The Obesity Society response to recent criticism of Surgeon General Nominee Regina Benjamin

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Aug 11 2009

The Obesity Society would like to make known its response to recent criticism regarding President Obama's nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin, his candidate to serve as the next Surgeon General. Critics have suggested that because Dr. Benjamin is overweight, this sends the wrong message from the person who will be the public face of America's health initiatives.

A person's body weight provides no indication of an individual's character, credentials, talents, leadership, or contributions to society. To suggest that Dr. Benjamin's physical appearance discounts and discredits her qualities and accomplishments is inappropriate, unjust and wrong.

The criticism of Dr. Benjamin is an unfortunate example of the weight bias and stigmatization that is pervasive in North American society. The prevalence of weight discrimination in the United States has increased by 66% in the past decade, and is now on par with rates of racial discrimination.

Stigmatization of individuals who are struggling with their weight results in considerable suffering, impaired quality of life, and wasted potential. There is no place for weight bias in a just, compassionate society. The Obesity Society opposes weight bias and discrimination, including recent criticism of Dr. Benjamin. As the leading scientific organization on obesity, The Obesity Society is committed to increasing public awareness about weight bias and the negative consequences it can have for those affected.

Posted in: Miscellaneous News

Tags: Obesity

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No Discrimination

Marie Dufour, RD says:

August 11, 2009 at 7:47 AM

The comments against the nomination of Dr. Benjamin have nothing to do with discrimination or weight bias. The comments, at least on my part, were more of a critique of our society's fatalistic acceptance of obesity as an acceptable, normal, and no-consequence condition. We all know that this is not the case and that obesity alone is the major cause for diabetes, myocardial infarction, stroke, and-to a lesser degree-cancer. We also know that obesity is largely a result of excessively rich diets and sedentary lifestyles, added to increasingly resisting genetics.
There is no doubt that Dr. Benjamin is a very capable individual, intelligent and with the health of our nation at heart. She has the opportunity to derail America's acceptance of obesity as a fait-accompli. Like her predecessor, Dr. C. Everett Koop who led Americans in adopting non-smoking behaviors and regulations, Dr. Benjamin can be the torch-bearer who will lead Americans into adopting at least one of the 3 remaining healthy lifestyle factors: following a healthy diet, being physically active, and keeping a BMI under 30.
I know she can; I hope she will.
(Marie Dufour, RD, FACMPE - DOMINO Health Foundation - Currently in Paraguay - www.dominohealth.org)

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- No discrimination!?
  
  Sandra says:
  
  August 12, 2009 at 12:14 PM
  
  Your statement that our society posesses a "fatalistic acceptance" of obesity puzzles and shocks me. Society's most commonly held view of people who are overweight is that they are immoral. People who are overweight may be told many times that a simple solution to their problem exists, many people have made fortunes off them (including medical, pharmaceutical, surgical, and dietetical professionals), but am I wrong in my non-professional belief that the great majority of people who lose weight on "diets" gain all of it back or more? I know, you teach them that they must adopt a whole new lifestyle, etc, etc. But do you move stores that sell produce into poor urban neighborhoods? Do you take advertisements off their little friend's TV shows when they visit? I know obesity is killing us--the poor faster than the rest of you. Dieticians, in my experience, have been the most unrealistic professionals I have ever dealt with. More safe play outside for children!
  
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I Am Labelled "Overweight"

Jacqueline says:

August 13, 2009 at 9:23 AM

This article makes me upset!! I am size 18, 200 lbs (almost exactly like Marliyn Monroe!!!) and have been labeled overweight by South Carolina's Department of Health. That pisses me off, but that's what ticks me off about this article! Because of my "weight problem", I was horribly lectured for 35 minutes and was given many papers telling me that I was fat and what to do to make me better, like I was a sick diseased cripple. Notably, at the bottom of those papers was the surgeon general's little waring label things saying that this was an approved document for my health. Now, sorry but it's true, I refuse to take weight "fixing" solutions from someone who "suffers" from the same thing!! I am not trying to be ugly. It's the truth. Thank you for the opportunity to share opinions!

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