How to Address Anti-Fat Bias in Serious Illness

Anti-fat bias is pervasive in U.S. health care and significantly impacts the care of people inhabiting larger bodies, who are living with serious illness. Negative consequences of this discrimination include (but are not limited to) missed or misdiagnosis of serious illness by clinicians due to biases around fatness, delays in seeking care by patients inhabiting larger bodies due to a fear of discrimination, and improper care due to structural issues ranging from improperly-sized durable medical equipment and waiting room and exam room furniture, to clinical trials that have traditionally excluded people in larger bodies.

In this Interprofessional Grand Rounds session, the presenters will discuss language, equity, and practical challenges in caring for people inhabiting larger bodies, as well as the implicit and explicit biases that health care professionals hold which may interfere with compassionate, competent care. This will include a case presentation that will allow for discussion and problem solving for these challenges, as well as sharing some resources to help clinicians provide the best possible care.