Weight Stigma in Eating Disorder Treatment and its impact on fat practitioners

Are you a Social Worker in a larger body who provides care to people in Eating Disorder Recovery? 

What is the study about? 
This research aims to better understand how weight stigma is communicated, felt, and navigated by fat practitioners; how their bodies are perceived, how they experience professional spaces, and how these dynamics impact their wellbeing, work, and relationships within ED treatment environments. Despite increasing discussions about weight stigma, the voices of fat clinicians in these settings remain underrepresented. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Be a registered social worker practicing in Ontario 
• Self-identify as fat (Fat, plus-size, larger-bodied, or ‘overweight.’) 
• Currently work in an ED treatment environment (e.g., inpatient, outpatient, residential, community agency, or private practice) 
• Have access to a computer and the internet to participate in a virtual interview 
  
  

Participants will: 

1. Complete a brief spatial-emotion mapping exercise (a simple and creative reflection using paper and coloured writing tools) 
2. Take part in a one-on-one virtual interview over Zoom (approximately 60–90 minutes). The interview will explore your experiences related to weight stigma in your professional setting. 
3. Optional follow-up 30-minute meeting to provide feedback on findings 

Be given a small token of appreciation 

Interested? 
Click on the link to sign up for this study 
Or email Jacqueline Rousseau at jacquelinerousseau@cmail.carleton.ca 

This study has been approved by Carleton University’s Research Ethics Board (CUREB) - #125505