Importance of Weight Neutral Care

You've probably heard of this new “trend” over the past few years or so about healthcare becoming “weight neutral.” This has become apparent especially in a nutrition setting. I had the opportunity in my business rotation to help in the development of a “weight-neutral diabetes management program.” Yes, you read that right—a weight neutral diabetes management program! The weight-neutral wave is not just for those who have no health concerns whatsoever! While it can be a little more difficult due to needing to balance your nutrition knowledge with what you crave and how that may impact your weight, etc., this balance is possible. 

Without further ado, I’d like to share a few reasons why weight neutral care is important and why it should be here to stay!
1) The BMI Issue

Oh yes, the dreadful BMI. The BMI formula considers height and weight, but what about sex, physical activity, racial and ethnic backgrounds, etc.??? NOPE! Even one of the big components of the equation itself, height, poses a problem for BMI. An article by Maeve Hanan, RD and founder of the blog Dietetically Speaking, noted that “a taller person with exactly the same body composition as a shorter person will have a higher BMI” (Hanan, 2021). 

1)    The Set Point Weight Theory

Essentially, the Set Point Theory states that your body has a happy place in terms of weight, and it will want to go back to that weight even after you finished your umpteenth try of a fad diet. Weight itself, just like your overall health, is determined by things such as genetics, hormone fluctuations, economic status, social factors, and more (Hanan, 2021). Also, restriction never ends up working out too well in the long run. You restrict, restrict, restrict, then you end up overeating that thing you restricted; it’s really a vicious cycle. 

2)    Weight Discrimination is Seen to Cause Major Health Risks

Weight discrimination most commonly happens to those with larger bodies. This can come from the individual themselves or from someone else, health professional or not (Hanan, 2021). Hanan (2021) also lists concerns that are linked with weight stigma experiences such as “avoidance of healthcare settings, physiological stress in the body, inflammation, metabolic issues, depression, disordered eating, [and] a reduction in health behaviours” (Vadiveloo & Mattei, 2017; Chen et. al., 2007; Phelan et. al., 2015). While I personally have not experienced this, learning more about this makes me think so much more, “I wouldn’t want to go to see someone either who looked at me as less just based on my body! What gives anyone the right to make anyone feel like they are less than because of what they look like because it isn’t what they think is “beautiful”? Absolutely nothing!”

The tides are continuing to change. In my future practices as a Registered Dietitian, I will be a safe place for all, and I want to continue to learn more about weight-neutral healthcare so I can improve.

 

SK

 

References: 

Hanan, M. (2021, November 29). Issues with Weight-Centric Health Care. Dietetically Speaking. Retrieved February 28, 2022, from https://dieteticallyspeaking.com/issues-with-weight-centric-health-care/ 

·      Chen, E. Y., Bocchieri-Ricciardi, L. E., Munoz, D., Fischer, S., Katterman, S., Roehrig, M., Dymek-Valentine, M., Alverdy, J. C., & Le Grange, D. (2007). Depressed Mood in Class III Obesity Predicted by Weight-Related Stigma. Obesity Surgery, 17(5), 669–671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-007-9112-4 

·      Phelan, S. M., Burgess, D. J., Yeazel, M. W., Hellerstedt, W. L., Griffin, J. M., & Ryn, M. (2015). Impact of Weight Bias and Stigma on Quality of Care and Outcomes for Patients with Obesity. Obesity Reviews, 16(4), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12266 

·      Vadiveloo, M., & Mattei, J. (2017). Perceived Weight Discrimination and 10-Year Risk of Allostatic Load Among US Adults. Annals of Behavioral Medicine: A Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 51(1), 1–105. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-016-9870-0 

Photo:

https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2020/01/24/health-at-every-size/