Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 47
We are hugely saddened to hear of the number of people who have faced appearance...
Recommendation
We are hugely saddened to hear of the number of people who have faced appearance and weight-based discrimination when accessing NHS services. There is no way to quantify the damage this has done to individuals’ mental and physical health. We are not satisfied with the use of BMI as a measurement to evaluate individual health. 42 Changing the perfect picture: an inquiry into body image It is clear that the use of BMI inspires weight stigma, contributes to eating disorders, and can damage an individual’s body image and mental health. We recommend that the Government urgently commissions research into the extent and impact of weight- based discrimination for people accessing NHS services. PHE should stop using BMI as a measure of individual health and adopt a ‘Health at Every Size’ approach within twelve months.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government response focuses on improving eating disorder services and general funding for related studies, but does not commit to commissioning specific research on weight-based discrimination in the NHS or addressing the use of BMI.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
47
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
29. Every individual who comes into contact with the NHS and organisations providing health services should always be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of whether they are a patient, carer or member of staff. This value seeks to ensure that organisations appreciate and respect different needs, aspirations and priorities, and take them into account when designing and delivering services.
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