survey finds weight bias harms health-care access in quebec
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people living with obesity continue to experience discrimination because of their disease in many areas of their lives, such as public spaces, family environments, workplaces, social media and close relationships.
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weight bias and discrimination experienced by people living in larger bodies are still prevalent in quebec, according to a new survey conducted by léger on behalf of obesity matters.
the survey found that as many as 87 per cent of people asked believed that prejudice and discrimination still occur, with 52 per cent believing that it is a regular occurrence.
over 90 per cent of people surveyed recognized that these experiences of prejudice and discrimination negatively affected a person’s self-esteem and mental health. however, far fewer than that (55 per cent) recognized that a person’s ability to receive unbiased healthcare was affected by these strong weight biases that persist in today’s society.
“these findings are both encouraging and concerning. encouraging, because quebecers clearly recognize that weight bias and discrimination exist. concerning, because many still underestimate how deeply these experiences affect people living with obesity, particularly when it comes to accessing healthcare,” said priti chawla karunakaran, founder and executive director of obesity matters, in a press release.
while the understanding of obesity as a chronic disease is growing, there are still gaps in awareness and care received by people living with obesity.
understanding obesity as a chronic disease is improving, but not fast enough
close to 60 per cent of people in quebec are now aware that obesity is a chronic disease rather than a personal failing. but the remaining population who don’t share that view continue to hold harmful attitudes that negatively affect how people living with obesity receive care for their chronic disease.
for example, 48 per cent of people who fail to recognize obesity as a chronic disease believe that receiving a higher standard of care in line with how other chronic diseases are treated isn’t necessary for people living with obesity.
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“the survey findings reinforce what we observe in clinical practice: the way obesity is understood has a direct impact on how individuals living with the disease are treated and supported,” said dr. alexandro zarruk, an internist specializing in metabolic dysregulation, in the press release.
weight bias harms access to care
people living with obesity continue to experience discrimination because of their disease in many areas of their lives, such as public spaces, family environments, workplaces, social media and close relationships. prejudice and weight bias are harmful, but when it happen in a health-care setting, it can mean the difference between getting proper care for a chronic disease and being told that any health complaint that arises could be remedied by simply losing weight.
in fact, as many as 63 per cent of people living with obesity have experienced that first-hand, with physicians telling them that their weight is the cause of their health problem without investigating any further. people living with obesity even forgo reaching out for care by postponing medical appointments or avoiding them altogether at a rate of 44 per cent, knowing that they won’t get the due diligence they deserve for a health complaint.
“as someone living with obesity, i know that a better understanding of the disease can help people experience less guilt, less isolation and feel more confident in seeking care. the general population is ready; now we need to turn this awareness into meaningful action that better supports people living with obesity and continues the work of reducing stigma,” said maude picotte, a person living with obesity and director of communications and community engagement at obesity matters, in the press release.
while the current level of acknowledgment of weight stigma is important, more needs to be done to foster real change.
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“recognizing the problem is an important first step,” chawla karunakaran added, “but we must continue working toward a society where people living with obesity feel respected, supported and understood.”
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