GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — A Feb. 29 CHP webinar, "Size-Inclusive Care: Better Health Care for All Bodies," is a free online event for the public, healthcare providers, nutritionists and others interested in weight bias. 

 

The webinar takes place noon-1 p.m.

 

The talk, free and open to the public, will address how weight stigma bias can show up in healthcare settings and the impact of weight bias on people's health. Presenters will discuss CHP's initiative to improve healthcare for people who have avoided or delayed medical care because of past healthcare experiences.

 

Event registration: https://chpberkshires.org/event/size-inclusive-care/

 

"Weight bias can have detrimental effects on people's health care experiences and can interfere with health treatment and outcomes," said Annie Schwartz, a CHP nutritionist and director of the CHP Size-Inclusive Care initiative. "In health care, a primary focus on a patient's weight can cause other, non-weight related issues to be overlooked, leaving patients feeling unheard and dis-empowered."  

 

Schwartz also noted, "This topic impacts people all across the size spectrum. Anyone who has had anxiety around being weighed at the doctor's office will benefit from this approach."

 

Schwartz will host the event with Kim Loring, CHP psychiatric nurse practitioner. 

 

Size-inclusive care initiatives at CHP include clinicians in primary care, OB-GYN, and nutrition services.