S1 Ep2: All bodies are good bodies; Overcoming weight bias in primary care. How understanding a hidden problem can lead to higher quality care – featuring Dr. Omowumi Iyaoromi

Did you know?·       Both self report and experimental research demonstrate negative stereotypes and attitudes towards obese patients by a range of healthcare providers including inaccurate views that obese patients are lazy, lacking in self discipline, dishonest, unintelligent, annoying, and noncompliant with treatment.  Hebl and Xu (2001) found that providers spend less time in appointments and provide less health education with obese patients compared with thinner patients. Obese patients are less likely to receive age and gender appropriate cancer screenings and other preventative medicine even after adjustment for lower education, income, and higher burden of illness (Wee et al, 2000; Mitchell et al, 2008) In this episode Dr. Shyr Chui talks with Prince George Family Practitioner Dr. Omowumi Iyaoromi about the unrecognized problem of weight bias in healthcare, what it is, how it affects patients and how to reduce its impact on healthcare quality. Dr. Iyaoromi shares the success she had with improving weight bias amongst a team of healthcare professionals as measured by the BOAP (beliefs about obese people) scale, her experiences using the EOSS (Edmonton Obesity Staging System) tool in clinical practice, and describes what she enjoys most about living and practicing in Northern BC.