Opinion
Video
Overcoming Weight Bias in Clinical Practice
Author(s):
Panelists discuss how unconscious bias and weight stigma create barriers to care, requiring providers to acknowledge their own biases, create welcoming clinical environments with appropriate accommodations, and approach patients with compassion rather than judgment about willpower.
Communication and Weight Stigma
Effective communication about weight requires a structured, compassionate approach that opens discussions without causing offense. A proven framework begins with expressing concern about weight and its health impacts, asking if the patient shares this concern, and inquiring about their interest in working together on weight management. This "opening the door" approach consistently receives positive patient responses when delivered with empathy and respect.
Healthcare providers must acknowledge and address their own unconscious biases about obesity, which persist even among experienced practitioners. Patients often carry significant self-blame and have experienced stigma from healthcare providers who suggest they simply need more willpower. Understanding obesity as a physiological condition rather than a moral failing helps providers offer more effective, compassionate care.
Creating supportive clinical environments includes practical considerations like larger chairs in waiting rooms, private weighing areas, and staff training about weight sensitivity. Many patients with obesity have experienced bullying, discrimination, and embarrassing situations that affect their healthcare-seeking behavior. Addressing these environmental and communication factors while providing effective treatments creates a foundation for successful therapeutic relationships and improved health outcomes.
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