Weight Stigma: The science, the experience and the support we can offer
This webinar is brought to you by the Health Behaviour and Weight Management Interest Group (2023).
27 April 2023 at 12:00pm - 1:00pm (Canberra/Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane time, AEST)
27 April 2023 at 11:30am - 12:30pm (ACDT)
27 April 2023 at 9:00am - 10:00am (AWST)
Weight stigma and bias affects many people living with overweight and obesity. Although most health care professionals would deny they have negative weight-related attitudes and stereotypes, the research shows that this is not the case. Weight discrimination impacts health care, relationships with clients and health outcomes for the person living in a larger body. This webinar will explore the latest research on weight stigma in Australia; how dietitians can acknowledge and address their own stigma and offer real support to clients; and hear the perspective of someone who has lived experienced.
Speakers:
Andrew Wilson is a father and husband, who is passionate about helping people living with obesity and struggling with mental health issues. He is a community radio presenter (10 years) and local Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter. Andrew founded “Lads Living Large”, a men’s obesity self-support group in 2019 with other likeminded men. He also founded the “Mid Mountains Men’s Walk & Talk”, a group of men who walk, connect & support each other in the Blue Mountains area. Both of these groups have managed to support men through some very challenging times. Andrew is a Board Member of the Weight Issues Network which is an Australian anti-stigma obesity advocacy group. Andrew is also the Engagement Lead for WIN, in which he engages with the Lived Experience members and assists in storytelling training, clinicians, clinics and researchers from different states and liaises Health system leaders, liaises with international obesity advocacy groups. He presents an online Monthly Australia-wide Community Meetup for people living with obesity.
Dr Blake Lawrence is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Psychology in the School of Population Health at Curtin University and a Researcher at the Enable Institute of Health Research. Blake completed his PhD in psychology at Curtin University in 2016, followed by post-doctoral research at Flinders University (Adelaide), Cancer Council NSW (Sydney), and the Ear Science Institute Australia (Perth), before taking up a new position as a Research Fellow of cancer prevention at Curtin in 2019. Blake is now leading a program of research exploring the psychosocial origins and predictors of obesity in young adults, with collaborators across Australia, Sweden, and the UK. Blake has previous lived experience of obesity during his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood, which has motivated him to pursue research into weight stigma and obesity in young adults.
Facilitator:
Sally Badorrek is a senior dietitian who has extensive experience in working with people who have diabetes, obesity and chronic health. She has worked in a wide range of dietetic roles including consulting to industry and media, within the community and aged care sector, in private practice and clinically in the hospital environment. Sally currently works at the Nepean Family Metabolic Health Service. Her role involves education and counselling, student supervision and the ongoing development of the dietetic arm of the service. In 2020, Sally commenced her PhD at the University of Sydney researching ''Real-world long-term dietary and wellbeing outcomes following bariatric surgery and the influence of supports and beliefs on these outcomes”.
This webinar is worth 1 CPD hour.
Webinar access details will be sent out via email on 26 April 2023. The webinar recording will be emailed to registrants within 1-3 business days of the live event.
Dietitians Australia members: $25 | Non-Members: $35