How to tackle stigma and bias: Lessons from childhood diseases and disabilities

This paper considers the importance of tackling the stigma of obesity and focuses particularly on what is known about the way in which stigma develops.  Stigma is considered as a complex construct comprising attitudes, prejudices and discriminatory behaviour.  In light of this conceptualisation of stigma, a range of anti-stigma interventions are discussed that have been designed to tackle the stigma associated with epilepsy, Tourette's syndrome, obesity and mental disorders. The paper considers what is currently know about interventions that work and points to the limitations in the existing research on anti-stigma interventions. Finally some suggestions are made on how to move forward.