Classifying obesity as a disease has resulted in some unintended negative effects, particularly around mindset.
In this episode, I’m drawing on a study that sparked my interest in mindset theory and discussing the controversial decision by the American Medical Association to classify obesity as a disease in 2013, which had unintended negative effects from a mindset perspective.
I’m going into how labels can shape our views on health, impact our behaviors and overall well-being, and how to navigate labels cautiously.
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Episode Highlights
>>(4:51) Research results on the implications of labeling obesity as a disease.
>>(9:01) How classifying obesity as a disease can lead to a fixed mindset.
>>(14:25) Implications for health and fitness coaches from classifying obesity as a disease.
>>(16:04) More recent research about how mindset impacts health behaviors.
>>(21:33) An example of using a growth mindset to overcome a negative health diagnosis.
Listen to the full episode to hear about the research that inspired my PhD journey and how I’ve seen people overcome serious health diagnoses through the use of a growth mindset.
And if you want more, check out my blog post on how obesity can impact someone’s fitness journey.
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Links From the Podcast
Research mentioned: The Influence of Health Mindset on Perceptions of Illness and Behaviors Among Adolescents
Research mentioned: “Obesity Is a Disease”: Examining the Self-Regulatory Impact of This Public-Health Message
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Getting started with the Health Mindset Coaching Certification (5 FREE lessons included!)
