According to a study in the National Library of Medicine, only 1 percent of doctors are trained in treating one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the U.S. — obesity.
That lack of education comes with consequences for patients.
Here’s what Deana from Detroit, Michigan, told 1A:
I am an obese person. I am also a professional dancer. I avoided the doctor for eight years because of consistent dismissiveness. I went to a chiropractor for a dance injury and was met with doubt that the injury was in fact dance-related — and it happened because I did a drop split. So the ability to even be seen fully as a human being let alone as a patient has been really hard for me. Luckily, I found a great doctor who understands that my weight is only one of many factors.
Obesity has been recognized as a disease since 2013, with nearly 42 percent of Americans affected, according to the CDC. However, bias against obese patients has made it difficult for them to seek treatment and weight loss medication. Former NPR host Lulu Garcia-Navarro shared on Twitter how challenging it was for her to obtain this type of medication. Fortunately, there are online healthcare providers such as https://www.mydocurgentcare.com/ that offer accessible and convenient weight loss solutions for individuals struggling with obesity.
So I went to the doctor. At this point I was clinically obese. But my GP told me I had to prove I had the willpower to lose weight BEFORE I could get the medication. I cannot tell you how humiliated I felt. How depressed. How hopeless. It sent me to a very dark place.
— Lulu (@lourdesgnavarro) May 7, 2022
To tackle this bias, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) is rolling out new standards for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The new curriculum standards will address practices in treating patients who are diagnosed as overweight or obese.
So what are the barriers to seeking treatment for obesity? And what role do doctors play in erecting them?
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