Show Notes
🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
What a patient says in an obesity care conversation may not tell the whole story.
In this episode, Dr. Roshan Abraham and Michelle McMillan explore what can sit beneath silence, hesitation or agreement, especially after past experiences with weight bias or stigma. They share practical ways clinicians can build trust, ask better questions and make follow-up feel safer.
In this episode
Why silence or hesitation may reflect mistrust, not disinterest How past weight bias can shape the next clinical conversation Why asking permission can help build trust How curiosity can uncover barriers a patient is experiencing Why agreement does not always mean a plan feels realistic How to make follow-up feel safer when treatment does not go as expected Why health, function and patient goals matter beyond the number on the scale
Additional resources
Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines https://utm.guru/us5rk Free course: Words Matter: The Consequences of Weight Bias and Stigmatizing Language https://utm.guru/us5rm Free course: Obesity Assessment Essentials https://utm.guru/us5rp
Become a Certified Bariatric Educator Today’s conversation is a good reminder that obesity care takes knowledge, compassion and a commitment to reducing stigma. For healthcare professionals with experience in obesity care, Obesity Canada’s Certified Bariatric Educator exam is one way to have that knowledge recognized and stand out in the field.
The next CBE exam takes place on November 28, 2026 and applications must be submitted by November 2 to be eligible to write.
Learn more and apply: https://utm.guru/us5rG
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Disclosures This episode script was developed using NotebookLM to synthesize complex source materials into a structured educational format. The tool was used to analyze the Canadian Obesity Education Competencies (COECs), the Obesity Canada Strategic Plan, and guest-specific research. Specific prompts were utilized to extract relevant learning objectives, map them to CanMEDS roles, and generate competency-based interview questions.
While NotebookLM assisted in drafting the narrative arc and educational framework, all content has been reviewed, fact-checked, and refined by the podcast hosts and Obesity Canada's clinical experts. This ensures the script aligns with current Clinical Practice Guidelines and authentically represents the lived experience perspective.
More from Scale Up Your Practice by Obesity Canada
🎙️This episode is sponsored by an unrestricted education grant from Eli Lilly Canada
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🎙️This episode was made possible through the partnership between Obesity Canada and Boehringer Ingelheim in support of the Global Patient Charter Framework initiative.
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