Provider obesity bias and stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, stereotyping, and discrimination meted against people who are overweight. Obesity bias causes people who are overweight and obese to avoid preventive health care and screenings. Most of the providers engage in verbal harassment, unfair treatment, and social discrimination towards obese patients. Also, some patients complain that health professionals automatically attribute certain health concerns to their weight even without proper examination and screening. An example of obesity bias is dismissing symptoms exhibited by patients and assuming that their weight is the reason behind their health problems.

There are also cases when providers use inappropriate language when discussing a patient’s weight and this contributes to feelings of shame and guilt among patients. Other providers lack empathy and courtesy when attending to patients who are overweight. This may affect provider-patient relationship and results in inadequate screening and assessment due to the wrong assumption that weight loss is the solution to all the patient’s health problems. Provider obesity bias can be adressed through community support groups to share insightful content that can help such patients manage their weight. Additionally, community health centers can provide fitness programs and nutrition counseling to manage weight-related concerns.

At the state level, health departments can develop programs that promote overall health and help address the issue of obesity and overweight. This includes educational campaigns and health policies to reduce stigma relating to obesity. Besides, the health departments may offer obesity prevention programs to help reduce stigma and discrimination related to seeking health care among the obese. At the national level measures to adress obesity bias include programs by the the CDC to healthcare professionals, the general public, and policymakers on how to reduce obesity bias. The World Obesity Federation advocates for efforts to reduce bias .