This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter! If you appreciate the content here, please consider supporting the newsletter by subscribing and/or sharing!
As an occupational therapist working in the community in Canada, I see MANY of my patients suffering for years because their orthopedic surgeon won’t replace their hip, knee (or whatever joint) until they lose “x” amount of weight. It’s extremely frustrating as an OT because my interventions ultimately focus on adapting to chronic pain rather than helping them live full, autonomous lives in whatever body size they show up in. I’m not even sure how society has allowed this outright discrimination to happen and no one bats an eye! Even if it WAS true that higher weight individuals tended to have poorer surgical outcomes, why is pain and quality of life not considered a trump card over that risk?? Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective with regard to fat bodies and navigating the healthcare system. ❤️❤️
As an occupational therapist working in the community in Canada, I see MANY of my patients suffering for years because their orthopedic surgeon won’t replace their hip, knee (or whatever joint) until they lose “x” amount of weight. It’s extremely frustrating as an OT because my interventions ultimately focus on adapting to chronic pain rather than helping them live full, autonomous lives in whatever body size they show up in. I’m not even sure how society has allowed this outright discrimination to happen and no one bats an eye! Even if it WAS true that higher weight individuals tended to have poorer surgical outcomes, why is pain and quality of life not considered a trump card over that risk?? Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective with regard to fat bodies and navigating the healthcare system. ❤️❤️