Every body deserves kindness: the coproduction of a short animation and teaching resource to address weight related bullying and stigma in primary school children.

Abstract

Background: Currently over 10% of 4-5, and 22% of 10-11 year old children in England are living with obesity1. Although obesity is recognised as a serious, chronic, and complex disease, with many genetic, biological, environmental, economic, societal, and psychological factors, this is often not acknowledged in the negative social narrative around obesity2. The impact of such weight stigma and bias in childhood can lead to a vicious cycle of poor self-esteem, depressive disorders, impaired school performance, and decreased social involvement, which, in turn, can increase the risk of developing eating disorders, unhealthy weight control behaviours, and further weight gain3.

Aim: To work in coproduction with young people and their families, paediatricians, psychologists, teachers and child weight management experts, to co-create a short film and teaching resource to raise awareness of, and address, weight-related stigma and bias in primary schools.

Methods: A series of online and in person coproduction workshops were undertaken with five families to co-design the animation, and the teaching resource was codeveloped with four primary schools.

Results: The Wrapped design agency translated the coproduced storyboard and design work into the ‘Every Body Deserves Kindness’ short film for children aged 6-9 years4. The teaching resource pack was aligned to the PHSE curriculum for KS1&2, and following the pilot was produced in colour and accompanied by a support signposting resource4. The film and teaching resource was piloted in 15 schools before it was launched in October 2025. Since then, it has reached over 300 schools, been downloaded over 1,600 times, and been incorporated into the anti-bullying alliance website, and Food Active’s weight stigma hub. Most recently it also received a silver award at the Northern Digital awards.

Conclusion: Early indications demonstrate the wide spread uptake and impact of this resource, which will be formally evaluated later this year.