Study Overview

This study looked at how adults with higher body weights face weight stigma in healthcare settings and how a specific strategy can help. The strategy involves using an “identity-safety cue,” which shows that a person’s social identity is valued.

Study Details

A total of 527 adults in the U.S. who identified as overweight participated in the study. They were divided into two groups:

One group read about a doctor who supports a weight-inclusive approach (identity-safety cue).
The other group read general health information (control condition).

Participants then learned about a doctor diagnosing knee pain in three ways: based on age, lifestyle habits, or body weight.

Key Findings

The group exposed to the identity-safety cue reported less weight stigma and felt more supported by the doctor.
Using the identity-safety cue helped regardless of how the doctor diagnosed the knee pain.
However, if the identity-safety cue was used alongside a stigmatizing diagnosis, it led to feelings that the doctor was not genuinely committed to diversity, which hurt feelings of safety.

Conclusions

Using identity-safety cues can help make healthcare more inclusive for adults with higher body weights. But if patients feel that a doctor’s efforts to support diversity are insincere, it can backfire.

Practical Implications

To create a more inclusive environment for adults with higher body weights, healthcare providers should use cues that clearly show they value patients’ weight identities.

Next Steps

Define Measurable Outcomes: Set clear goals for promoting inclusion in healthcare for adults with higher body weights.
Select AI Tools: Choose AI solutions that meet specific clinical needs related to this issue.
Implement Step by Step: Start with a pilot project, track results, and expand based on findings.