#29 Obesity: Changing Attitudes

In this podcast, we hear from Dr Jean O’Connell, a consultant endocrinologist and clinical lead at the Centre for Obesity Management at St. Columcille's and St. Vincent's University Hospitals. Jean explains that obesity is a chronic disease caused by a malfunction in the body's energy balance and weight regulation. She goes on to explain that approximately 1 in 4 adults in Ireland are living with obesity, but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have increased these numbers. Despite this, Jean also talks about the bias and stigma associated with this long term illness.

Susie Birney, the lead for the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO) shares her personal experience of living with obesity, highlighting the difference between overweight and obesity. She also shares her personal experience of encountering weight bias within the healthcare system. Her experience reflects the damaging impact of internalized weight bias and how the language others use can reinforce this. Hosted by Eamon Keogh, we also discuss the importance of challenging stigma and misconceptions surrounding obesity. This includes the need for neutral and positive imagery in the media and the importance of healthcare professionals avoiding assumptions and biases when discussing obesity with patients.

 

For more information visit https://icpobesity.org/

 

Produced by GKMedia.ie