A comedian accused Cancer Research of fat-shaming and the internet is conflicted.

Mar 3, 2018 | 6:07 PM

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The UK-based award winning comedian Sofia Hagen called out the charity Cancer Research for fat-shaming after encountering a campaign ad that highlights obesity as a risk factor for cancer.

The campaign image in question states "obesity is the biggest cause of cancer after smoking." Hagen shared the image on her Twitter Wednesday, bemoaning the ways this kind of messaging further stigmatize fatness.

https://twitter.com/SofieHagen/status/968841936906981376

Other critics echoed Hagen's sentiments, noting how this kind of wording gives more license to fat-shamers who want to make assumptions about people's health based on body size or type.

Dear @CR_UK as a GP caring for people with cancer and obesity, I think this is an appalling stigmatising, shaming advert
— Dr Jonathon Tomlinson (@mellojonny) February 28, 2018

As an anaesthetist I think there is a balance between informing and empowering people and alienating and shaming them. This campaign leans to the latter, unfortunately.
— Karen (@Dr_KM_) March 1, 2018

The psychology of why people become obese and remain obese is too complex for 280 characters but to me explains adequately why this campaign caused some to feel shamed. It’s far more complicated than balancing energy consumption and energy use.
— Karen (@Dr_KM_) March 1, 2018

The people at Cancer Research responded to clarify they were just stating facts.

(2/2) … as after smoking, obesity is the second biggest cause. It is our duty to inform people about this and lobby the government on policies which will help us all to keep a healthy weight. For more info, head to our website: https://t.co/eOrFWGfWUb
— Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) February 28, 2018

In response, Hagen shared her specific issues with the campaign.

https://twitter.com/SofieHagen/status/968889784654495744

https://twitter.com/SofieHagen/status/968890230198632449

https://twitter.com/SofieHagen/status/968890654205104128

https://twitter.com/SofieHagen/status/968891206863290368

Still, others sided with Cancer Research and didn't see the issue.

pic.twitter.com/6zcEeGV6Wj
— ꪶꫀꪖꪀꪀꫀ 🕊 (@lexnneclxre) March 3, 2018

As an anaesthetist, I appreciate the honesty of this campaign and applaude @CR_UK for tackling the issue of obesity head-on
— Dr Anushka Aubeelack🐝🇪🇺 (@bumblebeenush) March 1, 2018

I don’t agree with this.

I see this campaign as a statement of a cold fact based on the current evidence we have. It doesn’t use photos or point fingers. It is as depersonalised as it can be.

Anti-smoking and anti-drugs campaigns have been far more controversial.
— Dr Anushka Aubeelack🐝🇪🇺 (@bumblebeenush) March 1, 2018

This campaign comes on the heels of a new study released by Cancer Research UK revealing that millennials are slated to be the most overweight generation since the organization's pioneering studies. Even so, could this campaign have done better to separate these findings from language that furthers fat stigma? These are worthy questions to ponder.

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