New celebrity backed health campaign and podcast launched

BREAK FREE, a new campaign, is tackling the harsh reality of living with excess weight and the stigma preventing people from getting help. Celebrities and health experts from across the country are uniting to fight the nation’s obesity epidemic. Following Christmas, fading January resolutions, multiple lockdowns and years of COVID uncertainty, many people living with chronic excess weight are facing the reality of managing weight and health. It is more complex than just “eating less and moving more”.

Hesitancy to talk about excess weight comes as a result of stigma and shame, linked to being categorised as “clinically obese”. Although one in four people in England are living with obesity, the research showed that the words “obese” and “obesity” can make people feel ashamed, potentially stopping them from accessing support services.¹ The research also showed that more than half of people (57%) had never accessed NHS weight management services, and 40% were ‘not at all aware’ that NHS weight management services could help them.

The BREAK FREE campaign challenges the outdated perceptions and judgements around weight and provides free resources to empower people to break free from stigma and seek help. These include; a guide to help people speak to a GP, nurse or pharmacist about any of their health concerns, a fitness plan that is tailored for different levels of health, a mini podcast series and access to balanced and judgement-free scientific information.

Ros spoke to geneticist Giles Yeo and advocate Sarah Le Brocq.