UK Health Officials Advised Against Using 'Obese' in New Directive

London : Health officials in the United Kingdom have been instructed to avoid using the term "obese" when referring to overweight individuals. According to a new guidance issued by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), National Health Service (NHS) workers should instead describe them as "people with obesity."

The directive, as reported by The Telegraph, is part of an updated inclusive language guide aimed at promoting sensitivity and respect in healthcare interactions. NICE emphasized that conditions should be described as something a person "has" rather than something a person "is."

New Approach to Medical Terminology

The guideline outlines several recommended changes in medical terminology:

• Diabetics → "People with diabetes"

• Schizophrenics → "People with schizophrenia"

• Drug addicts → "People who use drugs"

NICE clarified that the purpose of this shift is to reflect "good manners and sensitivity, not political correctness." The organization stated, "Diseases are treated, not people. Conditions, not people, are monitored."

Backlash Against Language Policing

However, the directive has sparked criticism from various quarters, with some accusing NHS leadership of prioritizing symbolic changes over tangible improvements in healthcare services.

Dr. Alka Sehgal-Corbett, director of the campaign group Don't Divide Us, argued that "The NHS leadership seem more interested in policing language than improving either healthcare or the quality of management and leadership."

Similarly, Lord Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, dismissed the changes as unnecessary. "A fat lot of help that will be, if I'm allowed to use that word. What a 'person with obesity' needs is not a new label, but a GP appointment so they can get a prescription for Ozempic."

Previous Controversies

This is not the first time NICE has faced scrutiny over language guidance. In February 2023, the institute recommended using gender-neutral terms such as "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women," igniting debates over political correctness in medical discourse.

The latest move by NICE reflects a broader trend toward using more inclusive and non-stigmatizing language in healthcare. Whether the new directive will have a meaningful impact on patient care or remain a point of contention among critics remains to be seen.