The acting medical officer of health in Chatham-Kent is reporting that 65 per cent of residents are overweight or obese.
Dr. Shanker Nesathurai told the board of health at its meeting on Thursday that those two thirds experience stigma because of their weight and obesity.
Nesathurai said the treatment for obesity stigma is honest and respectful dialogue and using non-offensive language.
"Obesity is not a crime. Nevertheless, people who are overweight are dismissed many times as lazy, lacking self-control, and having lower intelligence," said the doctor.
Nesathurai also said the stigma doesn't automatically end when an obese patient enters the doctors' office.
"I would say many doctors are guilty of this. People who are overweight have their medical problems dismissed because of their weight, which is not a great way to practice medicine," he said.
Nesathurai said the discrimination around obesity needs more attention and training.
"Our discrimination against people of unhealthy weight is the last remaining acceptable form of bigotry," Nesathurai said.
Dr. Nesathurai also talked about other medical conditions that are plaguing public health in Chatham-Kent, including opioid overdoses and pre-mature death due to alcohol use. He said there were 45 alcohol-related deaths in Chatham-Kent last year.