Weight Bias & Obesity Stigma: How Patient Stories Are Changing Obesity Care

Episode 3: Weight Bias & Obesity Stigma: How Patient Stories Are Changing Obesity CareWeight bias and obesity stigma continue to affect millions of people living with obesity, influencing healthcare experiences, treatment decisions, mental health, and access to comprehensive obesity care. In this episode of Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach, we explore how patient stories, lived experience, and evidence-based obesity medicine can help reshape the future of obesity care.Originally recorded as one of our live panel discussions, this conversation brings together patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to examine how obesity is discussed, understood, and treated—and why reducing weight bias is essential to improving patient outcomes.Joining us for this conversation:• Robyn Pashby, PhD• Leslie M. Golden, MD, MPH, FOMA, Dipl. ABOM• Renee J. Rogers, PhD, FACSM, FTOS• Nina Crowley, PhD, RDN, LD• Ian PattonIn this episode, we discuss:• How weight bias and obesity stigma impact patient care and health outcomes• Why patient stories are helping transform obesity care• The importance of respectful, person-first communication in healthcare• Building trust between patients and healthcare professionals• The role of obesity medicine, GLP-1 medications, and metabolic & bariatric surgery within comprehensive obesity care• Why lived experience should help inform research, education, and clinical practice• How advocacy organizations and patient voices are influencing the future of obesity treatment• Practical ways clinicians can create more supportive, evidence-based conversationsWhether you're living with obesity, taking a GLP-1 medication, considering or living after metabolic & bariatric surgery, working in obesity medicine, or advocating for more compassionate healthcare, this episode offers practical insights into creating patient-centered, stigma-free obesity care.Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach is an obesity podcast featuring conversations with patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocates about GLP-1 medications, obesity management medications (OMMs), metabolic & bariatric surgery, nutrition, patient advocacy, obesity research, and comprehensive obesity care.Keywords: obesity podcast, weight bias, obesity stigma, weight stigma, obesity care, comprehensive obesity care, obesity medicine, GLP-1, GLP-1 medications, obesity management medications, OMMs, metabolic & bariatric surgery, bariatric surgery, patient advocacy, patient stories, lived experience, patient-centered care, obesity research, healthcare communication, person-first language, healthcare professionals, obesity treatment, chronic disease, obesity education