Walk through any stock photo library and you’ll see it. The "headless fatty." That’s what activists call them—those specific pictures of obese people where the camera crops out the face, leaving only a large midsection or someone clutching a burger. It’s dehumanizing. Honestly, it’s also just lazy photography.
For decades, media outlets have used these specific types of images to signal "health crisis" without actually looking at the person behind the weight. But things are shifting. We’re seeing a massive transition in how high-weight individuals are documented, photographed, and portrayed in digital spaces. It isn't just about being "polite." It’s about clinical accuracy and the psychological impact of visual bias.
The problem with the "Headless Fatty" trope
When we talk about the visual representation of obesity, we have to talk about the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health. They’ve done the heavy lifting on this. Their research has consistently shown that news media overwhelmingly chooses stigmatizing pictures of obese people. Think about it. You’ve seen the shots of someone walking down the street from the neck down, usually wearing ill-fitting clothes.
This isn't an accident. It’s a choice.
Rebecca Puhl, a lead researcher at the Rudd Center, has spent years pointing out that these images reinforce the idea that people with obesity are lazy or lack self-discipline. When you strip away a person's face, you strip away their humanity. You turn a human being into a walking statistic or a "problem" to be solved.
Why the "sad" aesthetic fails
There’s this weird obsession with making every photo of a larger person look miserable. Why? Because the prevailing narrative for a long time was that you can’t possibly be happy if you’re over a certain BMI. You’ll see images of people sitting alone on park benches, looking at the ground, or staring longingly at a salad.
It’s performative.
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The reality of living in a larger body is just... living. It’s going to work. It’s laughing with friends. It’s hiking. It’s doing laundry. When the visual record only shows sadness or gluttony, it creates a massive disconnect between the public perception and the actual lived experience of millions of people.
The shift toward "non-stigmatizing" imagery
Thankfully, some big players decided they’d had enough of the tropes. The World Obesity Federation and organizations like Obesity Canada started building their own image banks. These are repositories of pictures of obese people doing normal things.
Imagine that.
- A woman in a professional suit leading a boardroom meeting.
- A man cooking a healthy meal with his kids.
- Someone at the gym who isn't looking like they’re about to die, but is actually just working out.
Getty Images even partnered with Dove and Girlgaze to create Project #ShowUs. It was a huge move. They added thousands of photos to their library that featured diverse body types without the typical "medicalized" or "shame-heavy" filters. This stuff matters for SEO and for Google Discover because the algorithm is increasingly prioritizing "authentic" and "helpful" content. If your article about health uses a 2005-era stock photo of a headless person eating a donut, users bounce. They’re tired of it.
The clinical impact of visual bias
If you think this is just about feelings, you’re wrong. It’s about health outcomes.
Doctors aren't immune to the images they see. If a medical professional is constantly bombarded with negative pictures of obese people, it colors their diagnostic process. This is a documented phenomenon called weight bias in healthcare. Studies have shown that providers often spend less time with higher-weight patients and provide less health education because they’ve subconsciously bought into the "lazy" stereotype fueled by media imagery.
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Does it actually help to show the "harsh reality"?
Some editors argue that we need those jarring images to "wake people up." They think a shocking photo of a torso will motivate someone to lose weight.
Spoiler: It doesn't work.
The American Psychological Association has noted that weight shaming—which is exactly what those photos do—actually leads to more weight gain and higher levels of cortisol. It triggers stress. It makes people avoid the doctor. So, that "tough love" photography is actually making the "obesity epidemic" worse from a public health standpoint.
How to choose (or take) better photos
If you’re a creator, a journalist, or even just someone posting on social media, the "vibe" of the images you use carries weight. Literally.
You should look for photos where the subject has an identity. They have a face. They have a context. If the article is about diabetes, you don't necessarily need a photo of someone’s belly. Maybe a photo of someone checking their blood sugar while at a coffee shop? That’s real. That’s life.
Specific things to avoid:
- The "Under-Clothed" Look: For some reason, media loves photos of obese people in bras or underwear that are clearly too small. It’s a voyeuristic tactic. Just don't.
- The "Food-Centric" Obsession: Not every photo of a large person needs to involve food. If the story isn't specifically about an eating disorder, why is there a burger in the frame?
- The "Lonely" Filter: Watch out for images that always show large people in isolation. It reinforces social exclusion.
Real-world examples of progress
Look at brands like Lizzo’s Yitty or even the way Nike has started using diverse mannequins in their flagship stores. They aren't just "including" large bodies; they are photographing them with the same high-fashion lighting and dynamic angles previously reserved for size zero models.
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This is "Visual Sovereignty."
It’s about giving people the right to be seen as they are, without the editorializing of a biased lens. When you search for pictures of obese people today, you’re starting to see a mix. You see the old, bad stock photos, but you also see vibrant, active, and professional individuals.
Moving toward a more accurate visual record
We are basically in the middle of a visual revolution. It’s slow, kinda messy, and people argue about it constantly on X (formerly Twitter). But the data is clear: better representation leads to better mental health and better medical care.
If you are looking for high-quality, ethical images, check out the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) image gallery. They provide a ton of resources for media professionals who want to stop the cycle of stigma.
Actionable steps for creators and editors:
- Audit your current content: Go back through your old health posts. If you see "headless" photos, swap them out for something from a non-stigmatizing library like Obesity Canada.
- Check the lighting: Ensure that larger subjects are lit with the same care as anyone else. Avoid the "gritty, gray" filter often applied to poverty or health crisis stories.
- Focus on the "Whole Person": Use wide shots that show the environment—a home, an office, a park. Context reduces the "othering" effect.
- Prioritize dignity: Before hitting publish, ask: "If this were a photo of me or my mother, would I feel respected?" If the answer is no, keep looking.
The way we look at weight is changing because the way we see weight is changing. By moving away from the tired, biased imagery of the past, we’re finally allowing for a more honest conversation about health, bodies, and humanity. It's about time we stopped cropping out the most important part of the person: their face.