UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity

Rebecca M. Puhl, PhD, is Professor of Human Development & Family Studies and Deputy Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. She provides commentary on research findings concerning the stigma and prejudice surrounding obesity -- also known as "weight bias" -- and its implications for healthcare and quality of life for people affected by overweight and obesity. For more information about Dr. Puhl's research, visit: http://uconnruddcenter.org

Related Resources

Obesity and Weight Management

Weight Stigma and Health: Does Self-blame Play a Role? Evidence suggests that some overweight persons blame themselves for their body weight, impeding their ability to make lifestyle changes to improve health.
Medscape Public Health, June 28, 2018
Weight Stigma in Kids: The Hurt May Not Go Away A new AAP policy statement addresses the very real problem of weight stigma experienced by overweight and obese children.
Medscape Public Health, November 20, 2017
Weighing Words When Talking to Teens About Body Weight How should you talk to adolescents about obesity and body weight? New evidence provides guidance for potentially awkward conversations.
Medscape Public Health, May 11, 2017
Do You Have Hidden Weight Bias? Find out whether you have hidden weight bias, and learn about the harm caused by 'fat shaming' and assumptions about overweight and obese persons.
Medscape Public Health, November 22, 2016
Ending Weight Bias in Diabetes Care Body weight prejudice can impair the management and outcomes of diabetes.
Medscape Public Health, July 21, 2016
Obesity: Treatment Options and Communication Strategies What contributes to inadequate obesity screening and weight counseling? Are there new resources that may help clinicians?
Medscape Public Health, November 03, 2015
Obesity as a 'Disease' -- What Americans Think Healthcare providers have heated up both sides of the 'obesity as a disease' issue, but what does the public think?
Medscape Public Health, May 14, 2015
The Pervasive Problem of Weight-Based Bullying in Youth Healthcare providers may be some of the few remaining allies in the fight against weight-based bullying of children at school and at home. Here's how you can help.
Medscape Public Health, October 29, 2014
Language and Obesity: Putting the Person Before the Disease The language that we use for individuals affected by obesity needs to consistently put people before their diseases.
Medscape Public Health, July 24, 2014
Stigma: A (Dis)incentive for Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle? Does stigmatizing obesity motivate patients to lose weight, or does it make the problem worse?
Medscape Public Health, May 07, 2014
An Unmet Need in Medical Training: Addressing Weight Bias To change attitudes of healthcare professionals toward obese patients, start with healthcare students in training.
Medscape Public Health, February 03, 2014
Not Easy, but Essential: The Weight Conversation Clinicians are often reluctant to bring up the weight issue for fear of offending patients. Find out how to use neutral yet motivating language to address this important clinical concern.
Medscape Public Health, November 14, 2012
Far-Reaching Effects of Obesity in the Media Typical portrayals of obese persons in visual and print media influence attitudes about obesity and are counterproductive to prevention and treatment.
Medscape Public Health, June 25, 2012
Talking About Weight With Youth and Families Having the "weight conversation" will be a little more comfortable with these strategies from the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity.
Medscape Public Health, March 16, 2012
The Obese Patient in the Healthcare Environment Weight bias in healthcare is no joke. Find out if your environment is sensitive to and accepting of diverse patient sizes.
Medscape Public Health, September 13, 2011
Weight Stigma: Health Implications Far from being an incentive to lose weight, negative stereotypes and weight discrimination are significant physical and mental health risks for the overweight and obese.
Medscape Public Health, May 31, 2011
Motivational Interviewing of Obese Patients Tools for promoting health behaviors and weight loss with obese patients are provided.
Medscape Public Health, February 25, 2011
Weight Bias: A Barrier to Gynecologic Care It is both overt in what we say, and subtle in how we set up the office. How do you express provider weight bias, and how can you do better?
Medscape Public Health, November 03, 2010
Office Environment Strategies to Reduce Weight Bias If you want to avoid healthcare disparity, take a critical look at your healthcare setting and eliminate sources of weight bias.
Medscape Public Health, September 30, 2010
Treating Obese Patients: The Importance of Improving Provider-Patient Interaction Time to turn a critical eye on yourself: are your biases about obesity affecting your interactions with patients?
Medscape Public Health, May 27, 2010
Weight Bias in Healthcare: An Important Clinical Concern Do obese children and adults face weight bias from healthcare providers? What are the consequences?
Medscape Public Health, May 11, 2009