Correction: A previous version of this story suggested the RACGP’s position statement was a criticism of the “Grabbable guts” campaigns run by the National Heart Foundation of Australia. This was not true and no direct criticosm was made of that or any other particular campaign. Australian Doctor apologies for the error. Dr Liz Sturgiss was speaking in a private capacity and not on behalf of the RACGP.

Discussions around obesity should focus on “gaining health” rather than shedding fat to avoid implying the issue is just about weight, the RACGP says.

In a new position statement on obesity, the college argues that “well-intentioned but insensitive” public comments about weight-loss from doctors may do more harm than good by stigmatising people with obesity.

It also calls for an end to public health messages that encourage people to see their body fat as toxic, because they could be putting people with obesity off going to the doctor.