A scoping review of sizeism in peer-reviewed journal articles: Where is counseling?

ABSTRACT

Sizeism is among the few socially acceptable forms of discrimination, creating inequitable access to healthcare for people of size. This scoping review examined peer-reviewed research on sizeism over 20 years and found that counseling journals did not publish articles about sizeism. Counselors need to engage in research to understand and conceptualize sizeism and to address sizeism in counseling with social justice advocacy. Recommendations for wellness-based, size-inclusive, culturally responsive counseling, research, education, and supervision are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Fatphobia
• scoping review
• sizeism
• social justice
• weight bias

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Health At Every Size and HAES are registered trademarks of the Association for Size Diversity and Health and used with permission.