Help Improve Care for Patients Living with Obesity

Here’s the Issue: More than 40% of Americans are living with obesity, yet many patients report experiencing bias and stigma in healthcare settings. Some feel judged or blamed for their health concerns, receive less meaningful engagement during appointments, or encounter equipment and spaces that do not comfortably accommodate larger bodies. These experiences can discourage patients from seeking care and negatively impact health outcomes. Everyone deserves to feel respected, heard and supported when accessing healthcare.

It’s time for healthcare systems to take meaningful steps to address weight bias and ensure patient-centered care for people of all sizes. That means improving staff education, using respectful language, ensuring size-inclusive equipment and facilities and listening to patient feedback to drive change.

Take Action Now: Use OAC’s advocacy tool below to contact major healthcare systems and urge them to commit to compassionate, respectful and equitable care for patients living with obesity. Together, we can promote dignity, improve trust and create better healthcare experiences for all.

It’s Easy to Advocate: Sending your letters through OAC’s Action Center is fast, easy and well worth it! Simply enter your information then click “Take Action” to send your messages.