Though it’s nice to think society’s progressed by leaps and bounds, the truth is there’s still plenty of room for improvement. The fact that weight stigma still exists makes that especially apparent. Over 42% of American adults—the majority of whom are women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community—report experiencing discrimination through sizeism, worsening their stress, increasing their chances of developing chronic health conditions, and making them less likely to seek medical assistance in addressing those risks. These individuals are also more likely to internalize this stigma, worsening their overall well-being.

Yet it’s not all bad news. Concerns around sizeism have been instrumental in fueling the body positivity movement, which challenges traditional views on excess weight and promotes loving your body regardless of its shape and size. Despite this, it’s still crucial to acknowledge potential health risks, which is why weight management remains essential—not to conform to societal standards but to stay in top form and improve your quality of life.

This can be a fine line to walk, especially if you’re struggling to let go of what others think of your appearance. Fortunately, various health, nutrition, and exercise experts reveal that it’s possible to stay body-positive while healthily managing your weight. They’ve written the following books to prove just that: 

Body Respect: What Conventional Health Books Get Wrong, Leave Out, and Just Plain Fail to Understand about Weight

Take the word of health professionals Linda Bacon and Lucy Aphramor and ensure that the first thing you do is love and respect your body as it is. Body Respect argues against fat bias, emphasizing that excess weight can be caused by factors out of your control. For instance, marginalized demographics may be more vulnerable to weight gain because of a lack of access to healthier foods. Let go of the notion that it’s your fault your body doesn’t conform to societal standards. Instead, keep your eye on what should be your true goal—better health and well-being—to adopt a more sustainable mindset for weight management. 

Healthy Dividends: Investments in Nutrition, Movement, and Healthy Habits That Pay Off

Diet and exercise are cornerstones of healthy weight management. However, pressure to lose weight can see you trying strategies that aren’t necessarily healthy. Fad diets for weight loss can cause lifelong harm because they promote quick “fixes,” leading to extreme and unhealthy eating behavior. Many of them do help restrict calorie intake but deprive you of nutrients in the process—which Healthy Dividends believes are the building blocks for healthy eating habits that pay off. To avoid these drawbacks, follow author Tricia Silverman’s mantra: if you can’t read it, don’t eat it. Avoiding processed foods with additives and instead eating those close to their source, like oranges instead of orange juice, is an easy way to nourish yourself and boost weight management efforts that don’t promote unrealistic beauty standards or compromise your health.

The book proposes taking a similar approach to working out. Motivate yourself to move more by finding an activity you enjoy. As long as you get your heart rate up, you’ll burn calories—and consistency is often better than intensity. Starting slowly with simple workouts like speed walking or even dancing can get you in the groove without making exercise feel like a chore. With a study published in BMC Public Health finding that fear of discrimination discourages overweight and obese individuals from trying sports or going to the gym, you can also consider joining inclusive and welcoming spaces where you can connect with others. Communities like Power Plus Wellness use body-affirming principles that can help you reclaim a sense of safety while exercising, helping you love and respect your body more by strengthening it.  

Magic Pill: the Extraordinary Benefits and Disturbing Risks of the New Weight Loss Drugs

Genetics and medical conditions like PCOS can make it easier to gain weight and much more challenging to lose it, which can add to the distress already caused by sizeism. It’s crucial to acknowledge these as health issues and address them sustainably. Given the health risks of being overweight or obese—like heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer—the best way to do so is by consulting a medical professional. In these cases, they’ll likely recommend GLP-1 for weight loss. Originally formulated to treat diabetes, medications like semaglutide (popularly known as Ozempic) curb your appetite to reduce your caloric intake.

Magic Pill highlights Ozempic’s effectiveness, especially with studies finding that semaglutide leads to the most weight loss among GLP-1 medications—up to a 15% reduction in 68 weeks. However, the book notes that it isn’t actually magic. One can easily abuse it if they’re driven by a motivation to be thinner rather than simply become healthier. That’s why it’s important to get a prescription, take the correct dosages, and continue following healthy diet and exercise habits. That way, you can use these medications with the goal of sustainably addressing the risks of excess weight—not giving in to societal pressure.

Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight

Even if you’re managing your weight with the goal of enhancing your overall health and wellness, it can be easy to slip into old habits and feel discouraged when you don’t see results right away. Health at Every Size motivates you to keep going by underlining that being thinner doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting healthier. The reason behind this is your set point weight: the theory that your body has a predetermined weight. If you lose more than your unique, set amount, your body will work to store fat and keep your body within a certain range. So, even if you’re considered overweight or obese based on traditional measurements, you can still be healthy. As long as you’re eating balanced meals, exercising regularly, taking the necessary medications, and even sleeping well, you’re doing great—so be kind to yourself and stay body-positive as you manage your weight!