healthism
Healthism is a term used in sociology and public health to describe a cultural logic in which health becomes the foremost value in life and a primary measure of personal virtue. It treats health as a personal moral obligation and assumes that individuals are largely responsible for their own health outcomes through diet, exercise, and risk avoidance. In this view, adherence to health-promoting behaviors is a form of moral self-control, and deviations are seen as personal failings.
Origin and usage: The concept was popularized in the late 20th century by sociologist Robert Crawford, who
Mechanisms and effects: Healthism accompanies medicalization—treating normal life risks as medical problems—and the commodification of wellness
Criticism: Critics argue that healthism overemphasizes personal responsibility at the expense of social determinants, stigmatizes overweight