People of all weights, shapes and sizes benefit from respectful care for their health and wellness needs.
The impacts of stigma in health care have been well researched. Due to stigma and shaming, people with abundant bodies often avoid seeking medical care. They also may avoid other health promoting activities like taking a yoga class or seeking out a massage therapist.
Fat individuals are less likely to access healthcare, and are less likely to receive evidence-based and bias-free healthcare when they do engage.[1]
Weight bias has been associated with adverse health outcomes including anxiety, stress, depression, low self-esteem and body image issues.[2]
The stigma associated with weight may actually cause some of the negative health outcomes associated with weight rather than the weight itself [3]
Good care focuses on the person’s specific needs and does not make unsafe or impossible prescriptions (i.e. “you must lose _____ pounds in order to not have this condition”).
Good care means finding out about the person you are caring for rather than making assumptions based on their body size. Good care prescribes solutions based on the health problem not on the size of the person with that problem.
All people in all body types should be respected, treated as a person of worth and cared for with compassion and skill. This website has been created because there is a lack of skilled and compassionate care for those in abundant bodies and we want to help those who need good fat care access those of you who provide it.
If you aren’t familiar with the principles of Health At Every Size or don’t feel ready to take the Good Fat Care pledge, you are encouraged to continue your education through some of the suggested books, websites and articles provided on this site under Resources.
[1] Lee, J. A., & Pausé, C. J. (2016). Stigma in Practice: Barriers to Health for Fat Women. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 2063. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.02063
[2] Alberga, A. S., Russell-Mayhew, S., von Ranson, K. M., & McLaren, L. (2016). Weight bias: a call to action. Journal of Eating Disorders, 4, 34. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-016-0112-4
[3] Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2010). Obesity Stigma: Important Considerations for Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 100(6), 1019–1028. http://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2009.159491