Queen Latifah Advocates for Obesity Awareness and Stigma Change

Newark, New Jersey – Queen Latifah is shining a light on obesity, a disease she believes is often misunderstood and stigmatized. The Grammy Award-winning musician and actress shared her thoughts with USA TODAY about a public awareness campaign funded by Novo Nordisk that emphasizes the health risks associated with obesity, including cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.

“Obesity is a disease and should be treated as such − not treated as some sort of character flaw or people not trying hard enough,” Latifah, 55, said. She explained that part of her role in the campaign is to challenge stigma and bias surrounding obesity, aiming to help those affected feel supported.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40% of adults in the United States are affected by obesity. This condition increases the risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the nation, which takes the lives of more than 700,000 people annually. Latifah underscored the importance of recognizing the serious nature of obesity and urges individuals to learn more about the disease.

Latifah’s own family has faced the consequences of obesity. Her mother, Rita Owens, passed away in 2018 after battling a heart condition, and her cousin died due to complications related to obesity. “Having lost a cousin to obesity and its effects − a cousin who was one of my funniest cousins, my coolest cousin, who had eight kids to raise − was sad to see,” Latifah expressed. “Other families should not have to go through that.”

She encouraged those struggling with obesity and their loved ones to educate themselves. “The more information you have as a patient, the more you can speak with your doctor honestly and openly,” she said. “They go to school for this. This is what they train to do.”

Latifah believes that everyone, including medical professionals, must work against weight bias. “Is your doctor’s office set up to take care of all patients?” she asked, emphasizing the need for medical facilities to accommodate individuals of all body sizes. A recent study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care highlighted that weight bias can lead to psychological issues like depression and anxiety, suggesting that medical offices should ensure they have appropriate equipment for patients of all sizes.

“Every person, no matter their size, deserves kindness, dignity, and high-quality health care,” said Dr. Nuha El Sayed, who is developing standards to address weight bias with the Obesity Association.

The definition of obesity itself has come under scrutiny, with some experts advocating for a nuanced understanding of the condition to better support patients. Latifah recalls her own struggles with body image, rooted in her childhood in Newark and East Orange, New Jersey. “When your mother looks like Diahann Carroll and your father looks like Billy Dee Williams, you’re wondering, ‘What’s wrong with me?’” she shared. “I hadn’t grown into being Queen Latifah − nowhere near it.”

Despite facing challenges, her mother helped instill confidence in her, allowing her to excel in various activities, including rap, which was male-dominated in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She went on to star in the iconic Fox sitcom “Living Single,” which debuted in 1993.

Latifah believes her success serves as an inspiration for young girls. “There’s nothing more beautiful to me than a confident woman who walks in a room and owns that room based on her confidence, not what her body looks like,” she concluded.