San Francisco hires ‘anti-weight-based discrimination’ expert to work for Health Department
The San Francisco Department of Public Health has hired a “anti-weight-based discrimination” expert to consult on weight stigma and weight neutrality.
Virgie Tovar, author of “You Have the Right to Remain Fat”, announced her appointment on Instagram, describing herself as a “plus-size Latina author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination”.
The self-described “unapologetically fat fat-positive feminist” will serve the city she has called home for nearly two decades, though specific details of her role remain unclear.
Tovar described the consultancy role as an “absolute dream come true”, expressing her belief that “weight neutrality will be the future of public health”.
She has authored several books on body image, including “The Self-Love Revolution”, which advocates “radical body positivity for girls of colour”.
Her other works include an erotic autobiography titled “Destination DD”.
As a journalist, she has recently contributed to Forbes, writing about “how to host a size-inclusive Thanksgiving”.
The phrase “weight neutrality” refers to an approach focusing on overall health rather than body weight.
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According to her website, Tovar offers corporate training sessions focused on tackling weight-based discrimination in the workplace.
Her client list includes notable organisations such as the Seattle Transit Agency and UC Berkeley.
In July, she conducted a weight bias training course for government workers aimed at reducing “stigma around food and bodies” in workplace settings.
Her workplace guidance included recommendations that colleagues should talk “less or not at all” about exercise whilst at work.
In a video for Project Heal, Tovar spoke about her distrust of medical professionals who had pressured her to lose weight since childhood.
She revealed she had previously suffered from anorexia, saying: “I really believed that this was about my health. I really believed my doctor was right.”
Tovar recently shared on social media that she declined free access to weight-loss drug Ozempic.
She posted an image of herself holding a sign reading “I don’t want Ozempic”, stating the drug would not “solve weight bias”.
The San Francisco Department of Public Health has not clarified whether Tovar’s position will be salaried or if it will be funded by taxpayers.
The department was approached for comment regarding the specifics of her appointment.
The exact nature and scope of Tovar’s role within the department remains undefined.