'Everyone knows' obesity kills, but is weight loss the answer?

Being brought up in a fatphobic culture where what we learn about health and weight stems from the weight-centred paradigm, it can sometimes be a challenge to actually hear what those in the health-centred camp are advocating. Messages get distorted in a way that makes sense within a weight-dominant schema.

Which perhaps explains why journalist Maria Moscaritolo took it upon herself to write an article titled "Fat acceptance might help your ego, but it could kill you" in The Punch on Saturday . Her article was in response to one I had written earlier in the week, and it completely misrepresented my views on health and weight.

As one reader put aptly:

Maria, you quoted Lydia Jade Turner's advice that "The best thing we can do for our health is focus on health-giving behaviours, and allow our weight to fall where it will." But then, as Jamie noted, you basically amputated the first half of the sentence and criticised the second half out of context. …Turner does not advise 'giving up on your weight'; she advises shifting the focus to health-giving behaviours, and accepting the weight that results from those health-giving behaviours.

Somewhere along the line, the idea that accepting one's body and engaging in healthy behaviours regardless of size, had been lost.

Unfortunately many pop health 'experts' distort research to fuel their weight loss claims. I have debunked a number of claims in media before – including ones by Biggest Loser trainer Michelle Bridges. I do this because their messaging is both misguided and harmful.

Ultimately I respect a person's choice to embark on a weight loss diet. But I firmly believe it is also their right to understand the inherent risks that accompany weight loss attempts and the significant failure rate over time.

Moscaritolo argued in favour of the traditional weight loss paradigm, stating "Why else is the medical profession tearing its hair out over our obesity "epidemic"?

While I'm tempted to cite significant financial conflicts of interest given 95% of obesity research is funded by the multi-billion dollar weight loss industry, it's also the case that science has always been influenced by the zeitgeist of its time.

Throughout history there have been numerous paradigm shifts. What we are experiencing currently is akin to those who push weight loss believing that the earth is flat. The research simply does not support the idea that obesity is automatically harmful (except at statistical extremes).

While many think they demand to see scientific evidence to support their existing view that fat kills, most don't have time nor the means to access peer reviewed journals to assess the validity of what is being reported. This is not their fault. We learn to trust those recognised as health authorities – even if what they are reporting is not necessarily objective or accurate.

As International No Diet Day approaches this Sunday May 6, a non-profit activist group Endangered Bodies Australia is launching a 'Dance Walk' in Sydney. The best way to describe a 'dance walk' can be seen in this video clip.

Dance walking perhaps best encapsulates the spirit of the HAES approach, honouring one of its key principles: to promote individually appropriate, enjoyable, life-enhancing physical activity, rather than exercise that is focused on a goal of weight loss.

You might care to join.