A new study published in Patient Education and Counseling highlights how primary care visits can be transformed to better meet the needs of people living with obesity. The research was co-authored by Kristal Lyn Brown (Drexel University), OAC staff leaders James Zervios, Vice President and COO, and Michelle Vicari, Senior Program Manager, among others, and featured input from OAC Community members who helped shape the project from the very beginning.

The study used a process called co-design, where patients actively collaborate in developing solutions. OAC members joined workshops to share honest feedback about challenges they’ve faced in healthcare. Many participants described feeling judged when doctors focused only on weight, being dismissed when raising health concerns or struggling with ill-fitting gowns and equipment. These conversations helped create a clear picture of what a better doctor’s visit should look like.

Patients envisioned a supportive visit where the doctor listens, shows respect, and treats them as partners in making health decisions. They emphasized that all parts of the visit matter, from being welcomed in a comfortable waiting room to receiving referrals to specialists who provide the same level of dignity and compassion.

The survey that followed confirmed what patients made clear: respectful treatment and being truly heard are the cornerstones of a positive healthcare experience. Nearly all participants said these elements were essential, along with being recognized for caring about their health and having doctors who do not blame every health concern on weight.

The message is simple yet powerful: people living with obesity want what every patient deserves — to be heard, respected and cared for in an environment that includes all bodies.

OAC is proud to see our Community members and staff play a vital role in leading this research and ensuring the voices of people with obesity are shaping the future of healthcare.

Read more: Reimagining Primary Care for People Living with Obesity