Size-Inclusive Health Care
The Size-Inclusive Health Care Team focuses on the health and wellness of people of all sizes. We address the impact weight-stigma* has on physical and mental health. Together, we move away from weight as a measure of health and move toward body acceptance.
*Weight-stigma is the negative attitudes, actions, and assumptions about a person’s weight, shape, or size and can impact their mental, social, and physical health. Weight-stigma is also a public health issue that causes disparities in health outcomes, healthcare access, education, employment, and many other areas.
** Weight stigma is also described as weight bias, weight discrimination, weight-based bullying or teasing, body shaming, fat shaming, obesity bias, anti-fat, and more.
What is the Size-Inclusive Health Care?
We focus on the overall health and wellness of people of all sizes. We understand the impact weight stigma has on a person’s physical and mental health. The Size-Inclusive Health Team provides high-quality, patient-centered compassionate health care that values each person’s lived experience. Together, we will move away from weight as a measure of health. We will move toward body acceptance and create goals to enhance health of any body size, shape, or weight.
What can I expect with Size-Inclusive Health?
You can expect the same patient-centered quality primary care and behavioral healthcare Thundermist offers. We work to reduce the negative attitudes and assumptions about weight that impact a person’s health outcomes. We will focus on improving overall health instead of the person’s weight, size, or shape.
Who should use the Size-Inclusive Health approach?
People of all shapes and sizes who are ready to focus on health and:
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- Move away from a focus on weight or weight loss
- Stop worrying about weight, size, or shape
- Improve body image issues
- Decreasing body shame and guilt
- Coping with weight stigma, weight discrimination, or weight-based bullying
- Build body acceptance and self-esteem
What are the signs I am impacted by weight stigma?
You may be impacted by weight stigma if you:
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- Avoid medical appointments because of weight
- Feel depressed or anxious about body size, shape or weight
- Chronic or extreme dieting
- Chronic or extreme exercise
- Yo-yo diet or weight cycle
- Worry a lot about weight or weight gain
- Avoid social or family interactions due to fear of weight-based judgment or comments
- Have a poor relationship with food and/or movement
- Have a poor body image
- Have low self-esteem due to body size, shape, or weight
- Experienced weight/body shaming or humiliation
- Experienced weight-based bullying or teasing as a child that shapes how to think about yourself or your body.
How do I ask for Size-Inclusive Health Care?
Please call 401-767-4100 and request an appointment with a Size-Inclusive Health provider. If you are already a patient, please talk with your medical or behavioral health provider.
Training Opportunities
Staff members are available to facilitate trainings at your organization to help build size-inclusive cultural, environmental, wellness, and clinical competencies. For requests for training, or for questions about the program, please contact Director of Size-Inclusive Health Krista Handfield, LICSW, at kristah@thundermisthealth.org, or 401-615-2800 ext. 4994.