Cultural Competence for Weight Loss Care

Cultural competence is a practice in health care to deliver services that meet patients' cultural, social and religious needs. Cultural competence for weight loss is an important aspect of healthcare that can help improve communication and understanding when treating patients with weight-related issues. 

At Hims & Hers, cultural competence is an important pillar of the training the licensed healthcare professionals receive so our customers feel comfortable, safe and respected when they come to our platform for their health and wellness goals.  

The ACTION Study

The ACTION (Awareness, Care and Treatment In Obesity Management) Study is the first multidisciplinary study to explore the attitude and behaviors about obesity. The study looks at people with obesity, health care professionals, and employers and the barriers of obesity care.

There are typically 5 key barriers to obesity care:

• People with obesity make multiple attempts to lose weight, but can not maintain it
• People with obesity think that weight loss is their own responsibility
• Many people with obesity have not received a formal diagnosis of obesity, therefore it's not addressed properly1
• People with obesity tend to skip follow-up appointments for obesity care
• Employer wellness programs are not meeting the needs of people with obesity, insurance coverage is minimal for obesity related care 

People with obesity typically have a belief that weight loss is their responsibility and they are oftentimes reluctant to seek care, as they can feel ashamed or embarrassed. This embarrassment can come from friends, family and even medical professionals. Unfortunately, there is often stigma and bias towards people living with obesity. Living with obesity can also stand in the way of people getting the high-quality care they deserve. Biases against people with weight issues can make a medical professional less sympathetic, supportive, and compassionate, which may compromise the level of care they deliver. Due to this, people living with obesity may be less likely to seek medical help for their weight and health related problems. 

Through research we know that more collaborative efforts are necessary for effective obesity care.¹ The barriers identified in the ACTION Study highlight the need for better understanding of obesity and more effective solutions for obesity care. For more information on the ACTION Study, visit: https://www.rethinkobesity.com/advocacy-resources/the-action-study.html 

Hims & Hers

At Hims & Hers we strive to make sure our customers feel safe, welcomed and that they receive exceptional service and care through our platform. From the comfort of their homes, patients are able to connect with licensed healthcare professionals on our platform to seek personalized treatment and care for their health issues and not feel embarrassed or ashamed. Customers do not have to call for an appointment where they have to openly talk about their health issues, wait weeks to see a doctor, feel embarrassed when they are sitting in the waiting room or when they are having face to face conversations with a doctor who may have biases towards them. Our platform takes away the stigma that is associated with many of these uncomfortable conversations, and allows individuals to focus on getting the treatments they deserve in a safe, affordable and accessible way so they can start their journey to a healthier life. 

Here are some ways that we encourage providers on our platform to apply cultural competence when engaging with their weight loss patients: 

• Be aware of biases: Be aware of your own biases and be able to separate individual and group differences. 
• Use patient-first language: A way of writing and speaking about obesity that avoids labeling people with their condition, for example, “the patient is living with obesity” or “patient with obesity”, instead of the obese patient.  
• Gather information: Learn about the beliefs, social norms, and practices of different groups through observation, conversations. 
• Consider cultural connections: Consider cultural connections to food, as well as other values and beliefs. 
• Use native language: Use the patient's native language whenever possible. 
• Involve patients: Ask patients what they prefer and involve them in important decisions about their health. 
• Align with personal views: Communications about treatment methods and interventions should align with a patient's personal views to ensure recommendations are culturally appropriate. 

Hims & Hers was created to make sure everyone feels great through the power of better health. We believe in breaking stigmas and removing barriers to health so that individuals are able to receive care without feeling shame or embarrassment. And it's never been more urgent than it is right now with the global obesity epidemic we are in.