Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute

How common is the problem of weight bias in the United States? A study recently cited in the “Bariatric Times” states that weight based discrimination has increased by 66% over the past ten years putting it on par with rates of racial discrimination. We hear on an almost daily basis updates about fixing the obesity crisis, and radical medical advances are being made to allow us to do so, but far less often do we hear about what is being done to ameliorate weight stigma.

Sadly, this is not a stigma that can be solely blamed on adult biases. Studies are showing that weight bias can begin as early as preschool. A 2008 article published in “Obesity” examined the results of a study designed to examine a child’s perception of simple line drawings depicting bodies of all shapes and sizes. The results of the study were a positive correlation between the number of negative adjectives used to describe the photos and the size of the figures in the drawings. Not only are we seeing these types of biases in extremely young children, but these stereotypes seem to present themselves throughout all areas of life including employment, education, friends, family and unfortunately even healthcare.

The question has been asked if weight bias may actually serve some sort of a positive function, as in encouraging people to lose weight and make healthier choices but it seems that it actually does quite the opposite. Weight bias seems to do nothing but encourage unhealthy behaviors and even further weight gain. A truly vicious cycle. The same article mentioned above from the September issue of “Bariatric Times” sites a study that shows patients who experienced weight bias were far more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors. Almost 80% of people studied reported that they ate more food as a response to weight bias, 75% refused to continue dieting and many of the patients simply internalized their emotions regarding the stigma which often led to episodes of binge eating.

At the Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute, we strive to be cognizant in our daily practice of our patient’s feelings and the fact that they are more than likely to have at one point in their lives experienced some type of weight bias. We realize that patients may have experienced these types of bias from a variety of sources, including other health care providers in the past and we do whatever is necessary to avoid making our patients uncomfortable in any way. We are here to offer support medically, emotionally, and through nutritional counseling to optimize not only each patient’s weight loss, but their emotional and personal wellbeing as well. If you feel that you are experiencing weight bias, please know that our clinical social workers, Liz Rosenzweig or Ken Grider are always here to offer support to you.

Posted By Dawn E. Kopf MMS PA-C