Pregnancy & weight bias with Taniya Nagpal, PhD
Description
Pregnancy brings big changes, frequent healthcare visits, and a lot of emotions. But for many pregnant people living in larger bodies, it can also come with judgment and bias—often from the very systems meant to provide support.
In this episode of Scale Up Your Practice, we sit down with Dr. Taniya Nagpal, whose research focuses on maternal health and weight stigma in perinatal care. We talk about what happens when assumptions shape care, how weight bias shows up in both subtle and obvious ways, and what we can do to create safer, more respectful experiences for patients—starting with how we listen.
🎯 In this episode:
What weight bias looks like in pregnancy care—and how it often goes unrecognized
Real stories from people navigating perinatal care in larger bodies
How internalized bias impacts decision-making, confidence, and care-seeking
- Systemic changes needed to improve reproductive care for people living with obesity
- Practical, person-centred steps healthcare professionals can take today
Additional resources:
Obesity Canada’s weight bias resources: https://utm.guru/uiIcl
Free course: The Impact of Weight Bias & Stigma: https://utm.guru/uiIcm
Free course: Words matter: The Consequences of Weight Bias & Stigmatizing Language: https://utm.guru/uiIcn
Read some of Taniya Nagpal’s research:
- Widespread misconceptions about pregnancy for women living with obesity: https://utm.guru/uiIco
- Women’s Suggestions for How To Reduce Weight Stigma in Prenatal Clinical Settings: https://utm.guru/uiIcq
- The WOMBS Framework: A review and new theoretical model for investigating pregnancy-related weight stigma and its intergenerational implications: https://utm.guru/uiIcr
- Close Relationships as Sources of Pregnancy-Related Weight Stigma for Expecting and New Mothers: https://utm.guru/uiIct
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If there’s a topic you’d like us to explore—or a guest you’d love to hear from—send us a note at scaleuppod@obesitycanada.ca. We’d love to hear from you.
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