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How Weight Stigma Impacts Mental Health

Wednesday, June 24th, 2026   10:00 AM EDT -1:00 PM EDT
Toby Schwartz, LCSW
$59.99 Cost For Member: $39.99

Weight stigma is a pervasive sociocultural phenomenon linked to diet culture, thin-ideal internalization, and widespread misconceptions about the relationship between weight and health—many of which are reinforced by reliance on the BMI scale. This workshop examines how weight stigma contributes to mental health concerns including eating disorders, anxiety, depression, shame, and trauma responses. The course will also highlight how implicit weight bias among mental health professionals can inadvertently reinforce harm and impede treatment. Drawing on current empirical literature, the workshop introduces weight-inclusive, evidence-informed clinical approaches designed to enhance therapeutic attunement, reduce clinician bias, and improve outcomes for clients across the weight spectrum. Case examples and applied strategies will equip clinicians to integrate these approaches into clinical practice effectively.

About the Presenter

Toby Schwartz is a licensed clinical social worker practicing virtually in the Tri-State area. Toby is specialized in treating eating disorders, body dysmorphia, recovery from weight stigma and diet culture, and is a certified intuitive eating counselor. She is a doctoral candidate at Wurzweiler School of Social Work where she is researching the implications of weight stigma on mental health.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and differentiate key constructs related to weight stigma, including its sociocultural, familial, and health-related origins, using current research literature.
  2. Analyze at least three ways weight stigma contributes to mental health concerns—including eating disorders, trauma responses, anxiety, and depression—using empirical case examples and research findings.
  3. Identify and evaluate how provider bias and weight-based assumptions may appear in clinical interactions, and describe strategies to reduce diagnostic and therapeutic bias.
  4. Apply weight-inclusive, evidence-informed clinical interventions to support clients of diverse body sizes, integrating principles from HAES, trauma-informed care, and intuitive eating.

Agenda:

I. Introduction & Overview (20 minutes)

  • Definition of weight stigma

  • Overview of societal and clinical relevance

II. Development of Weight Stigma (40 minutes)

  • Sociocultural and familial contributors

  • Diet culture and thin-ideal messaging

  • Problems with BMI as a health measure

III. Mental Health Impacts of Weight Stigma (30 minutes)

  • Eating disorders and disordered eating

  • Anxiety, depression, and trauma responses

  • Case examples illustrating psychological sequelae

IV. Treating Clients from a Weight-Inclusive Framework (30 minutes)

  • HAES-aligned interventions

  • Reducing clinician bias

  • Therapeutic language and reframing techniques

V. Case Presentation (30 minutes)

  • Application of weight-inclusive treatment

  • Discussion of clinical decision-making

VI. Questions, Integration & Closing (30 minutes)

  • Clinical takeaways

  • Strategies for implementation

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
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  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
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Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.