Promote Healthy, Not Thin
Dr. Hughes stressed that interventions to address the issue, by efforts to change attitudes in family life, the media, and other approaches, should continue to promote healthy weight management amongst youngsters, while avoiding the dangers of inappropriate stigma and the resulting mental health problems.
“The crucial thing is … don’t frame [nutritional guidance] in terms of: if you do these things you’ll be thinner and thinner is better,” Dr. Hughes said. She stressed that the most important approach is to promote good nutrition for health, without making it all about being thin.
Dr. Hughes said there are many further things the researchers would like to do to take their work forward, including getting a more detailed look at the psychological processes involved and the relationship between internalised weight stigma and other aspects of mental health.
Dr. Hughes has no relevant interests to disclose. Dr. Puhl has no relevant interests to disclose, but is currently receiving funding from Eli Lilly.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.