does your practice welcome weight diversity?
Do you and your staff welcome all clients?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Have you and the staff in your practice had training in recognizing bias? Do you think obesity is a disease or simply over-eating?
Do you assume that clients with high BMIs eat too much or the wrong foods? Do you dictate weight gain or what to eat?
Clients want information and support in making their own health care decisions. Can you talk
Have you and the staff in your practice had training in recognizing bias? Do you think obesity is a disease or simply over-eating?
Do you assume that clients with high BMIs eat too much or the wrong foods? Do you dictate weight gain or what to eat?
Clients want information and support in making their own health care decisions. Can you talk to them comfortably about nutrition and physical activity without judgement?
If you refer your clients to another health professional-nutritionist, physician, midwife, physical therapist-do you know how size friendly their practice is?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Hallways and doorways are comfortably wide
Waiting room chairs are armless and will hold 350 pounds. Wide bariatric chairs with arms that hold 500 pounds are available.
Area for measuring weight is private. The scale weighs up to 500 pounds. Scales that weigh up to 500 pounds are available online for less than $50. Clients are encouraged to
Hallways and doorways are comfortably wide
Waiting room chairs are armless and will hold 350 pounds. Wide bariatric chairs with arms that hold 500 pounds are available.
Area for measuring weight is private. The scale weighs up to 500 pounds. Scales that weigh up to 500 pounds are available online for less than $50. Clients are encouraged to weigh themselves. The scale is placed so that clients can see their own weight.
Do your exam rooms have large equipment?
Is the office equipment comfortable for everyone?
Do your exam rooms have large equipment?
Chairs in exam rooms should be bariatric chairs or armless and will hold 500 pounds
Exam table has stable step that rests on floor and won’t tip. Exam table is placed so that clients can easily move around it. Exam table holds 500 pounds
Plus size gowns are available
Large blood pressure cuffs are available wherever blood pressure is m
Chairs in exam rooms should be bariatric chairs or armless and will hold 500 pounds
Exam table has stable step that rests on floor and won’t tip. Exam table is placed so that clients can easily move around it. Exam table holds 500 pounds
Plus size gowns are available
Large blood pressure cuffs are available wherever blood pressure is measured
Toilet room is large enough for comfortable movement. The commode has room on both sides for comfort. Urine collection hats are available for specimen collection.
resources for clinicians & clients
RESOURCES FOR CLINICIANS
Do you need to know more about obesity stigma? obesity counseling?
The Obesity Society provides US based information and education for health care professionals of all kinds https://www.obesity.org/about-us/
Obesity Canada has a wealth of information, guidelines, and a photo bank: https://obesitycanada.ca/about/
Want to know what your clients want in their care provision? Try Plus Size Mommy https://plusmommy.com/plus-size-and-pregnant/
Balanced View https://balancedviewbc.ca/, sponsored by the Province of British Columbia, Department of Health; the Provincial Health Services Authority and BC Mental Health, presents a learning module on unbiased, evidence-based attitudes on weight and health. This module can be taken for continuing education credit.
RESOURCES FOR YOUR CLIENTS
Plus Size Mommy https://plusmommy.com/plus-size-and-pregnant/
Advantage Counseling-Resources for Clinicians
Evidence-based support for clients
Clients of all weights can be supported to make the most of their health advantages starting during prenatal care and continuing through labor and birth. The articles below have evidence-based techniques for clinicians.
Jevitt, CM, CNM; Ketchum, K. Pairing Evidence-Based Strategies With Motivational Interviewing to Support Optimal Nutrition and Weight Gain in Pregnancy. The Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing ():10.1097/JPN.0000000000000792, January 10, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000792.
Ketchum K, Jevitt CM. Evidence-Based Eating Patterns and Behavior Changes to Limit Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010015.
Jevitt, C.M. Management of Labor and Delivery to Reduce Risk for Cesarean Birth in Women with Obesity. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-023-00361-y.
The amount of information-good and not so good-on social media is overwhelming! Want an idea about what your patients see outside your office? Read this study! Social Media and Nutritional Guidelines During Pregnancy. Drummond N, Miller A, Kramer M, Zielinski R. Social Media and Nutritional Guidelines in Pregnancy. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2024 May-Jun;69(3):doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13645. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766882/353-360.
Weight bias and preconceived notions about health push clinicians to make health care visits weight focused. Mitigating Weight Bias in the Clinical Setting: A New Approach to Care gives clinicians evidence-based strategies for supporting people of all sizes to have their best health. Olson SM, Muñoz EG, Solis EC, Bradford HM. Mitigating Weight Bias in the Clinical Setting: A New Approach to Care. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2024 Mar-Apr;69(2):180-190. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13578. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38087862/