Madrid – The Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) convened a training session on Tuesday for journalists, patient advocacy groups and health communicators to address how obesity is reported in the media. The initiative, titled “Words Matter: Improving the Approach to Obesity,” aimed to promote more accurate, empathetic, and scientifically grounded coverage of the chronic disease.
The session, held in Madrid and streamed online, was supported by the National Association of Health Information Specialists (ANIS), the Spanish Forum of Patients (FEP), and the National Association of People Living with Obesity (ANPO). Graziella Almendral, a science and health journalist, moderated the event, emphasizing the need to analyze not just the clinical aspects of obesity, but too the impact of media narratives on public perception and the lives of those affected.
Almendral referenced actor Brendan Fraser’s experience preparing for his role in “The Whale,” noting his emphasis on understanding the lived experience of a person with obesity. She argued that health journalism should adopt a similar approach, prioritizing comprehension and empathy before constructing a news narrative.
Dr. Javier Salvador, Professor Emeritus of Endocrinology at the University of Navarra and a member of SEEN’s Obesity Area, underscored the fundamental understanding of obesity as a “highly prevalent, chronic, and complex disease.” He stressed that obesity is not curable and requires ongoing management, impacting more than 200 different complications, debunking the notion that it is solely a matter of lifestyle or aesthetics.
Dr. Salvador also highlighted the growing prevalence of obesity in Spain, currently affecting 18-23% of the adult population, with projections indicating a potential rise to 37% by 2035. He called for structural responses based on scientific evidence to address this trend.
A central theme of the session was the issue of stigma. Dr. Salvador warned that despite the biological and physiological basis of obesity, a persistent belief remains that it is solely a matter of willpower. He termed this “falsehood” a source of profound and painful consequences, rooted in “weight bias” and the assumption of personal culpability. He advocated for person-centered language, suggesting framing individuals as “people living with obesity” rather than “obese people.”
Andoni Lorenzo Garmendia, President of the FEP, echoed these concerns, stating that obesity remains one of the most stigmatized diseases despite its complexity. He emphasized that stigma is not harmless, impacting health, quality of life, and access to healthcare. He noted that individuals often face guilt, social judgment, and inequality, leading to delayed medical consultation, treatment non-adherence, and potentially harmful self-treatment.
The discussion also addressed the social determinants of obesity, with experts noting a correlation between lower socioeconomic status and higher prevalence rates. Lorenzo Garmendia pointed out that individuals in lower socioeconomic brackets face greater exposure to obesogenic environments and barriers to accessing healthy food and healthcare.
SEEN announced plans to develop specific guidelines on respectful language and to update its adult obesity management guide, incorporating the work of its Inequality and Stigma Group. The society already provides recommendations to media outlets aimed at combating stigmatization.
Federico Luis Moya, President of ANPO, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between patient organizations, scientific teams, and clinical practitioners to effectively address obesity, recognizing its complexity and multifaceted nature.