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Understand and Address Weight Bias in Medicine
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Course Description
Despite increasing awareness of the harm caused by weight stigma, negative attitudes toward individuals with larger bodies persist. This can lead to communication barriers between patients and healthcare providers and may create negative treatment experiences for patients.
Many individuals with larger bodies report a lack of understanding and empathy from their healthcare providers. They feel they are being blamed, judged, and treated as someone who is undeserving of their time and care because of weight bias. These patients may also experience anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment during healthcare encounters. Some even report that their providers may use shame or scare tactics when addressing obesity.
Unfortunately, some healthcare providers may even believe that stigmatizing patients is an effective way to motivate them. As a result of these experiences, patients may delay seeking the care they need, fearing judgment or difficulty finding a healthcare provider with whom they feel comfortable.