GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
IN DEALING WITH FAT PATIENTS.

Many fat patients avoid seeking preventative health care and health care when they have symptoms, because they either assume that they will get another lecture on weight loss or that accommodations will not meet their special needs. Therefore, NAAFA has made this brochure available to help remind health care providers of the special needs of their fat patients.

PHILOSOPHY OF HEALTH CARE

Attitude

• As a responsible health care professional, you should acknowledge each of your patients as an individual. This is especially true for fat patients, who may avoid health care when they feel they are only perceived as being fat, and that the knee-jerk tre atment for any problem is "lose weight." If they could lose weight, many would have done so by now.

• As fat people are often not taken seriously by health care providers, please treat them with gentleness, tact and concern. Remember that many fat people have had years of negative experiences with health care providers, and some have been denied treatment, or given inappropriate treatment, because they are fat.

Weighing Patients

• Do not automatically weigh your fat patients, unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
• If weighing is necessary, ensure that it takes place in a private setting, and not in the presence of other patients or staff.
• The fat patient's weight should be recorded silently, free of any commentary.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

Medical Procedures

• Have several sizes of blood pressure cuffs available. Using a small blood pressure cuff on a fat patient can cause false readings.
• Have longer needles and tourniquets available in order to draw blood from your fat patients.
• Your lavatory should have a seat that is split in front, to enable fat patients to more easily hold urine specimen cups in place. A urine specimen collection device with a handle is preferable.

Diagnosing Medical Problems

• Do not automatically assume that the cause of your fat patient's condition is his or her weight.
• Remember to perform the same diagnostic tests on your fat patients as you would on your patients of average size for a suspected condition.

Treating Medical Problems

• Do not insist that your fat patient lose weight prior to receiving treatment for conditions that are not weight related.
• Demonstrate care in ordering medication dosages. Some fat patients react sensitively to small dosages of some drugs, while other drugs require a higher dosage, due to the patient's higher weight.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Waiting Room

• Have several sturdy armless chairs in your waiting room. Chairs with arms often cannot accommodate a fat person.
• There should be six to eight inches of space between chairs.
• Sofas should be firm and high enough to ensure that your fat patients can easily rise. Exceptionally low and soft sofas can be a nightmare for the fat patient.

Examination Room

• Examining tables should be wide, and bolted to the floor or wall, so that the table does not tip forward when your fat patient sits on the end.
• Provide a sturdy stool for fat patients to assist them in getting on the examining table.
• Provide super-large examining gowns for your fat patients.

Thank you for your consideration!

© NAAFA
PO BOX 188620, Sacramento, CA 95818   Phone:(916) 558-6880   Fax:(916) 558-6881

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