Heather Watson, RN(EC) BA BScN MN
Episode Date: Wednesday May 7, 2025
For generations, people have been judged, shamed, and blamed for their weight-by families, friends, healthcare practitioners, and society at large. These messages become so deeply internalized that many of us don’t even recognize when we’re turning that judgment inward. Why do so many patients describe themselves as “bad” for what they eat? How did food choices become a moral issue?
In this episode of Radical Nurse Talk, Nurse Practitioner Heather Watson, an expert in obesity medicine, invites us to rethink the language we use about body size, health, and care. Heather explores how terms like “obesity” are often misunderstood and misused, and how negative stereotypes and moral judgments can do real harm, especially for those living with serious illnesses like cancer or organ failure alongside obesity.
Drawing from her clinical experience and her passion for advocacy, Heather challenges listeners to consider: How does our language, intended to care, sometimes cause harm? What would it mean to communicate with patients about weight in ways that are truly supportive, evidence-based, and free from stigma?
Join us as we unpack the complexities of weight, health, and communication, and discover how nurses and healthcare professionals can lead the way in creating more compassionate, equitable care for all.
Heather is a nurse practitioner specializing in obesity medicine, driven by her passion for clinical care, education, and advocacy for individuals with overweight and obesity. She holds additional qualifications as a Certified Bariatric Educator and a Diplomat of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Heather practices independently at the Dundas Weight Loss Clinic. Her other roles include consulting for Novo Nordisk as an Obesity Mentor and serving as the Obesity Medicine Community of Practice Lead for the NPAO.
Resources:
Dr. David Macklin: The GateKeeper, The GoGetter and The Sleepy Executive
Obesity is a chronic disease. It’s time we started acting like it.
Radical Nurse Talk 
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