Poster Presentation Nutrition Society of Australia 50th Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Embracing size-inclusive care in health services (141869)

Anneliese Twigg 1 , Thea Moloney 2 , Selena Gillham 1 , Fiona Willer 3
  1. Health Promotion, Peninsula Health, Frankston, VIC, Australia
  2. Community Rehabilitation Program, Peninsula Health, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
  3. Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Safe, welcoming, high-quality healthcare is a core human right. However, many individuals avoid health services for fear of discrimination, shame or judgement about their body size or weight, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.1 Weight bias is widespread in healthcare services and there is increasing evidence that healthcare professionals hold internalised and externalised negative attitudes and stereotypes about larger-bodied people.2-6 Peninsula Health staff and higher-weight patients (n = 30) were surveyed in 2021 regarding their experience providing and receiving care for those over 100 kg in an inpatient setting. The results identified that staff would like training on non-weight biased care and patients would like staff to be aware of trauma informed care. Using a co-design approach, an online education package was developed and promoted for all staff in the health service (n = 7500) to complete. Interviews were undertaken with consumers and staff (n = 11) to design course content, informed by lived experience. The education package provides an understanding of how weight stigma and weight bias impact health outcomes and promotes evidence-based, practical strategies and approaches to provide safe, equitable, size-inclusive care. The course was reviewed by experts in the field and tested by consumer and staff advisors. Evaluation of the course will include completion rate, feedback from staff, targeted focus groups, and patient and staff surveys. The course is currently being promoted and completed across the health service.

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