As part of its scientific and educational activities, and in an effort to enhance awareness of the health and psychological rights of patients, the Human Rights Unit at the College of Nursing organized a scientific symposium titled: “Obesity Stigma: A Barrier to Treatment and Inclusion.”
The symposium was held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in the Continuing Education Hall on the College of Nursing campus.
The lecture was delivered by Professor Dr. Hasanain Faisal Ghazi
, who elaborated on the profound negative impacts of the “stigma” associated with obesity. Professor Dr. Hasanain Faisal Ghazi explained how this societal and institutional discrimination contributes to creating psychological barriers that prevent individuals from seeking necessary medical care, in addition to its direct impact on their health and social integration.
Key Outcomes and Recommendations:
1. Emphasizing the necessity of treating obesity as a complex health condition requiring support and care, not as a personal choice or a source of discrimination.
2. The importance of training nursing and health cadres in professional and compassionate communication mechanisms when dealing with patients suffering from obesity, and avoiding any behaviors that might deepen their sense of stigma.
3. Calling for the integration of psychological support protocols as an integral part of comprehensive treatment plans for obesity.
4. Intensifying community awareness campaigns to correct prevalent misconceptions about obesity and to foster a supportive environment that encourages treatment rather than exclusion.
