Share your story about weight stigma in healthcare

For many fat folks, or people living in larger bodies (whichever term you prefer is welcome here), visiting a healthcare setting can be a difficult experience. Instead of receiving supportive and individualised care, some are met with dismissive attitudes, assumptions, or even outright blame about their weight. This is weight stigma—bias against people based on their weight and body size —is a widespread problem in the UK healthcare system, impacting people’s quality of life, health outcomes, and relationships with the services meant to support them.

The research data shows us that weight stigma and bias directly impacts the screening and treatment of various medical conditions. Women living with obesity receive fewer smears, less colorectal cancer screening and mamgraphy. In consultations, less eye contact is made as well as less performance of physical examinations. However it’s not just about the numbers, qualitative studies show people’s lived experience: being made to feel “non-compliant”; “weak-willed” “lazy”, and “dishonest”. All-too-often the stories of these experiences are left unspoken - this is why we want to hear from you.

To drive change, we’re working on a project to better understand the impact of weight stigma in real people’s lives and create a safe place to share your story. By sharing anonymous experiences, we hope to shed light on this pervasive issue and advocate for more inclusive, compassionate healthcare communication.

The Reality of Weight Stigma in Healthcare

Weight stigma in healthcare can take many forms. It might be a doctor attributing every health concern to a patient’s weight without investigating other possible causes, or a healthcare professional assuming that someone isn’t making efforts to live healthily simply because of their size. These experiences, often stemming from unconscious bias, can be deeply hurtful and make people feel judged, dismissed, and unwelcome. They can also lead to poorer health outcomes, as people may avoid seeking medical help out of fear of being shamed or misunderstood.

Research shows that weight stigma contributes to increased anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem, while deterring people from accessing necessary care. The result is a cycle where people’s health may deteriorate, yet they feel less able to turn to healthcare for help. To put it simply, weight stigma can cost people their health and well-being.

Why We Need Your Voice

To address this issue, it’s crucial to understand the scope and depth of weight stigma in healthcare. This is where your voice becomes powerful. By sharing your experiences anonymously, you can help us build a compelling narrative of how weight stigma affects real lives. With enough stories, we can illustrate the extent of the problem and push for meaningful change.

Our goal is to use these stories to:

- Raise Awareness: Educate healthcare professionals about the harmful effects of weight stigma, fostering a more understanding and respectful healthcare environment.

- Encourage Empathy: Show the impact of weight stigma on people’s well-being, helping to break down stereotypes and foster empathy in healthcare communication.

- Drive Policy Change: Advocate for policy changes and training in healthcare that promote weight-inclusive practices, so that everyone, regardless of size, can access equitable and respectful care.

How to Share Your Story

If you’ve experienced weight stigma in a healthcare setting in the UK, we invite you to share your story with us through our anonymous form at the bottom of this page or by clicking here. Whether your experience happened recently or years ago, every story adds to the larger picture of how weight stigma impacts people’s quality of life and access to healthcare.

Sharing is entirely voluntary and anonymous.

Join Us in Pushing for Change

Weight stigma in healthcare doesn’t just affect individuals—it affects families, communities, and society as a whole. By speaking up, you’re contributing to a project that aims to make healthcare a safe and supportive place for all.

Please don’t include sensitive or identifiable information such as names and places.