Media & Research Roundup - September 2026
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By Bill and Terri Weitze
Content note: 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 12, 2026: Dr. Amir Khan, a “TV doctor” in the UK, warns that many physicians base diagnoses and treatment on the appearance of their patients, especially fat ones, possibly missing a range of conditions that may have nothing to do with weight.
August 20, 2026: A new study focuses on weight stigma and discrimination across various cultures, and guess what? Pretty much every culture has weight stigma, and it has a negative effect on fat people, particularly women.
August 26, 2026: Some claim the body positivity movement is over; with the pendulum swinging to extreme thinness. Not so fast says Quispe Lopez writing for Advocate as they discuss the reasons and the changes to a movement that is still very much working for fat (and LGBTQ) representation.
August 26, 2026: Comedian and broadcaster Darren Harriott’s podcast ImPerfect returns, continuing his exploration of body image pressures while trying to find the humor in the “everyday madness of it all.”
August 26, 2026: More research shows that fat folks are the recipients of “weight-based mistreatment” in the workplace. I don’t know if it’s good that there is finally more science to back up what we’ve been saying for years or be mad that nobody has believed it for all these years.
August 27, 2026: Researchers find a small but statistically significant relationship between children’s exposure to “weight talk” (especially negative) and disordered eating.
August 31, 2026: Deb Malkin is funding a book, More Rump, Less Frump: Celebrating Re/Dress NYC, Brooklyn’s Fat Fashion Paradise 2008- 2011 through Kickstarter. Celebrating one of the first clothing stores with fashion choices for fat people and the community that was built around it, Malkin hopes to preserve the history of the time and place.
September 1, 2026: ICYMI: Weight Stigma Awareness Week was Sept. 8-10 and you can tune in to the webcast recording here for a robust discussion of how we recognize, challenge and ultimately reduce weight stigma.
September 1, 2026: Instead of automatically praising patients who have rapid/significant weight loss, healthcare professionals should consider an eating disorder screening. (Editor’s note: NAAFA partnered with Project Heal recently on post about "atypical" anorexia and weight stigma in eating disorder care).
September 9, 2026: A study concerning weight stigma experienced by larger-body pregnant women recommends various strategies for general practitioners to reduce their biases. Seems like these recommendations might be useful for all larger-body patients.
