Weight bias means thoughts and behaviors with the underlying assumption that a smaller body is better and healthier. It is a strong underlying belief in our society despite evidence all around us that it's not true in all cases. Treating people in a discriminatory way because of their size is called weight stigma.
There are people who live in a body that doesn't fit societies version of "ideal", yet they are healthy, active, and have no medical issues. Inversely, there are those who are very thin and have a large amount of mental health and medical issues. Not to say that either of these is better than the other, it's just important to acknowledge and understand that what we see on the outside doesn't always match on the inside.
So, how might weight bias be a problem? As you can imagine, people can feel judged and shamed based on their body size which can significantly affect their mental health. But there are also many other areas of people's lives that can be affected by weight bias and stigma. One big one I will touch on here, because it closely ties with my roots, is healthcare.
As discussed in the book Anti Diet by Christy Harrison, weight bias and weight stigma in healthcare can have a number of negative effects:
Experiencing weight stigma may discourage individuals from seeking routine and non-routine medical care
Weight stigma has been shown to pose a greater risk to your health than unhealthy foods according to research
Diseases may go undiagnosed due to weight biased medical professionals incorrectly associating symptoms with a person's weight
It may directly or indirectly cause people to pursue unhealthy weight loss methods
It has been linked to many mental health issues
There is a significant amount of research that weight stigma is an independent risk factor for diabetes and heart disease regardless of body size
It may contribute to a person's overall allostatic load or cumulative effect on the systems in the body which is linked to many different disease processes
Weight stigma has been shown to increase weight gain and decrease likelihood of weight loss.
I am fortunate that I experience thin privilege, meaning that I fit society's general version of an acceptable body. However, even I have experienced negative healthcare experiences surrounding weight bias.
When I was pregnant with my first child in 2017, I gained weight rapidly as my baby grew. With each prenatal appointment, the provider's conversation always went to me needing to slow down my weight gain. This was, despite having literally no other issues related to bloodwork, vitals, baby's growth, etc.
I remember feeling so frustrated because I was exercising (one could argue, over exercising), eating a variety of food, and getting enough rest....presumably doing everything "right". Yet, this "problem" continued to be discussed. I remember thinking, "If this is what I'm being told, what are people in larger bodies hearing?"
These are just a few of the points made about weight bias and weight stigma. As a healthcare provider and understanding that there already so many issues with access to quality healthcare, it is painful for me to think about what this is adding to those barriers.
So what can we do?
First of all, give yourself a break if your beliefs align with those that contribute to weight bias. If so, you are like most people who have been influenced by our weight obsessed culture.
Second, get curious about your thoughts. Why do I believe what I believe? Is it because I have seen real research or because it seems like common sense that losing weight makes you healthier. I know I thought this until recently. Seeing research of the negative affects of weight loss, disordered eating, and merely a correlation of higher weight and disease processes made me significantly question my beliefs around weight loss.
Third, if you work in healthcare, think about your words and thoughts surrounding weight. Have you considered that someone's joint pain may decrease if they lost weight? Instead, think about how you would treat that person if weight as taken out of the equation. What recommendations can you give that person for their ailment that would be the same as someone in a "strait" size body?
Fourth, if you are in a larger body ir have experienced weight bias/stigma, I am sorry you have experienced this. Hopefully what you have experienced is the result of internalized weight bias. If you feel like that's the case, you can advocate for yourself by declining to talk about your weight if it's not necessary and telling them why.
This blog post may not change your mind about this subject and that's okay. What I hope it does is plant a seed of curiosity. And if it's of interest to you, if invite you to seek more information about weight stigma and it's effects on health.
Thanks for reading 😊
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