This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter! If you like what you are reading, please consider subscribing and/or sharing! I often get asked about practical things that practitioners can do to help decrease weight stigma. Below are some things that practitioners commonly say are rooted in weight stigma, as well as alternatives.
I was diagnosed in March, here in the UK with a new condition picked up from my monthly blood tests for another condition/medication I’m on for that. It’s a rare type of Myeloma (Smouldering) that they don’t treat yet, but keep an eye on & you have two monthly blood tests, followed by a phone call. Following the diagnosis, (I think, so much has happened) I was in this haematology department of my hospital, going through various things, more bloods etc. Then out of the blue, this healthcare person said they needed to weigh me, on one of those machines you stand on. I had no idea what this was for, normally I would have asked, but was still in a state of confusion/distress about this news. But what I’m glad I managed to do was, say that I didn’t wish to be told any numbers & stood on machine, facing away from it. The healthcare person was surprised, kind of giggled & said she’d never seen anyone do that before!! Small win to me👏
I was diagnosed in March, here in the UK with a new condition picked up from my monthly blood tests for another condition/medication I’m on for that. It’s a rare type of Myeloma (Smouldering) that they don’t treat yet, but keep an eye on & you have two monthly blood tests, followed by a phone call. Following the diagnosis, (I think, so much has happened) I was in this haematology department of my hospital, going through various things, more bloods etc. Then out of the blue, this healthcare person said they needed to weigh me, on one of those machines you stand on. I had no idea what this was for, normally I would have asked, but was still in a state of confusion/distress about this news. But what I’m glad I managed to do was, say that I didn’t wish to be told any numbers & stood on machine, facing away from it. The healthcare person was surprised, kind of giggled & said she’d never seen anyone do that before!! Small win to me👏