Media & Research Roundup - September 2025

Sep 29

*[Image description: A photo of a shelf full of books.]*

By Bill and Terri Weitze

CONTENT WARNING: Some articles featured in the Media & Research Roundup may refer to stigmatizing events or use stigmatizing language. Websites hosting the articles linked below may allow advertisements for weight loss products and/or otherwise problematic ads.

August 6, 2025: According to a recent study, weight stigma experienced by adolescents is associated with significant weight increases for both females and males.

August 9, 2025: A woman details her battle with her doctors to get a diagnosis when they all prescribed weight loss.

August 9, 2025: If you are fat and looking for accessibility at amusement parks you may want to check out the social media page Plus Size Park Hoppers, developed by a group of young women who have a love for theme parks.

August 10, 2025: Jessica Sprengle provides good advice on teaching children that weight is not a moral issue; it’s neither good nor bad.

August 11, 2025: In 2023, the American Academy of Pediatrics published clinical practice guidelines for treatment of fat children and adolescents. It turns out that the organization and some of the authors and reviewers of the guidelines have financial ties to weight-loss pharmaceutical companies. [Editor’s note: longtime NAAFA collaborator Ragen Chastain pointed out numerous conflicts of interest and financial ties soon after the report was released. Her analysis is available here.]

August 11, 2025: Read about Within Health and The Body Equity Alliance’s annual Weight Stigma Awareness Week, taking place September 22-26, 2025, with the theme “Healing Without Harm: Ending Weight Stigma in Healthcare”.

August 15, 2025: Netflix has released a docu-series about the harm to the participants and viewers caused by the TV show The Biggest Loser. [Editor’s note: Author Aubrey Gordon tries hard to infuse some fat liberation ideas into the program, but ultimately, many fat activists feel the documentary falls short of the critique the show deserves. Check out this episode of Meghan Parker-Hays and Lindy West’s Text Me Back podcast with guest Ronald Young Jr. for a fat-centered take on the documentary.]

August 17, 2025: The European Union and some of its members take a dim view of Novo Nordisk’s campaign that claims to fight weight stigma while actually medicalizing fatness and using fat shaming to sell its weight loss drugs.

August 24, 2025: A woman tells how visiting the Natural History Museum and seeing the Venus of Willendorf taught her to accept and love her own fat body.

September 2025: A recent study frames fatness through genetics, environment, and life circumstances rather than a matter of individual willpower.

September 2, 2025: Another study, another “ob*sity paradox.” Older fat people have less incidence of dementia. However, people who lose weight in middle to late life increase their risk of developing dementia.

September 3, 2025: Some practical ideas on how to incorporate body positivity are offered to improve self-esteem and empowerment.

September 5, 2025: According to a recent study, fat people want to be treated with respect by their healthcare providers, just like everyone else. Issues include weigh-ins and the lack of adequate equipment for all bodies.

September 6, 2025: Weight bias pervades all levels of healthcare; this study finds it in the diagnosing and treatment areas, which have a higher rate of explicit negative attitudes toward fat patients.

September 12, 2025: American author Aubrey Gordon’s book What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat is now available in Korean. Bookstore owner and teacher, Dalli discusses the book and living in a larger body in Korea.