Abstract

Fatphobia constitutes a structural oppression that excludes fat people and affects the care provided in health services. This study aims to characterize how fatphobia manifests itself in health services and to ascertain its possible effects on the access and reception of fat people. This qualitative-quantitative research collected data by a virtual questionnaire directed at fat or formerly fat individuals, which 515 people from all regions of Brazil answered. Of participants, 82.9% reported having experienced fatphobia in some health service. One of the first barriers refers to the lack of accessibility for fat bodies to health services due to the inadequacy of their architectural structure, furniture, and equipment, which hinders the performance of exams and impairs these individuals’ right to health. Additionally, 67.6% of participants reported feeling unwelcomed in health services, and 64.9% had avoided health services altogether. This research showed that fatphobia can negatively affect the care of fat people and can lead to their avoidance of health services.

Keywords:
Fatphobia; Obesity; Weight Stigma; Access to Health