Below is a sampling of writing from Dr. Lindo Bacon relevant to health care providers. For much more extensive writing on these topics, please visit the topical Resources page or check out Dr. Bacon’s books.
Academic Background (Peer-Reviewed)
- Bacon, L., & Aphramor, L. Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift This is the premiere article that has up-ended thinking about weight. Includes all the arguments that support a paradigm shift, meticulously referenced. In academic voice.
Featured Writings
- AMA Misfire: All That's Wrong With Medicalizing "Obesity" Labeling obesity a disease pathologizes physical appearance rather than identifying illness. An excerpt from Linda's newsletter.
- Stress Mess: How "Fighting Fat" Makes People Sick Public health interventions promoting weight-loss fail to account for "social determinants" such as socioeconomic status and are not scientifically sound. The stress resulting from stigmatization in the name of health causes ill health.
- "Everyone Knows Obesity is Hurting Us," But is the Fight Against Obesity the Problem? Tune out the loud "everyone knows" claims about obesity, shape and diet and challenge the health "experts". It's our obsession over body fat that s a costly, crippling threat to health and well-being.
- The HAES Manifesto The Health at Every Size Manifesto, reproduced from Linda's groundbreaking book. Summarizes hot topics and the need for a paradigm shift. A must-have for everyone's library.
- More Magazine: Fat? Who Cares! Why Weight Doesn’t Matter, an interview with Linda Bacon, Peter Jaret. Bacon speaks out on how weight-loss efforts are statistically futile—and how you can boost your health big time without dropping a pound.
- Bacon, L. & Matz, J., Intuitive Eating for People with Diabetes: Enjoy your Food, Respect your Body The Health at Every Size approach for Diabetes Management is introduced, including tips for switching from a "diet" mentality to intuitive eating. Make food enjoyment your goal, not your fear.
- The Professional Journey (co-authored with Lucy Aphramor) This excerpt from Body Respect describes how health professionals can best educate, inspire and support clients.
- 11 Reasons Your ‘Concern’ for Fat People’s Health Isn’t Helping Anyone "I'm just concerned about their health." How many times have you heard this? Linda Bacon and Melissa Fabello help you understand what is really being said and why its not helpful.
- The Racist Roots of Fighting Obesity Prescribing weight loss to black women is ineffective, damaging and ignores barriers to their health, write Lindo and Sabrina Strings, in this special edition of Scientific American.
Providing Sensitive Care
- Health Care Providers: Providing Sensitive Care for People of All Sizes Motivating good self-care through attention to health behaviors - and dropping the weight focus.
- A Message for Health Care Providers and Administrators and Staff of Obesity Prevention or Treatment Programs You can better support good health by switching the focus from weight to health. Change the paradigm: Obesity treatment/prevention is harmful, but improved health behavior goals support people of all sizes.
- A Message for Therapists on Compassionate Therapy for Weight Concerns Resist the temptation to view weight loss attempts and dieting as self-care. Learn how to better support positive body image and self-care behaviors.
- Orthopedic surgeons: helping patients with joint problems Joint pain? Prescribed movement is more effective medical care than prescribed weight loss for ALL people with orthopedic concerns.
- Final Words: For Health Professionals Resistant to Health at Every Size Dropping a weight focus runs counter to much of what we're taught as health professionals. But here's why you should listen to the naysayers anyway.
- For People Who Consider Size Acceptance Dangerous Hounding people to lose weight is not just ineffective, it's damaging. People make better self-care choices when they start from body appreciation, not from a drive to change their body.