Awake researchers today said it was insulting to call the fattest category “morbidly obese.”
And they’ve urged doctors and scientists to stop calling failed weight loss attempts “failures.”
Future terms should include “ineffective” or “inadequate” weight loss or even “secondary weight gain”.
No specific proposals have been made to replace the term “sick”, but instead it is often used solemnly.
Today, critics dismissed the recommendation, published in a major obesity journal, saying it was “strange” given that morbid obesity is a clinical term.
But industry experts agreed that “words really matter” and that a “less stigmatizing” language is key in fighting bloat.
Joe Nadglowski, president of the Obesity Action Coalition, said: “The old adage ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words never hurt me’ does not apply to obese people.
It came after a separate team of researchers argued that the word obesity is racist and should be removed in favor of “people with larger bodies.”
To call the fattest category “morbidly obese” and to say that attempts to lose weight are “failures” is an insult.
More than 42 million adults in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2040, according to new estimates from Cancer Research UK.
The proposed change to the language of obesity was made by a group of British experts writing in the journal Obesity, calling themselves “for people with obesity…
Researchers analyzed 3,000 academic papers on bariatric surgery, including gastric bands and bypasses.
They wanted to see “how often negative terminology is used”.
About 2.4 percent of scanned newspapers included the word “fail”, while 16.8 percent used the word “diseased.”
Sixteen patients trying to lose weight were also interviewed by phone about how language made them feel.
Some said they left themselves “in tears” and did not seek medical attention for up to 20 years.
They pointed out that the word “failure” meant personal responsibility for the lack of weight loss, suggesting that the fault was due to a lack of willpower or self-control.
Meanwhile, the team said the word ‘sick’ could mean ‘unhealthy’. One participant described it as a “terrible” statement.
Lead author Richard Welbourn, a bariatric surgeon at Somerset’s Musgrove Park Hospital, said: “All healthcare professionals should be aware of this study and consider their own language when talking to colleagues and obesity patients.
“Standardized, non-judgmental terminology can help patients feel safe when starting a conversation about weight and possible treatment options.”
Mr. Nadglowski, who was not involved in the investigation, said: “Our words are really important.
Incorrect or outdated language harms the relationship between the healthcare provider and patient, ultimately preventing obese people from seeking or receiving treatment.
“It’s time to prioritize better use of language over obesity.”
Christopher Snowdon, from the Institute for Economic Affairs think tank, said: “Obesity is a clinical term, so it seems strange to tell doctors and academics not to use it.
It’s called morbid obesity because a BMI greater than 35 is associated with a greater risk of death than being overweight and mildly obese.
Cancer Research UK analysis shows that by 2040, 71% of people may be overweight or obese. Of these, about 36% (21 million) of adults are likely to be obese (blue dashed line). The graph shows: Estimates for the proportion of adults of healthy weight (grey), overweight (pink) and obese (blue) in the UK from 2010 to 2040
The graph shows: Estimates for the proportion of men (purple) and women (pink) who will be obese in the UK from 2010 to 2040
The graph shows: Estimates for the percentage of overweight men (purple) and women (pink) in the UK from 2010 to 2040
It’s not clear why an organization called the Obesity Association, who wrote in a diary called Obesity, thinks that people would be unnecessarily upset if they were identified as morbidly obese, but would be happy to be called obese.
“Maybe we should start looking for fat people again?”
NHS advice pages on obesity do not mention the words “soft” or “soft”, instead having a BMI of over 40 listed as “severely obese”.
However, the term is still used in some parts of the healthcare website.
In the new paper, the team writes that the ‘conscious effort’ to change the language is ‘at most gradual’.
The United Kingdom and the United States are currently experiencing an obesity crisis, with around two-thirds of adults considered overweight.
Experts have warned that unless the spiraling trend is reversed, obesity will overshadow smoking as the number one cause of cancer.
In an effort to combat the epidemic, No10, with more than 250 employees earlier this year, introduced mandatory calorie labeling for restaurants, bars and takeaway meals in the UK.
But at the same time, the government banned “buy one, get one free” deals on unhealthy foods due to the cost of living crisis.
HOW SHOULD A BALANCED NUTRITION BE?
According to the NHS, meals should be potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains.
• Eat at least 5 servings of different fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables count
• Basic meals based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, preferably wholemeal
• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is equivalent to eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole grain biscuits, 2 thick slices of whole wheat bread, and a large baked potato in the crust
• Have some alternatives to milk or dairy products (such as soy drinks) and choose low-fat, low-sugar options
• Eat beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 servings of fish per week, one of which is fat)
• Choose unsaturated fats and spreads and consume sparingly.
• Drink 6-8 glasses / glass of water a day
• Adults should have less than 6 g of salt per day and less than 20 g of saturated fat for women and less than 30 g for men.
Source: Eatwell NHS Guide
Source: Daily Mail
I am Anne Johnson and I work as an author at the Fashion Vibes. My main area of expertise is beauty related news, but I also have experience in covering other types of stories like entertainment, lifestyle, and health topics. With my years of experience in writing for various publications, I have built strong relationships with many industry insiders. My passion for journalism has enabled me to stay on top of the latest trends and changes in the world of beauty.
