Home Kickstart Assess Evaluate Refer
Let’s say you check in… the cuff isn’t quite appropriately sized… the scale wasn’t able to accommodate the number… the gown doesn’t fit. How many cues has the patient received that they don’t belong before the clinician says anything? — Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FAMWA, FTOS, Harvard Medical School
Seating: In the waiting room, provide seating appropriate for people with larger body sizes.
Language: To avoid the trap of sending verbal or nonverbal clues of “you don’t belong here,” educate staff on language to use when talking with patients about weight-related topics.
Communication Skills: Consider educational videos and presentations to run on monitors in the waiting area.
Imagery: Be sensitive about the images and content of magazines and other printed materials available in this area.
In the healthcare system, I had one doctor in particular who just looked down her nose and said, ‘You have to lose weight; you’re going to die.’ She would almost chastise me… rather than being supportive or helpful, that made the situation much worse.
Staff should take care to use person-centered language when discussing weight. “People with obesity” is preferred over expressions that label people or make the condition the center of their lives, such as “obese patients.”
Information about Providing a Comfortable Environment for Patients with Obesity is available from Rethink Obesity®.
Overview | Prepare for a Conversation About Body Weight | Help Patients Feel Welcomed at Their Appointments | Ask for Permission and Use Open-Ended Questions | Recognize Cultural Differences | Discuss the Importance of Healthy Living at Every Size and Age | Kickstart References