Sole-Smith, Virginia, “Treating Patients Without the Scale” April 11, 2024
Virginia Sole-Smith's article "Treating Patients Without the Scale" emphasizes the
importance of adopting a weight-inclusive approach to healthcare, shifting the focus away from
weight loss and towards overall well-being. Weight stigma negatively impacts healthcare
experiences.
As highlighted in the article, "Kimberly Gudzune, an associate professor at the Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine, has found that people who have been stigmatized for their weight
in a doctor’s office are less likely to come back." This quote illustrates how weight stigma leads
to minimal engagement during their experience with healthcare providers. Additionally,
Gudzune's research revealed that, "21 percent of patients with overweight and obese BMIs felt
that their doctor 'judged them about their weight'—and as a result, they were significantly less
likely to trust their doctor." Further emphasizing the impact of weight stigma on patient-provider
relationships, leading to decreased trust and communication.
The article reminded me of a time at the pediatrician's office with my sister. Despite
being close in age, the doctor assessed us solely based on a chart, labeling us both overweight
without considering our individual differences. This left me feeling unfairly judged emphasizing
the need for healthcare providers to offer better support.
Sole-Smith, Virginia. “Treating Patients Without the Scale.” Scientific American Journal (2024).
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT [Computer software]. Retrieved from https://openai.com/chatgpt
