A recent article on CNN.com has revealed that being overweight can result in a bias in the delivery of healthcare. In fact, the data indicates that women who are more than 20 pounds overweight risk receiving inferior medical care, the consequences of which can be significant, especially in light of the health problems that are associated with excessive weight gain.

Researchers also found that overweight women may run into more problems obtaining insurance, and when they do, risk having to pay more in premiums. There is also an increased chance of misdiagnosis, as well as a greater likelihood that certain chronic conditions may not be properly detected or treated.

The surprising revelation lends insight into the prejudices that can exist in the medical environment, many of which are based on an “overweight bias” that is inherent in our culture. This bias results in negative thoughts directed towards overweight and obese people. Unfortunately, medical health professional are not immune, and the problem can lead to a lack of patience, greater pre-judgment when making a diagnosis, and less objectivity that can lead to medical errors.

The problem is especially troubling when you consider that nearly 70 million women in this country are overweight. With the number of health problems associated with obesity, having the extra body weight can sometimes cause health professionals to jump the gun and make improper assumptions about a person’s health problems.

And while there are no concrete statistics regarding medical errors and overweight people, the error rate for diagnosing the general population is somewhere between 10-15%. In nearly half of those cases, real harm can result. By extension, it may be possible that the incidence of errors may be higher in heavier individuals, with many of the mistakes occurring because doctors simply attributing the patient’s health problems to their weight.

The problem, of course, is not a straightforward one. This is due to the fact that being overweight can complicate the diagnostic process, including routine testing. Extra body weight can also create logistical issues that make examinations difficult and complicate the decision over what the proper course of treatment may be. This includes drug regimens and surgical procedures. And finally, there are a host of disorders that are indeed directly linked to a obesity.

However, while prejudices against overweight people may be inherent in our culture, there is little room for them when it comes to life and death issues involving our health. This makes it vitally important for people get the best and most thorough care possible, and not to tolerate compromised medical care under any circumstances.

Part of this process is knowing and protecting your rights. If you feel that your health professional is not being objective in treating you, do not hesitate to voice your concerns. Know your options and when necessary, seek out a second opinion.

The following links can provide more information about weight bias and healthcare:

Good health and proper healthcare begin with you, the individual, so take the time to be informed.