Cited by 193Obesity and Health PracticesObesity, Physical Activity, DietEating Disorders and Behaviors

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Weight stigma in maternity care: women’s experiences and care providers’ attitudes

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Mulherin, Kate, Miller, Yvette D, Barlow, Fiona Kate, Diedrichs, Phillippa C, Thompson, Rachel·2013·BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

DOI 10.1186/1471-2393-13-19PMC PMC3577669

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Weight stigma is pervasive in Western society and in healthcare settings, and has a negative impact on victims' psychological and physical health. In the context of an increasing focus on the management of overweight and obese women during and after pregnancy in research and clinical practice, the current studies aimed to examine the presence of weight stigma in maternity care. Addressing previous limitations in the weight stigma literature, this paper quantitatively explores the presence of weight stigma from both patient and care provider perspectives. METHODS: Study One investigated associations between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and experiences of maternity care from a state-wide, self-reported survey of 627 Australian women who gave birth in 2009. Study Two involved administration of an online survey to 248 Australian pre-service medical and maternity care providers, to investigate their perceptions of, and attitudes towards, providing care for pregnant patients of differing body sizes. Both studies used linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Women with a higher BMI were more likely to report negative experiences of care during pregnancy and after birth, compared to lower weight women. Pre-service maternity care providers perceived overweight and obese women as having poorer self-management behaviours, and reported less positive attitudes towards caring for overweight or obese pregnant women, than normal-weight pregnant women. Even care providers who reported few weight stigmatising attitudes responded less positively to overweight and obese pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results provide preliminary evidence that weight stigma is present in maternity care settings in Australia. They suggest a need for further research into the nature and consequences of weight stigma in maternity care, and for the inclusion of strategies to recognise and combat weight stigma in maternity care professionals' training.

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Olander, E. K., Berg, F., Berg, M., & Dencker, A. (2019) · Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare · doi:10.1016/j.srhc.2019.04.001 · Cited by 14
The (un)controlled body: A grounded theory analysis to conceptualise stigma for women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Benton, M., Hotung, N., Bird, J., Ismail, K., & Silverio, S. A. (2025) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/13591053241241863 · Cited by 15
“Weight stigma is well-studied (Wu and Berry, 2018), and there has been increasing attention paid to weight stigma among pregnant and postpartum women (Heslehurst et al., 2022; Incollingo Rodriguez et al., 2019, 2020; Mulherin et al., 2013).”
Pregnant women's intention to breastfeed; their estimated extent and duration of the forthcoming breastfeeding in relation to the actual breastfeeding in the first year postpartum—A Swedish cohort study
Claesson, I., Myrgård, M., Wallberg, M., & Blomberg, M. I. (2019) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2019.05.014 · Cited by 13
“Several studies have pointed out psychological as well as technical concerns with breastfeeding (Han & Brewis, 2018; Keely, Lawton, Swanson, & Denison, 2015; McKenzie, Rasmussen, & Garner, 2018; Mok et al., 2008; Mulherin, Miller, Barlow, Diedrichs, & Thompson, 2013; Newby & Davies, 2016).”
“Talk to me, not at me”: obese women’s experiences of birth and their encounter with birth attendants—a qualitative study
Thorbjörnsdottir, K. E., Karlsen, I. E., Dahl, B., & Røseth, I. (2020) · International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1080/17482631.2020.1845286 · Cited by 12
“Overweight and obese women’s experiences with healthcare professionals during pregnancy is well documented, but less is known about these encounters during labour and birth (Furber & McGowan, 2011; Mulherin et al., 2013; Nyman et al., 2010).”
Background
Self-Objectification During the Perinatal Period: The Role of Body Surveillance in Maternal and Infant Wellbeing
Laifer, L. M., Maras, O. R., Sáez, G., Gervais, S. J., & Brock, R. L. (2023) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-023-01360-2 · Cited by 11
A qualitative exploration of the experiences of pregnant women living with obesity and accessing antenatal care
Charnley, M., Newson, L., Weeks, A. D., & Abayomi, J. C. (2024) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0302599 · Cited by 11
“These negative perceptions of people with higher BMIs related to HCPs perceptions of poor self-management behaviours [39].”
Background
Project20: maternity care mechanisms that improve access and engagement for women with social risk factors in the UK – a mixed-methods, realist evaluation
Rayment‐Jones, H., Dalrymple, K. V., Harris, J. M., Harden, A., Parslow, E., Georgi, T., & Sandall, J. (2023) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064291 · Cited by 11
Experiencing weight stigma during childbirth increases the odds of cesarean birth
Schwenk, R. A., Wyss, C., & Aubry, E. M. (2025) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07251-6 · Cited by 10
“As women with obesity most commonly experience weight stigma, the lower proportion of women experiencing weight stigma in our study may be explained by the relatively low prevalence of obesity among women of child-bearing age in Switzerland [27–29].”
Influential
Weight Bias Among Certified Nurse‐Midwives and Certified Midwives: Findings From a National Sample
Bradford, H. M., Puhl, R. M., Phillippi, J. C., Dietrich, M. S., & Neal, J. L. (2024) · Journal of Midwifery & Women s Health · doi:10.1111/jmwh.13608 · Cited by 10
The attitudes of pregnant women and midwives towards raised BMI in a maternity setting: A discussion of two repertory grid studies
Hodgkinson, E. L., Smith, D. M., Hare, D. J., & Wittkowski, A. (2016) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2016.12.004 · Cited by 10
Prevention of excessive gestational weight gain: an evidence review to inform policy and practice
Hector, D., & Hebden, L. (2013) · The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) · Cited by 10
Teaching students about maternal obesity without creating obesity stigma
Olander, E. K., & a, M. S. (2016) · Nurse Education Today · doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2016.04.009 · Cited by 10
Integrating person-centred care and social justice: a model for practice with larger-bodied patients
Kanagasingam, D., Clarke, L. H., & Norman, M. E. (2023) · Medical Humanities · doi:10.1136/medhum-2021-012351 · Cited by 10
“Ask for my ideas first”: Experiences of antenatal care and shared decision-making for women with high body mass index
Hawke, M., Considine, J., & Sweet, L. P. (2024) · Women and Birth · doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101646 · Cited by 9
Promoting Prenatal Exercise From a Sociocultural and Life-Course Perspective: An “Embodied” Conceptual Framework
Jetté, S., Maier, J. M., Esmonde, K., & Davis, C. (2017) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.2017.1336662 · Cited by 9
“, 2013) and obese women (Mulherin et al., 2013) perceive reproductive 278 S.”
Background
Positive Body Image Workbook
Wood-Barcalow, N. L., Tylka, T. L., & Judge, C. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108758796 · Cited by 11
Advice given by community members to pregnant women: a mixed methods study
Allison, B. A., Nichols, L. P., Plegue, M. A., Moniz, M. H., Rai, M., & Chang, T. (2016) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1146-y · Cited by 9
“This data from community members is consistent with, and adds to, previous studies that demonstrate significant weight stigma and concern for offending pregnant patients among prenatal care providers [12, 14, 15, 39].”
Result
Neonatal Vitamin D Levels in Relation to Risk of Overweight at 7 Years in the Danish D-Tect Case-Cohort Study
Jensen, C. B., Lundqvist, M., Sørensen, T. I. A., & Heitmann, B. L. (2017) · Obesity Facts · doi:10.1159/000471881 · Cited by 9
Weight Bias in the Perinatal Period: An Integrative Review
Bradford, H. M., Puhl, R. M., Phillippi, J. C., Dietrich, M. S., & Neal, J. L. (2024) · Birth · doi:10.1111/birt.12870 · Cited by 8
“Perinatal care providers and/or students were perceived as a consistent source of weight bias for pregnant and/or post-partum individuals with higher body weights [21, 33, 36–38, 40, 44, 50].”
Influential
Being overweight or obese during pregnancy: a qualitative study
Serçekuş, P., İşbir, G. G., & Bakan, G. (2021) · The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine · doi:10.1080/14767058.2021.1946777 · Cited by 8
“They are frequently stigmatized in medical institutions as well [5,6].”
Background
How to talk with patients about weight? Viewpoints of 1697 individuals with overweight and obesity
Sagi‐Dain, L., Echar, M., & Paska-Davis, N. (2021) · Patient Education and Counseling · doi:10.1016/j.pec.2021.09.031 · Cited by 10
Midwives perceptions of managing pregnancies complicated by obesity: A mixed methods study
Murray‐Davis, B., Darling, E., Berger, H. M., Melamed, N., Li, J., Guarna, G., Syed, M., Barrett, J. F. R., Geary, M. P., Mawjee, K., et al. (2021) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2021.103225 · Cited by 8
Determination of distress, emotional eating and internalized weight bias levels of Turkish pregnant women
Çelik, G., Yılmaz, E., Nazik, F., & ÜNVER, H. (2023) · Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology · doi:10.1080/01443615.2022.2153020 · Cited by 8
“It was found that health professionals had a greater negative attitude towards obese pregnant women and that they believe that obesity was entirely the result of individuals’ laziness and lack of will (Mulherin et al. 2013).”
Background
‘It’s not me, it’s them’ – a report describing the weight-related attitudes towards obesity in pregnancy among maternal healthcare providers
Nagpal, T. S., Angrish, K., Bonisteel, E., Puhl, R. M., Ferraro, Z. M., Malkani, N., LeJour, C., & Adamo, K. B. (2024) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-024-06591-z · Cited by 7
“For example, a study with 248 maternity care providers reported that most of the participants felt pregnant populations who have obesity lack self-management behaviours [14].”
Result
Hyper-Visible Yet Invisible: Exploring the Body Image Experiences of Overweight Women in Everyday Life
Tragantzopoulou, P. (2025) · Obesities · doi:10.3390/obesities5020044 · Cited by 7
Internalized Weight Bias, Weight‐Related Experiences, And Peripartum Weight
Sharp, M., Ward, L. G., Solar, C. A., Shea, C., Carels, R. A., & Dolbier, C. L. (2023) · Journal of Midwifery & Women s Health · doi:10.1111/jmwh.13480 · Cited by 7
“In an ideal world”: A qualitative exploration of shared decision-making and weight stigma in antenatal care
Hawke, M., Considine, J., & Sweet, L. P. (2024) · Women and Birth · doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101824 · Cited by 7
Comparison of obstetrician-gynecologists and family physicians regarding weight-related attitudes, communication, and bias
Welsh, S., Salazar-Collier, C., Blakeslee, B., Kellar, L. C., Maxwell, R. A., Whigham, L. D., Lee, M., & Lindheim, S. R. (2021) · Obesity Research & Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2021.04.010 · Cited by 7
Women's experiences of living with obesity during pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum: a qualitative systematic review protocol
Snelgrove‐Clarke, E., Macdonald, D., Helwig, M., & Alsius, A. (2021) · JBI Evidence Synthesis · doi:10.11124/jbies-20-00442 · Cited by 7
Analysis of the Weight Management Behavior of Chinese Pregnant Women: An Integration of the Protection Motivation Theory and the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model
Ge, J., Zhao, S., Peng, X., Walker, A. N., Yang, N., Zhou, H., Wang, L., Zhang, C., Zhou, M., & You, H. (2022) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.759946 · Cited by 11
Addressing the complexity of equitable care for larger patients: A critical realist framework
Kanagasingam, D. (2022) · SSM - Qualitative Research in Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100137 · Cited by 6
The current landscape of exercise and female fertility research: a narrative review
Maher, R. A., Wadden, K. P., Fuller, D., Basset, F. A., Murphy, H. M., & McGowan, E. L. (2024) · Reproduction · doi:10.1530/rep-22-0317 · Cited by 6
Ending preventable stillbirths 4 Stillbirths: recall to action in high-income countries
Flenady, V., Wojcieszek, A. M., Ellwood, D. A., Erwich, J. J., Coory, M. D., Khong, T. Y., Silver, R. M., Smith, G. C. S., Boyle, F. M., Blencowe, H. K., et al. (2016) · Cited by 6
Anaesthetists' Experiences with the Early Labour Epidural Recommendation for Obese Parturients: A Qualitative Study
Eley, V. A., Callaway, L. K., van Zundert, A. A. J., Lipman, J., & Gallois, C. (2016) · Anaesthesia and Intensive Care · doi:10.1177/0310057x1604400521 · Cited by 6
Weight Discrimination Experienced Prior to Enrolling in a Behavioral Obesity Intervention is Associated with Treatment Response Among Black and White Adults in the Southeastern U.S
Crockett, K. B., Borgatti, A. C., Tan, F., Tang, Z., & Dutton, G. R. (2021) · International Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s12529-021-10009-x · Cited by 8
“Unfortunately, weight-related stigma is increasingly prevalent, even among healthcare providers [7], despite decades of research demonstrating weight bias reduces care-seeking for serious medical conditions [8, 9], increases purposeful delays of healthcare appointments [10], and reduces perceptions of care quality dur…”
Background
Pregnancy and weight gain: a scoping review of women’s perceptions and experiences with stigma
Sasidharan, H., Bhatt, A., & Mishra, M. (2025) · BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth · doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07650-9 · Cited by 5
“Similarly, women with obesity frequently report negative experiences in antenatal care including being treated without respect, care, understanding, or honesty [11].”
Influential
Does it get better with age? Women’s experience of communication in maternity care
Wyles, K., & Miller, Y. D. (2018) · Women and Birth · doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2018.08.170 · Cited by 5
Self-citation
Should midwives consider associated psychological factors when caring for women who are obese?
Wahedi, M. (2016) · British Journal of Midwifery · doi:10.12968/bjom.2016.24.10.724 · Cited by 5

Authors: Mulherin, K., Miller, Y. D., Barlow, F. K., Diedrichs, P. C., & Thompson, R.
Affiliations: The University of Queensland (AU)
Queensland University of Technology (AU)
University of the West of England (GB)
Dartmouth College (US)
Corresponding author: Mulherin, Kate
ORCID: Miller, Yvette D
Barlow, Fiona Kate
Diedrichs, Phillippa C
Thompson, Rachel
Venue: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2013-01-22
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 19-19
ISSN: 1471-2393 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2393-13-19
PMC: PMC3577669
OpenAlex: W2165869962
Cited by: 193
References: 47
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1
FWCI: 22.15
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 (tdm)
Locations: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
UWE Research Repository (UWE Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders: University of Queensland
Queensland Government
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity and Health Practices
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Keywords: weight stigma, obstetric care, overweight in pregnancy, obese pregnant women, body mass index, patient experience, maternity care providers, self-management behavior, health professions education
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Australia, Female, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Maternal Health Services, Obesity, Pregnancy, Prejudice, Professional-Patient Relations, Quality of Health Care, Self Care, Stereotyping, Body Mass Index, Linear Models, Qualitative Research, Overweight, Self Report

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Weight stigma in maternity care: women’s experiences and care providers’ attitudes

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