What Is People-First Language? A Dietitian’s Guide

Quick answer: People-first language is a way of describing someone that puts the person before their condition—saying “a person with diabetes” instead of “a diabetic.” For dietitians and healthcare entrepreneurs, this small shift signals respect, builds client trust, and reflects the current professional standard.

You’re drafting a blog post or a warm welcome email to a new client. You reach for a familiar word—”diabetic,” maybe, or “obese”—and hit send without a second thought. It feels efficient. It feels normal. But to the person reading it, that single word can quietly send a message you never intended: I see your condition before I see you.

As dietitians and healthcare entrepreneurs, our words do a lot of heavy lifting. Good copy makes your ideal client feel understood, and the right language is often the difference between someone who books a call and someone who clicks away. So let’s talk about a simple, powerful shift: people-first language.

So, what is people-first language? In short, it’s a way of writing and speaking that puts the human being ahead of the diagnosis. It’s already the approach taken by major organizations like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Obesity Action Coalition—which means it’s quickly becoming the professional norm. And it should. 

In this guide, you’ll learn what people-first language is, why it matters for your business, ten real examples you can start using today, and how it compares to identity-first language. Let’s dig in.

What Is People-First Language?

People-first language is a way of describing someone that emphasizes the person, not their condition, disorder, or disability. According to the NIH style guide, it keeps the focus on the individual rather than reducing them to a label.

Here’s the core principle: describe what a person has, not what a person is. So you’d write “a person with diabetes” rather than “a diabetic,” or “a person with obesity” rather than “an obese person.” The condition is part of their story—not the whole headline.

What does people-first language emphasize, exactly? It emphasizes humanity and individuality. It reminds both writer and reader that a person is far more than any single health condition they live with.

This approach has roots in the disability and mental health communities, where advocates pushed back against being defined by their diagnoses. Over time, it has expanded into the nutrition and weight space—the Obesity Action Coalition, for example, actively promotes people-first language as a way to reduce stigma around weight and chronic disease.

Why Is Person-First Language Important for Dietitians and Healthcare Entrepreneurs?

Let’s connect this directly to your business. When clients feel respected rather than labeled, they’re far more likely to trust you—and trust is the foundation of every long-term client relationship. Why is person-first language important? Because the words on your website, in your emails, and in your sessions shape whether someone feels safe enough to work with you.

Stigmatizing language works against you in ways you may never see. A reader who feels judged by the word “obese” doesn’t usually send angry feedback—they simply leave. The same goes for language around chronic disease, mental health, and eating disorders. One careless word can undo an entire page of helpful, well-meaning content.

People-first language also signals professionalism. When your copy mirrors the standards used by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the NIH, you align your brand with respected, credible institutions. Clients pick up on that, even subconsciously.

There’s an SEO and credibility angle, too. Google rewards high-quality, thoughtful content that genuinely serves readers. Inclusive, carefully written copy tends to be more original, more empathetic, and more useful—all qualities that support strong search performance and a trustworthy brand reputation.

10 Examples of People-First Language

Sometimes the easiest way to learn is to see the swaps side by side. Here are ten examples of person-first language, drawn from NIH and Obesity Action Coalition resources. Each one is framed as a simple “say this, not that” comparison.

1. Say: a person with diabetes — Not: a diabetic
2. Say: a person with obesity — Not: an obese person
3. Say: a person with cancer — Not: a cancer patient
4. Say: a person with bipolar disorder — Not: a person who is bipolar
5. Say: people experiencing homelessness — Not: the homeless
6. Say: people with lower incomes — Not: the poor
7. Say: died by suicide — Not: committed suicide
8. Say: the treatment was not effective — Not: the patient failed treatment
9. Say: people living with HIV — Not: HIV-infected people
10. Say: a person affected by an eating disorder — Not: an anorexic

💡 Tip: Bookmark this list! Keep it open in a tab the next time you write a blog post, caption, or client email. Over time, these swaps will start to feel like second nature.

People-First vs. Identity-First Language: What’s the Difference?

Here’s where it gets nuanced. People-first language isn’t the only respectful option—and assuming it is can sometimes backfire.

Person-first vs. identity-first language comes down to where the descriptor sits. Person-first puts the person ahead of the condition (“a person with autism”). Identity-first puts the descriptor first (“an autistic person”). And some communities strongly prefer the latter.

Many members of the Deaf community and the autistic community, for instance, embrace identity-first language because they view their identity as a source of pride, culture, and belonging—not a condition to be separated from who they are. For them, “Deaf person” or “autistic person” feels affirming, not reductive.

So which do you choose? The NIH offers a practical rule: when possible, ask the individual or group about their preference. When their preference is unknown, default to people-first language. That’s it.

This isn’t about memorizing rigid rules or fearing every word. It’s about respect and listening. When you stay curious and open, you’ll almost always land in the right place.

How to Put People-First Language Into Practice

Knowing the theory is one thing—building it into your daily writing is another. Here are a few practical steps you can start today.

Audit your existing copy. Read through your website pages, intake forms, and lead magnets with fresh eyes. Highlight any labeling language (“diabetics,” “the obese,” “sufferers”) and rewrite it with the person first.

Create a personal swap list. Keep a running document of phrases you want to avoid alongside your preferred alternatives. What is an example of person-first language you’d use often? Maybe it’s “people with prediabetes” instead of “prediabetics.” Add it to the list so it’s ready when you write.

Extend it beyond the page. Your spoken words matter just as much as your written ones. Carry people-first language into client consults, podcast interviews, webinars, and presentations. Consistency across every touchpoint builds a brand clients can trust.

Give yourself grace. You won’t get every word perfect overnight, and that’s okay. The goal is steady progress, not perfection.

Words That Welcome: Your Next Step

People-first language centers the person, builds trust, and reflects the professional standard in nutrition and healthcare. The big idea is wonderfully simple: describe what a person has, not what they are. Small word changes can make a surprisingly big difference in how your clients feel—and in how they respond to you.

For deeper reading, explore the NIH style guide and the Obesity Action Coalition resources on respectful, weight-inclusive language.

Ready to make your copy both compassionate and conversion-friendly? Book a call or join the RD Blog Club and Writing Course, where we’ll help you write words that welcome your ideal clients and turn readers into long-term clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it “people-first” or “person-first” language?

Both terms mean the same thing and are used interchangeably. “Person-first” tends to describe a single individual (“a person with diabetes”), while “people-first” often refers to groups (“people with diabetes”). Use whichever fits your sentence naturally.

What does people-first language emphasize?

People-first language emphasizes the human being ahead of their condition, disability, or diagnosis. It reminds readers that a person is far more than any single health label they may carry.

What is an example of person-first language?

A classic example is saying “a person with obesity” instead of “an obese person.” The phrasing keeps the focus on the individual rather than defining them by their condition.

When should I use identity-first language instead?

Use identity-first language when an individual or community prefers it—as many in the Deaf and autistic communities do. When you don’t know someone’s preference, ask if you can; if you can’t, default to people-first language.

Why is person-first language important for my dietitian business?

It builds trust. When clients feel respected rather than labeled, they’re more likely to engage with your content, book your services, and stay long term. It also aligns your brand with respected organizations like the NIH and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.