Funding outcome

Weight stigma is defined as negative ideas and assumptions about higher body weights and overall promotes small and thin body ideals. Weight stigma is common in our society and is often experienced by people who have larger bodies. Women, in particular, report experiencing weight stigma in healthcare spaces. For example, women have shared feeling as though healthcare providers assume they are not going to manage their health because they have a larger body. When women experience weight stigma, this can lead to negative feelings towards healthcare spaces and healthcare providers, and they may avoid seeking care. Healthcare providers have also reported needing more training to prevent weight stigma in their delivery of care. This study will design a learning tool for healthcare providers to prevent weight stigma in their delivery of care with women who have larger bodies. We will work with women who have a larger body to create a research panel. This panel will create an online social media forum where women can anonymously submit stories or experiences of weight stigma in healthcare settings. The panel will review the stories and make selection of cases that will be developed into a learning toolkit for healthcare professionals. The panel will also develop reflection questions to be a part of the toolkit. The toolkit will be available online through the Obesity Canada website for healthcare providers to review and participate in. We will evaluate the toolkit, which will include collection of some initial data to understand if the tool is being accepted, is leading to self-reflection, and positively affects attitudes towards caring for women who have larger bodies. Once complete, the toolkit will be available for use in continuing education opportunities for healthcare providers in women's health.