Pledge to End Weight Stigma

In 2020, a global coalition of experts and organizations came together to address the pressing issue of weight stigma. The resulting international consensus statement and pledge, published in Nature Medicine, marked a significant milestone in our collective effort to end weight stigma, and to create a more compassionate and supportive environment for individuals with obesity.

As we move forward in 2026, The Obesity Society is proud to relaunch this initiative and invite you to join us in renewing our commitment to ending weight stigma. Building on the momentum of our previous work, we’re calling on our members, partners, and the broader community to recommit to this critical cause.

By signing the pledge, you’re not only reaffirming your dedication to creating a stigma-free world but also becoming part of a growing movement that’s driving real change.

Join us in reigniting the conversation and taking concrete action to end weight stigma. Sign the pledge today, and let’s work together to create a brighter future for individuals affected by obesity.

The Pledge

In alignment with the aforementioned international consensus statement.

We recognize that:

• Individuals with overweight or obesity face a pervasive form of social stigma based on the unproven assumption that their body weight derives primarily from a lack of self-discipline and personal responsibility.
• Such a portrayal is inconsistent with current scientific evidence demonstrating that body weight regulation is not entirely under volitional control and that biological, genetic, and environmental factors critically contribute to obesity.
• Weight bias and stigma can result in discrimination and undermine human rights, social rights, and the health and care of individuals with overweight or obesity.

• Weight stigma and discrimination cannot be tolerated in modern societies.

We condemn:

• The use of stigmatizing language, images, attitudes, and policies, and weight-based discrimination, wherever they occur.

We pledge:

• To treat individuals with overweight or obesity with dignity and respect.
• To refrain from using stereotypical language, images, and narratives that unfairly and inaccurately depict individuals with overweight or obesity as lazy, gluttonous, and lacking willpower or self-discipline.
• To support education and research that deepens understanding of obesity and body weight regulation, recognizing that informed knowledge is essential to eliminating weight stigma.
• To encourage and support initiatives aimed at preventing weight discrimination in the workplace, education, and healthcare settings.