Inclusive Care For All Bodies: The Impact of Weight Stigma

Dr Jeffrey Hunger is an Assistant Professor of Social Psychology in the Department of Psychology at Miami University. He directs the Hunger Stigma and Health (HuSH) Lab, which conducts research on the mental and physical health consequences of stigma. Much of his work has focused on effects of weight stigma, although his lab has recently initiated work related to disability, sexual identity, and social class as well. Jeff’s research is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as the National Science Foundation. Previously, he completed his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) followed by postdoctoral training in Health Psychology at UCLA. When not on campus, Jeff is an avid cyclist, home cook, and self-described annoying foodie. He currently lives in Cincinnati, but prefers to spend his time traveling with his husband Alex whenever possible.

Natalie Loschiavo is a registered and licensed dietitian in Pennsylvania and Delaware, USA. She owns a group practice outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that specializes in working with individuals with eating disorders in addition to many other nutrition-related conditions. Natalie has provided medical nutrition therapy for children, adolescents, adults and families for well over a decade and sits on the board as a medical liaison for the Southwest Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals. In addition to her professional career, Natalie is the mother to her two-year-old son, Lincoln, and lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her family.

Rebecca L. Pearl, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and in Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions, where she directs the Body Image and Stigma Lab. Her research investigates the health impacts of and interventions to reduce appearance- and health-related stigma, with a primary focus on weight stigma. Her work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the 2022 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. She completed her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Yale University, her psychology internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Weight and Eating Disorders.