Body Weight Stigmatization
When asked how they would react if they felt stigmatized about their weight from a healthcare provider, 42% of participants said they would feel bad about themselves, 41% would be upset and embarrassed, 21% would seek a new provider, and 19% would avoid future medical appointments. Some participants (13%-18%) reported that this experience would make them feel depressed and cause them to eat more food.
The findings of this study tell us that the language used by providers to describe body weight matters to patients. People may have adverse reactions to weight stigmatization from providers, and these reactions could be harmful to their emotional and physical health. Considerable research shows that when individuals feel stigmatized about their weight, they are vulnerable to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem; are less likely to feel motivated to adopt lifestyle changes; and may even turn to unhealthy eating patterns that interfere with weight loss efforts. In addition, patients with obesity are more likely to avoid preventive health services and cancel or delay medical appointments because of weight bias experiences in the healthcare setting.
Provider Reluctance to Discuss Weight
Paying careful attention to the language that we use is a tangible strategy that can improve the medical climate for patients who are overweight or obese. Physician weight counseling is associated with increased patient desire to attempt to lose weight, but relatively few healthcare providers counsel patients to lose weight. This may stem, in part, from the provider's feelings of discomfort in discussing weight -- broaching the topic can be difficult.
Our findings offer specific suggestions to providers for preferred and motivating terminology about weight that can facilitate patient-provider discussions. Some may argue that a "tough-love" approach is needed; however, it is important to recognize that such attempts may backfire, and that providers can be direct in communications about weight-related health while remaining sensitive to potentially offensive language.