Body Liberation: Ending Weight Stigma in the Peer Movement

This training is designed to fundamentally transform how the mental health recovery and peer movement addresses sizeism and fatphobia. Recognizing that historical anti-fatness inflicts significant mental health trauma on peers, including increased suicidal ideation, the workshop moves beyond individual self-love to advocate for systemic change within peer spaces.

Participants learn to challenge internalized and interpersonal biases by avoiding stigmatizing language, stopping assumptions about health based on appearance, and understanding that weight fluctuations can be influenced by many factors other than poor choices. The training guides the peer movement to implement size-inclusive practices, such as ensuring accessible seating and promoting joyful movement and nutritious eating without fixating on weight loss, while also centering the voices of fat activists and acknowledging intersectional experiences.