The Burden of Weight Bias on Reproductive Healthcare
Weight stigma is a pervasive issue in the healthcare industry. This stigma refers to the adverse treatment of people who do not meet societal standards of weight. Many physicians subscribe to the common-sense beliefs regarding obesity: weight can be controlled by following proper health practices, and people who are overweight have difficulty finding the means to do those practices. In this model of obesity, presenting the risks and encouraging weight loss is the most straightforward way to combat it. Although rooted in concern, this approach often evolves into fat-shaming, and ultimately results in anxiety, disordered eating, and weight gain.
Weight bias in medicine is notably reflected in the reproductive health industry. Providers often prioritize weight in their treatments, which results in negative experiences for fat women. A 2019 review conducted by Pamela Ward of Memorial University and Deborah McPhail of The University of Manitoba discusses how the current ideas regarding health and individual responsibility for weight impacts reproductive care services. According to Ward and McPhail, women experience weight stigma in reproductive medicine through blame, hyper-focus on their weight, and treatment denial.
Weight bias in medicine is notably reflected in the reproductive health industry. Providers often prioritize weight in their treatments, which results in negative experiences for fat women. A 2019 review conducted by Pamela Ward of Memorial University and Deborah McPhail of The University of Manitoba discusses how the current ideas regarding health and individual responsibility for weight impacts reproductive care services. According to Ward and McPhail, women experience weight stigma in reproductive medicine through blame, hyper-focus on their weight, and treatment denial.
Reproductive health providers often stress weight loss as both a preventive measure and a solution to health problems that pregnant women approach them with, regardless of whether their health issue is directly related to weight.
Image Source: Lisa Fotios
Fat women are often made to feel that they are unfit to be mothers due to their weight. Ward and McPhail refer to this experience as mother-blame, which extends the burden of maternal obesity not only to the child but also to the community at large. For instance, many obstetricians are concerned with working with fat women during their childbirth because delivering their baby could be physically demanding for physicians, implying that they view fat women as a burden to the healthcare system. Additionally, reproductive health providers are often overly concerned with the transmission of obesity from the mother to the child. Ward and McPhail found that some providers suggest screening all women of child-bearing age for obesity to caution them about having children. The researchers point out that this attitude echoes the ideals of eugenics because it implies that only women who fit societal standards of health should have children. Furthermore, according to Ward and McPhail, many reproductive health physicians stress weight loss for fat women during pregnancy, disregarding its prohibitive symptoms such as morning sickness and swelling.
Physicians’ excessive focus on weight translates into the denial of treatment. Ward and McPhail found that reproductive health care providers deny fat women access to fertility treatments because of the risks associated with maternal obesity, even for women who were not infertile themselves. Additionally, physicians deny fat women opportunities for some types of childbirth procedures, immediately giving them referral letters for C-sections without discussing other methods. An interview conducted by Mc Phail in 2016 found that there were instances of providers refusing to remove hormonal birth control because of their belief that possible pregnancy posed too high of a risk. Although these instances are extreme, they illustrate the prioritization of thinner women in reproductive healthcare.
In their review, Ward and McPhail center their commentary on the treatment of fat women in reproductive healthcare, finding that they are seen as a burden, superficially acknowledged, and denied treatment. Physicians often focus too much on womens’ weight both in their interactions with them and in their choice of treatment, which results in feelings of shame as well as subpar care. These behaviors ultimately culminate in negative experiences for women who seek out reproductive care and oftentimes result in negative health outcomes.
Physicians’ excessive focus on weight translates into the denial of treatment. Ward and McPhail found that reproductive health care providers deny fat women access to fertility treatments because of the risks associated with maternal obesity, even for women who were not infertile themselves. Additionally, physicians deny fat women opportunities for some types of childbirth procedures, immediately giving them referral letters for C-sections without discussing other methods. An interview conducted by Mc Phail in 2016 found that there were instances of providers refusing to remove hormonal birth control because of their belief that possible pregnancy posed too high of a risk. Although these instances are extreme, they illustrate the prioritization of thinner women in reproductive healthcare.
In their review, Ward and McPhail center their commentary on the treatment of fat women in reproductive healthcare, finding that they are seen as a burden, superficially acknowledged, and denied treatment. Physicians often focus too much on womens’ weight both in their interactions with them and in their choice of treatment, which results in feelings of shame as well as subpar care. These behaviors ultimately culminate in negative experiences for women who seek out reproductive care and oftentimes result in negative health outcomes.
Featured Image Source: DanEvans
RELATED ARTICLES
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|
Vertical Divider
|
