Weight Stigma in Cancer Care: Findings From an Australian Survey of People With Cancer

Weight stigma is prevalent in health care. Despite this, few studies have explored weight stigma in relation to cancer care.

This study provides preliminary data on the frequency and types of weight stigma experienced by people with cancer in Australia.

People who had a cancer diagnosis in the past 10 years (n = 150) completed an online survey to assess weight stigmatising experiences in cancer care. Experiences of weight stigma were assessed using an adapted version of the Stigmatising Situations in Healthcare measure. Descriptive, and multivariate analyses were conducted.

Over half (n = 79, 53%) of respondents reported experiencing weight stigma during their cancer care, including negative character judgements, accessibility issues, discrimination, unsolicited diet advice, and diagnostic overshadowing. The proportion of participants reporting at least one stigmatising experience ranged from 32% with a healthy BMI, to 70% amongst those whose weight was categorised as obese. Higher BMI, internalised weight bias, and healthcare avoidance were each independently associated with increased reports of weight stigma during cancer care. Participants who reported avoiding or delaying healthcare were more likely to report experiences of stigma. Higher ratings of physician empathy were associated with fewer reported experiences of weight stigma.

As the first Australian quantitative investigation of experiences of weight stigma during cancer care, preliminary results reveal people with cancer may face a range of weight stigmatising experiences during their cancer care. Experiences of weight stigma increased with higher internalised weight bias and avoidance and/or delaying of health care utilisation.