The San Francisco Health Department engages a consultant on "weight neutrality" and "fat positivity" to address "stigma" related to weight.

The Department of Public Health in San Francisco has appointed an expert on "weight-based discrimination" to advise on "weight stigma and neutrality."

On Monday, Virgie Tovar, the author of 'You Have the Right to Remain Fat" and other works on "fat positivity and body acceptance," announced on Instagram that she was hired to consult for the department, describing the collaboration as an "absolute dream come true."

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Tovar is a plus-size Latina author, lecturer, and leading expert on weight-based discrimination and body positivity with over a decade of experience. She is a contributor for Forbes, where she covers stories on the "plus size market." Her most recent articles include features about hosting a "size inclusive" Thanksgiving dinner and alleged "fatphobia" in current TV shows.

Tovar's role in the San Francisco Department of Public Health is unclear, as the department did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for details about his consultancy.

Tovar has been outspoken against diet culture and BMI measurements on her social media platforms. In a video posted by Project Heal, Tovar shared how medical professionals pressured her to lose weight since she was a child, and she falsely believed they were doing so with her health in mind.

She said, "I truly believed that this was about my health. I trusted my doctor's advice and used the language of improvement, but I was actually deeply struggling with anorexia."

In July, Tovar shared four tips she taught during a weight bias training for unidentified government workers to help reduce the stigma surrounding food and bodies in the workplace.

"1. Avoid discussing your and others' eating habits at work. 2. Avoid discussing your or others' bodies at work. 3. Avoid discussing exercise at work. 4. Be cautious when discussing food, weight, body size, or exercise as safe or comfortable topics at work for everyone."

Tovar refused a free offer of Ozempic for weight loss because it would not address weight bias.

She has also criticized the portrayal of obesity as a "disease."

Tovar could not be reached by Planet Chronicle Digital for comment.