2025 PRESENTER PROFILES
Implementing Improvements in Care Delivery
Saturday, June 21, at 1:30 p.m. CT
Room W183 BC • McCormick Place Convention Center
Reducing Obesity Bias and Stigma in Primary Care
Jack Westfall, MD, MPH
Vice President Medical Affairs,
DARTNet Institute
What is your presentation about?
Stigma associated with weight and obesity is a barrier to effective management in primary care. With support from the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) Primary Care Alliance, 50 primary care practices in Colorado participated in a program to address stigma and methods for offering a safe environment for weight conversations. Participants report a variety of strategies for improving care: welcoming environment (21%), person-first language (34%) and focus on behavior rather than weight (32%), and 83% reported commitment to applying these strategies in their practice/work. A brief intervention may reduce stigma, improve conversations about weight, and educate about treatment options for patients who are overweight.
How do you hope your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
After hearing this presentation, participants will be able to identify barriers to conversations about weight and obesity in primary care and describe changes in practice that may create a safe space for conversations about weight.
How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
I work part-time in my hometown clinic in rural Colorado and have participated with the High Plains Research Network (HPRN) on rural primary care research for over 25 years. The HPRN is a practice-based and community-engaged research group committed to improving health in rural and frontier communities. The ADA Primary Care Alliance offered an opportunity to work on a topic of interest and great need in our communities. With their support we are on a journey to improve the lives of our patients with obesity, maybe preventing the onset of diabetes.
