TOS Statement on “Weight Stigma and Bias: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity—2025”

ROCKVILLE, MD – The Obesity Society (TOS) enthusiastically supports the recently released  Weight Stigma and Bias: Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity—2025 by the Obesity Association, a division of the American Diabetes Association®. This evidence-based work aims to help healthcare professionals and staff recognize and address weight bias and stigma. TOS, along with some of its tenured members and other clinical experts, are actively part of the Obesity Association’s Professional Practice Committee (PPC). The PPC is responsible for developing the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity—2025 standards of care. As a contributing organization, TOS is committed to supporting this initiative and referencing these standards in its programming because addressing weight stigma and bias is often the first step in treating the serious chronic disease of obesity. 

“Decreasing bias, stigma and weight-related discrimination among researchers, clinicians, policymakers and the public is a priority for The Obesity Society,” stated TOS President Marc-Andre Cornier, M.D., FTOS. “To achieve this, there is a need for standards of care for obesity treatment that codifies the existing body of work for clinical practice. An emphasis on delivering unbiased care will go a long way to ensuring people living with obesity have access to the care they need to achieve life-changing health outcomes.” 

“TOS representation on the PPC has been integral to the collegial and professional development of the Standards of Care in Overweight and Obesity. The chapter on weight bias and stigma is the first of multiple chapters that will address key components of the obesity care process,” according to Robert Kushner, M.D., past President of TOS and representative on the PPC. 

In parallel with the Obesity Association, TOS—in collaboration with the Obesity Medicine Association and with support from the Obesity Action Coalition—is developing pharmacotherapy clinical practice guidelines that will address common clinical questions in obesity management, while identifying areas for future research to address evidence gaps. 

“The lack of standards often leads to stigmatized, low-quality care that is not grounded in evidence,” added Dr. Cornier. “Our work will continue to equip providers with the guidance they need to enable evidence-based point-of-care decision making.” 

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The Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects. Combining the perspective of researchers, clinicians, policymakers and patients, TOS promotes innovative research, education and evidence-based clinical care to improve the health and well-being of all people with obesity. For more information, visit www.obesity.org.