Weight Bias in Health Care

Overweight and obese patients frequently feel stigmatized in health care settings, and face stereotypes and prejudice from health care providers.
These stigmatizing experiences (also called ‘weight bias’) jeopardize patients’ emotional and physical health. The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University (www.yaleruddcenter.org) has released this new video in response to a growing concern about weight bias in health care. The video, hosted by celebrity and activist Emme and featuring Rudd Center experts including Dr. Rebecca Puhl and Dr. Kelly Brownell, uses expert commentary and dramatic representation to increase awareness of bias and stigma that overweight and obese patients encounter in health care. Equally importantly, the video presents a range of practical strategies to help providers reduce bias in their clinical practice, and to optimize the health care experience for their overweight and obese patients.