Elefante na sala: o estigma do peso na formação dos profissionais da saúde

Abstract

The Elephant in the Room: Weight Stigma in the Training of Health ProfessionalsWeight remains a stigmatizing marker within science, health education, and society, influencingboth student development and healthcare practices. This theoretical-reflective essay highlightsthe silence around weight stigma in the training of health professionals. Drawing on historicaland anthropological perspectives, we critique how the fat body, once symbolizing abundance,became marginalized through a health-focused, aesthetic discourse. Particularly in nutrition, thelack of academic dialogue on this issue impacts students’ professional and personal growth. It isessential to recognize and address these gaps in education to support more comprehensiveunderstandings of health.