Why Not Talking About Race, Weight and Identity is Bad for Our Health
I used to shy away from politics in my writing until I realized that silence serves the oppressor, not the oppressed.
When I first became a health coach, I worried that discussing race, weight, or identity would be seen as too political. However, the Trump administration and Secretary Kennedy, through the Make America Healthy Again campaign, have shown us that health is, in fact, very political.
Ignoring our clients' social realities does not make our content safer but less relevant and trustworthy.
While health communication can advance the health and well-being of populations, we cannot assume that what works for one population will work for another. As I’ve been developing our upcoming free masterclass on How to Write Inclusive Health Content That Builds Trust (Without Overwhelm), I can’t help but ask myself, what is health communication within the lens of inclusivity?
For me, thinking about health communication from an inclusive lens is recognizing that the current health content wasn’t made with every person in mind. Instead, health content often considers the ideal life situation that will produce the best possible results for a person. However, when we think about health from this lens, we ignore the impact of race, weight, and identity on a person’s health. Here are three reasons why:
1. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Are Prevalent in the Healthcare System
It is well known that since the global COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent that health and healthcare inequities heavily impact populations based on their race and ethnicity. According to KFF, this is due in part to structural and systemic inequities that are rooted in racism and discrimination.
For instance, in my upcoming masterclass, I’m going to talk about the Canadian Medical Association's (CMA) apology to Indigenous People for the medical harms committed against them in the past and present. While that apology doesn’t undue the damage caused, it does recognize the fact that health disparities often exist due to racism and discrimination. If we don’t acknowledge the harm, we’re likely going to continue committing that harm in the present and future.
2. Discrimination Based on Weight Doesn’t Promote Health
There have been more than enough studies that have proven that weight-based discrimination is harmful to our health, yet our healthcare system has become increasingly anti-fat. If it’s not apparent that, as a weight-inclusive health coach and educator, I find that highly problematic. I also recognize that it’s dangerous to our health.
A 2020 article in Clinical Obesity illustrated the harm of weight stigma in the case of a patient who was misdiagnosed as being ob*se when she was actually carrying a 46 kg cancerous mass in her abdomen. Due to weight stigma, they ignored her concerns about the pain in her abdomen and put her on a year-long weight loss plan instead of performing a proper examination. Even though her case is an extreme version of what happens when weight stigma guides patient care, it isn’t an isolated incident. Everyone deserves high-quality healthcare regardless of size, weight, or shape.
3. Our Social Identity Can Have a Huge Impact on Our Health Behaviors
As a Black woman with southern heritage, I understand profoundly how vital our social identity can be in impacting our behaviors. A 2024 article in Social Science and Medicine demonstrated an overall positive association between our social identities and the health behaviors we engage in. In other words, the social groups that we identify with have a significant impact on not only how we see the world but also how we choose to engage with it.
For instance, in college, I was a cross-country and track team member, so I found myself engaging in behaviors that would make me a faster runner. I was mindful of my nutrient intake and intentional about running during school breaks. After college, I continued engaging with running groups because that had become a part of my social identity. I share this example to illustrate that the social groups we are a part of can significantly impact the behaviors we choose to engage in.
For these reasons, when I think about health communication, I cannot ignore race, weight, or identity. Although these political topics may rub some the wrong way, research has shown that they can have a huge impact on our health outcomes.
I’ll share more about that in my upcoming free masterclass on How to Write Inclusive Health Content That Builds Trust (Without Overwhelm) in a few weeks. Registration will open soon, so make sure you’re subscribed to the EWBH Community Newsletter so you’re the first to know!
Talk soon,
Tomesha
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