S4. Ep 8. Health At Every Size. How weight bias in fertility treatment can harm.

Portia has, in her own words, always lived in a larger body. Even when she adopted excessive and almost disordered eating and exercise habits, her body mass index (BMI) remained in the ‘‘overweight’ category. As a doctor working in general practice, Portia understood the significant shortfalls of the BMI as a measurement, and the poor correlation of weight as an independent marker of overall health. Portia is one of a growing group of medical professions in Australia practising HAES-aligned care (Health at Every Size). However when Portia discovered that she has endometriosis and would require medical assistance to conceive, she encountered a world of fertility medicine that she believes viewed her as merely as a number on a set of scales, rather than as a whole person. Portia shares her story of being denied access to fertility treatment based purely on her BMI, and the frustration, guilt, and shame that these interactions caused. Portia describes how weight bias in medicine causes harm both on a personal and systemic level, and shares how her personal story provides hope for improvement and change.