Language is powerful.  It shapes our understanding, frames our conversations, and influences how we respond to people and situations.  That’s why I want to address this problematic phrase that often crops up in discussions about eating disorders: “eating disorders and obesity.”  It’s another complex topic – but let’s have a go at unpacking a little of this issue.  I want to specifically talk about why separating ‘obesity’ from eating disorders themselves is an issue, but perhaps we need first to think about the labelling of ‘obesity’ and the prevalence of weight stigma.

So, let’s consider the term “obesity”.  When we use ‘obesity’ as a medicalised label, we reduce a vast spectrum of human bodies and experiences into a narrow, pathologised concept.  ‘Obesity’ is not a disease or a condition – it’s a descriptor based on arbitrary measurements like BMI, which have been widely criticised for their lack of nuance in assessing individual health.  In fact, BMI was developed over 200 years ago by a mathematician with no medical background and was never intended to measure individual health!  (If you didn’t already know this, you might want to allow that thought to settle in for a minute!).

BMI has become a catch-all proxy for health, despite its known limitations – specifically it doesn’t account for muscle mass, body composition, genetic factors, or the myriad of influences on health beyond weight.  Using BMI as a basis for defining health and using the label ‘obesity’ is poor science; it oversimplifies and ignores the complex, multifaceted nature of health and well-being.

Framing ‘obesity’ as a disease also reinforces harmful narratives that suggest larger bodies are inherently problematic, unhealthy, or in need of change.  (You only have to look at some of the bodies of those competing in this year’s Olympics to see that bodies can be healthy at all different sizes).  This issue is deeply rooted in weight stigma (a societal bias against people in larger bodies).  Weight stigma is pervasive and harmful, it contributes to poor mental health, healthcare discrimination, and even poorer health outcomes.

We need to shift away from a narrative that suggests a person’s weight is the defining characteristic of their health.  People exist in diverse bodies for countless reasons – genetics, metabolism, socioeconomic factors, chronic illnesses, medications, or simply natural body diversity.  This diversity should be acknowledged and respected, not stigmatised.  To categorise “obesity” as a condition is not only inaccurate but also perpetuates a harmful discourse that does not actually support those it declares to help.  Labelling people based on size or weight alone reduces them to a number, rather than recognising the complexity of their lived experiences, health journeys, and individual needs.  I could go on….

Then there’s the issue of pairing “eating disorders and obesity” as if these are two distinct yet somehow related concerns.  This phrasing is not only misleading but also counterproductive.  It implies that people with eating disorders are somehow separate from those who are categorised as ‘obese’ (as a diagnosis), creating a false dichotomy.  The reality is that many people with eating disorders are in larger bodies.  In fact, the majority of people with eating disorders do not fit the emaciated stereotype often shown in the media.

The separation of the term ‘obesity’ almost seems to be exclaiming that only people who are thin can have “real” eating disorders, while those in larger bodies are seen as primarily facing a different, weight-centric issue.  This is both harmful and often untrue.

We might talk about this as ‘othering’.  That is to say that by emphasising ‘obesity’ as something apart from eating disorders, we inadvertently reinforce the harmful notion that those in larger bodies are somehow different or require a different lens of care.  This risks alienating individuals from seeking the help they need and deserve – if perhaps they are in a bigger body and have an eating disorder.  This separation in medicalised settings can often mean people are referred to weight management services when what they might really need is help for an eating disorder (I’ve been working on some research related to this, that will hopefully be published soon).

So just to be clear – when I use the term “eating disorders,” I mean all eating disorders, irrespective of the body size of the person.  There is no need for that ‘obesity’ bolt-on.

It’s time for us to rethink how we frame conversations about eating disorders and bodies.  The phrase “eating disorders and obesity” doesn’t just reflect outdated thinking; it reinforces stigma and creates barriers to care.

Every person, regardless of body size (or health status!) deserves to feel seen, heard, and respected in their journey – whatever that journey may be.