Intouch Public Health

Evie Gardiner

For as long as I can remember, I have been made to believe my body is wrong because I am fat*.

It wasn’t until I started university that I realised the problem isn’t my body. The judgement, exclusion, and devaluation it receives is. This is collectively referred to as ‘weight stigma’.

Weight stigma is linked to negative physical and mental health and can lead to behaviours like avoidance or disengagement from healthcare, disordered eating, and reduced physical activity.

There are ongoing calls to reduce weight stigma in Australia, including in public health policy and practice. In response to these, I am completing a PhD exploring size- (or weight-) inclusive approaches to health promotion, which exclude weight management or weight loss as an end in itself and instead focus on non-weight related health outcomes.

Navigating a PhD as a lived experience researcher

As a fat person with a background in public health, I have both a personal and professional interest in size-inclusive approaches to health promotion. It is because of this dual interest that I enrolled in a PhD at the University of Queensland in 2024.

I am navigating my PhD as a lived experience researcher, where my personal experience of the topic informs and enriches the research process. Being a lived experience researcher offers important insights and opportunities, while also presenting unique challenges. I am learning so much about myself both personally and professionally. At the same time, it is so challenging to conduct and promote research that is deeply personal. Rejections, criticisms, setbacks… they can sometimes feel more than just professional.

Early in my PhD, I realised that researching weight stigma and size-inclusive health promotion would require me to take extra care in protecting my wellbeing and avoiding burnout. One of the ways I ‘refill my cup’ is by connecting with like-minded people who share a commitment to this work.

Every year, I look forward to being able to attend the International Weight Stigma Conference where I can connect with other scholars and practitioners who are also passionate about addressing weight stigma.

The 12th International Weight Stigma Conference, Oslo, Norway, 13-14 June 2026

This year I travelled to Oslo with the support of a Public Health Association of Australia 2026 Students and Young Professionals in Public Health (SYPPH) Professional Development Grant.

The conference brings together scholars, practitioners, and the lay public to engage in shared learning, collaboration, and action on the issue of weight stigma. This year’s theme “From problems to solutions: intersectional approaches to weight justice” highlighted the importance of moving beyond identifying stigma as an issue to addressing it. The program included sessions unpacking culture, international perspectives, social science, health and wellbeing, fat joy, sexuality, advocacy and activism, pregnancy, GLP-1s, and artificial intelligence.

 

In addition to being a delegate, I co-facilitated a workshop with one of my PhD supervisors, Dr Lily O’Hara. Together, we explored what size-inclusive health promotion could look like in practice, inviting attendees to critically reflect on how health promotion addresses weight. The insights and discussions from the session will inform the next stages of my PhD research.

More than a conference: finding connection and joy 

Something I really value about the conference is the supportive and collaborative environment it creates. Bringing together people who are passionate about understanding and reducing weight stigma, the conference offers opportunities to learn, reflect, and connect. This year’s program was full of highlights, from hearing diverse international perspectives, to engaging in thought-provoking discussions, and co-facilitating a workshop. Amid all these memorable moments, one experience still makes me smile ear-to-ear: connecting with two fellow attendees and finding joy in our bodies together.

On the morning of conference day two, the three of us woke early and met at a nearby outdoor sauna. Our collective mission? Spend an hour enjoying a sauna and swimming in the fjord. You can bet we fully embraced the challenge!

Growing up, I felt like I had to hide myself and my body.

Don’t be too loud.

Don’t have too much fun.

Don’t take up too much space.

Swimming and wearing a swimsuit felt shameful. Yet that morning, I showed up at the sauna, put on a swimsuit, and didn’t try to hide myself. If anything, I did the opposite.

We spent the morning chatting, laughing, and jumping off the sauna roof into the fjord. I didn’t care who was watching. I didn’t care how big a splash I made. All I cared about was having fun, connecting with others, and feeling grounded and relaxed in my body.

Experiences like this fill my cup. They remind me why this work matters and help sustain me in the ongoing effort to challenge weight stigma, and create a world where all bodies can exist, participate, and thrive.

Hope for the future: progressing size-inclusive health promotion in Australia

My time in Norway reinforced my goal for my PhD: progressing size-inclusive health promotion in Australia.

I returned home feeling deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn from others, strengthen existing connections, build new ones, and continue working towards a more size-inclusive future.

*Fat is my preferred terminology when referring to myself and my body size. However, I acknowledge that language preferences vary and that it is not a safe term for everyone.

Evie Gardiner is undertaking a PhD at the University of Queensland, exploring size inclusive health promotion.