Body liberation makes for better public health

Why Body Liberation + Public Health?

We firmly believe that a body liberation approach makes for better public health. All bodies are deserving of liberation – autonomy, freedom, breaking the restrictive systems of oppression and discriminatory social conventions that limit and harm us. Public health is committed to unpacking and reducing the harms of white supremacy culture, and to moving toward a more equitable and just society that truly values the strength of our diversity.

We can take a significant step toward this anti-oppression aspiration by changing the way we think about and behave toward bodies of various sizes, including our own. As we all have bodies, the liberation of bodies impacts us all, and intersects with our other identities to create the complex beings that we are.

Project Purpose

This website is intended for public health educators and practitioners interested in shifting their approach from weight-centric to weight-inclusive. The information and materials here focus on the intersection of public health and body liberation.

Unlearn
As a first step, we must engage in a process of unlearning the misinformation that we have come to “know” about bodies, weight and health, and unpack our stereotypes and assumptions.

Rethink
It is time to rethink our approach to teaching and practicing public health, including how we frame issues of body size and health so we can reduce bias, discrimination and stigma in our work.

Refocus
By refocusing on key public health values and a body liberation approach, we can move toward a more expansive view of diversity, equity and inclusion, and a more liberatory public health practice.

“This changes everything?” A public health view on weight-loss drugs

Here are some things to consider about weight-loss drugs from a body liberation + public health perspective. In any case, our work toward an equitable world for people in larger bodies continues.

Body Liberation Fits in Public Health, Reason #1

Correlation ≠ Causation: A body liberation approach enables us to be truer to the values that underlie our work. In this series of articles, we examine ways we can improve our public health work by becoming more weight-inclusive.

Do I Fit Here?

For people in larger bodies, there are daily reminders that they do not fit here, that they do not belong. They must be constantly thinking about these things and planning how to navigate a world not built for them.

For years, our organization perpetuated stigmatizing language and policy in the name of advancing public health. While our intentions were good, learning that our impact was causing harm, we committed to a weight-inclusive, body liberation approach. We will continue to learn, and hope to bring others in public health to our table to grow with us on this journey. This shift in thinking and action is the most important thing our organization has done.”

— Lillie Manvel, MPH, Executive Director, Upstream Public Health