one of the main barriers for people with obesity. In this context, the language we use has a decisive role: it can encourage acceptance and support, or fuel exclusion and judgement”
comments Federico Villa Ass. Vice President Corporate Affairs & Patient Access Lilly Italy Hub.
