You can help create change
“My weight impacts on me in ways that I am often fat shamed by others.”
Many people have shared their experiences of overweight and obesity with us. We are using these powerful stories to help create change and inform work around the Healthy Weight Action Plan.
Some of these stories were included in the Obesity Collaborative – Partners in Change Summit which took place in October 2018. Here is a copy of the presentation that HCC gave as part of the opening session.
Video 1 – Consumer and Carer Perspectives
Video 2 – Parents and Children’s Perspectives
“I haven’t really accessed the health system for my weight. I’ve mentioned my weight to my GP on various occasions and have received a cursory reply as I think there is a sense of them being as helpless as the patient.”
Media
HCC media release – Changing the way we speak about obesity
Medical Forum article – Consumers Weigh in on Heart Health
“I have struggled with my weight since adolescence… I am a comfort eater and an emotional eater…My GP has never offered me anything except supporting me to manage my anxiety. My psychologist is helping me reshape my thinking around exercise and he believes I suffer from mild body dysmorphia…We need to stop separating physical and mental health. They are tied together and until we treat them simultaneously then we will not achieve the reductions in obesity that many people need and want.”
We will continue to share lived experiences with people in the health system who are working to improve services to support healthy weight.
“I have tried Weight Watchers with some success at the start but gained it all back once going off diet & yo-yo dieted throughout high school often going without meal. Peer pressure to be skinny was the norm. I am a very emotional eater when life is stressful I turn to food. Never have had much success with weight loss as revert back to old habits.”
If you’d like to share your experience with the health system regarding weight please contact Clare Mullen at clare.mullen@hconc.org.au