Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

The Future of Dietetics Is Inclusive: Moving Past BMI-Centered Care

Daniel Schwarz^{* *}Correspondence: Daniel Schwarz, Department of Food Safety and Nutrition, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany, Email:

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The field of nutrition and dietetics has long been centered around weight-centric models, where weight loss is often positioned as the primary or sole indicator of health improvement. However, this paradigm is increasingly being challenged by professionals, researchers and individuals who advocate for a more inclusive, holistic approach. Weight-inclusive nutrition and dietetics is a growing movement that shifts the focus from weight management to overall health and well-being, regardless of body size. This perspective calls for a fundamental reevaluation of how health outcomes are defined, measured and supported within clinical, community and public health contexts.

Weight-inclusive approaches emphasize the importance of respecting body diversity and de-emphasizing weight as a proxy for health. At the heart of this framework is the understanding that body weight is influenced by a wide array of factors including genetics, socioeconomic status, trauma, access to healthcare and chronic stress, most of which lie outside an individual’s control. Consequently, focusing narrowly on weight can lead to ineffective and potentially harmful interventions, such as chronic dieting, disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and weight stigma. Rather than promoting health, weight-centric approaches may inadvertently perpetuate cycles of shame, marginalization and reduced quality of life.

In clinical practice, adopting a weight-inclusive lens requires rethinking assessment tools, counseling techniques and treatment goals. Registered dietitians and nutritionists are increasingly encouraged to explore behaviors, symptoms and life context rather than weight or Body Mass Index (BMI) alone. For example, rather than advising a patient to lose weight to reduce cholesterol, the practitioner might explore dietary patterns, stress management strategies, or medication adherence. This person-centered care approach is more likely to foster trust, adherence and long-term positive outcomes, especially in populations that have experienced healthcare-related weight bias.

The growing body of evidence documenting the harms of weight stigma further supports the need for weight-inclusive care. Weight stigma has been associated with delayed healthcare seeking, increased cortisol levels, depression and even disordered eating behaviors—ironically, the very conditions weight-centric models claim to prevent. By removing weight as a focal point of care, dietitians can reduce stigma and improve accessibility for individuals in higher-weight bodies who often feel alienated by traditional healthcare settings.

Weight-inclusive approaches also have important implications in public health nutrition and policy. Public campaigns that equate thinness with health risk reinforcing narrow beauty ideals and can exacerbate body image issues, especially among young people. More inclusive messaging that encourages self-care, diverse body representations and equitable access to nutritious food and physical activity opportunities can promote community wellness more effectively than shame-based, weight-focused interventions. In addition, policy makers should consider food insecurity, neighborhood safety and structural racism as critical determinants of nutritional health, rather than simply promoting calorie restriction.

There is also the challenge of communicating this shift to the public, where messages about diet and weight are deeply entrenched. Media portrayal of nutrition advice is often reductionist and heavily commercialized, perpetuating quick fixes, detoxes and weight-loss schemes that can lead to long-term harm. Professionals adopting weight-inclusive practices must actively engage in public education, offering nuanced, evidence-based information that counters harmful narratives while empowering individuals to care for their bodies in compassionate and sustainable ways.

In conclusion, weight-inclusive nutrition and dietetics represent a necessary evolution in healthcare. They acknowledge the complex, multifactorial nature of health and affirm that all individuals—regardless of body size—deserve equitable, respectful and effective care. As the profession continues to grow and respond to emerging science, ethics and patient voices, weight-inclusive practices offer a path toward more just, inclusive and effective nutrition care. Rather than focusing on shrinking bodies, we can focus on expanding access to health, dignity and self-determination for all.