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"A Total Paradigm Shift": Interviews With Australian Maternity Care Providers Who Practice Weight-Inclusive Care
Bec Jenkinson1, Sara Gill1, Lauren Kearney2,3
1UQ Clinical Trials Capability (ULTRA) Team, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Birth (Berkeley, Calif.)
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Maternity care providers are shifting towards weight-inclusive practices by reflecting on experiences with weight stigma and questioning traditional weight-centric health metrics. They actively modify clinical environments and communication to provide more respectful, individualized care for larger-bodied women.
Area of Science:
- Maternal Health
- Healthcare Disparities
- Weight Inclusivity
Background:
- Weight stigma is prevalent in maternity care, negatively impacting health outcomes for larger-bodied individuals.
- A weight-inclusive approach prioritizes well-being over weight, aiming for respectful and individualized care.
- Understanding how maternity care providers adopt weight-inclusive practices is crucial but underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the perspectives and practices of maternity care providers who utilize weight-inclusive approaches.
- To identify facilitators and barriers in adopting weight-inclusive care within maternity settings.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 maternity care providers identified as practicing weight-inclusively.
- Participants included medical, midwifery, and allied health professionals.
- Interview data were thematically analyzed.
Main Results:
- Providers described a gradual shift from weight-centric to weight-inclusive care, often influenced by personal or professional encounters with weight stigma.
- Participants questioned the utility of metrics like body mass index (BMI), favoring holistic health assessments.
- Providers implemented practice changes in clinical settings, communication strategies, and responses to systemic weight-centric influences.
Conclusions:
- Maternity care providers are actively implementing weight-inclusive care despite systemic challenges.
- Meaningful change is achieved through reflection and compassionate practice.
- Reforming education and clinical guidelines is essential for broader adoption of weight-inclusive maternity care.
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