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Trigger warning: GLP-1 RA talk

I feel like GLP-1 RAs have permeated every aspect of my life.

Briefly, if you don’t know: GLP-1 RA stands for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. This is a class of drug that capitalizes on a natural protein (GLP-1) to treat diabetes. To be fair, there’s a lot of good things about this drug class. I’ve had patients who struggled for years with their diabetes control find their HA1c values settle into an optimal range. The drugs have a cardiovascular benefit for those patients. Plus, there’s growing evidence that GLP-1 RAs reduce systemic inflammation. Granted, this is anecdotical, but I’ve had several patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory diseases swear that they experience less pain after starting a GLP-1 RA.

But you can’t talk about GLP-1 RAs without acknowledging their other medical indication: weight loss. And holy cow are these drugs enjoying a moment in time. Everyone wants to talk about these medications. There are days in which every other wellness exam I provide culminates in a patient asking me, “So about those weight loss drugs…” In my clinic, we had to change our entire prior authorization process because of the sheer number of requests we were receiving. There have been delays in the PA process for other pharmaceuticals because our staff has been so overwhelmed by GLP-1 RA paperwork.

Outside of the office, I see these meds everywhere. They were heavily advertised during commercial breaks during the Winter Olympics. (Hint: look at the list of official sponsors for this sporting event, and you’ll see why.) My husband sometimes uses a meal prep service, and he showed me that they’re now advertising that the meals have been developed to use alongside GLP-1 RAs.

There are others in this group who have done an excellent job expanding upon the pros and cons (and there are many) of such widespread product roll out. AWSIM member Ragen Chastain has co-authored a peer-reviewed paper examining the many implications of the rapid rise of GLP-1 RAs. The meds are a frequent topic on our forum. So I’m not going to reinvent the wheel here. I’ll let others get into the nitty gritty. My focus today is to express bewilderment and astonishment and frustration (and a lot of other emotions) over how much of my daily life is spent talking about these drugs. GLP-1 RAs have invaded my medical practice and personal life.

I’m not sure where I want to go from here. Am I just using this column to complain? Am I seeking validation, or affirming to you that, yes, it’s not in your head – GLP-1 RAs are indeed everywhere. And it’s not going to end any time soon. More of these drugs are coming down the pipeline. GLP-1 RAs have changed how we practice healthcare. There’s no hiding our heads in the sand.

How have you handled the rise of the GLP-1 RAs? Feel free to start a conversation on our forum.

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We would love to hear from you. If there are topics you would like Sarah to explore in a future column, or if you have questions, reflections, or comments, please reach out to us at info@awsim.org.

In case you missed it, you can also read last month’s column here:

UPCOMING EVENTS:

September 11, 2026
Clinical Practice: Applying Weight-Inclusive Medicine in Patient Care
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September 17, 2026
Shamed from a Place of Love: How the Fear of Fat Black Bodies Comes Home to the Black Family
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I’m experiencing what feels like the positive version of a midlife crisis. A midlife resurgence? Renaissance? I’ll have to workshop the phrase into something that sounds less dramatic.

Anyway, now in my early forties, I’ve developed new hobbies that are bringing me immense joy. Two years ago, I went to my first ice hockey game, and it flipped a previously undiscovered switch in me. I finally understand sports fans. (Side note: Sports statistics are fun. “Did you know,” I say, “that was the fastest overtime goal in NHL history?” My very patient husband has perfected the bland smile and nod.) A friend of a friend taught me how to crochet, and I’m in the process of making my first pair of wrist warmers. (If you want a picture, let me know. Everyone should see my pretty, pretty stitches.) For the first time since I was thirteen, I’m the owner of a nifty pair of inline skates, and I’m learning some very cool tricks.

Part of the reason that I can learn and take on new hobbies is that I’m fortunate enough to have a secure job, and we don’t have kids. I can spend a few extra bucks on a skein of yarn that catches my eye. Plus, hitting my forties helped rid me of the last of my fear of looking silly. The pink helmet I wear while skating may look dorky, but I’ve covered it in some pretty awesome stickers. I’m lucky enough to have the time to enjoy these hobbies. But, most importantly, I also have emotional time and energy. For years, my free time was spent counting calories or figuring out how to fit in the “right” work-out. Thinking back, I have no idea how I made it through residency. Between the hours spent in the hospital, studying, running multiple miles per day, and exhaustively calculating every calorie eaten, it’s no wonder that I barely read for fun for years. Even during the first few years of being an attending, I didn’t have the time or energy to do many enjoyable things.

My job still keeps me busy, of course, but I continue to find new ways to spend my time and energy. I have the time to read a new book. My body has the fuel and energy to skate. I’m free to do these things without getting caught up every few minutes in double-checking how my body looks. When I travel, I no longer have to agonize over meal plans.

This is a message that I pass on to my patients who are in the pre-contemplative or early stages of addressing their disordered eating. Imagine, I tell them, if you were able to spend less time worrying about your body’s size or the exact number of calories you’re eating. Imagine what you gain when you spend less time restricting. It’s amazing how your life can expand.

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We would love to hear from you. If there are topics you would like Sarah to explore in a future column, or if you have questions, reflections, or comments, please reach out to us at info@awsim.org.

In case you missed it, you can also read last month’s column here:

UPCOMING EVENTS:

AWSIM Member Rounds
Third Wednesday of each month
9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET

Led by Dr. Lisa Erlanger, President of AWSIM
A live, member-only space for informal case consultation, interdisciplinary networking, peer learning, and practical support.

Open to AWSIM members only. This event will not be recorded.

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August 19, 2026
Why Weight-Inclusive Medicine? Ethics, Bias, and Clinical Responsibility
Faculty: Lisa Erlanger, MD
Time: 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET

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AWSIM Fall Symposium 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
10:00 AM–2:00 PM PT / 1:00–5:00 PM ET
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It happened again the other day. I had a patient up in the stirrups, and she apologized to me for not shaving. Usually, I try to lightly brush off these concerns. “Please don’t worry,” I say. “Hair’s totally normal!” Depending on how long we’ve known each other, I might make a joke. “No worries! I went to a women’s college. Nobody shaved.”

As is my wont, I ruminate over these encounters when they’re done. I feel sad that my patient felt like they had to apologize for a normal bodily process. Depending on where my “anger at the world” level sits - and let’s be honest, when am I not at least a little angry these days? – I feel bitter towards society and its pressures. On other days, I take it too personally and wonder if I’ve done something that makes my patients worry that I’ll judge them.

People don’t just apologize to me for their body hair. They also beg pardon for their “ugly” feet or the weight they’ve gained since their last wellness. On one hand, I understand this impulse. I too have apologized to my dentist for the coffee stains on my teeth or to my primary care physician for how much I sweat. And I know that many of my patients aren’t necessarily struggling with self-loathing in these moments. Most of them probably just think they’re being polite, or they’re brushing off mild embarrassment. It’s awkward to sit in a flimsy robe and bear your soul and your skin to your doctor. It’s my job to soothe and move on, not make the situation worse by monologuing angrily about the harms of cultural body ideals.

But I’m still bothered that so many of my patients feel the need to apologize for their bodies. “Please don’t apologize to me,” I want to say. “It’s your body.” We only get one, after all. Some bodies have bad knees or the tendency to retain cholesterol. Some take to sports like a duck to water, and others need help controlling blood pressure or sugar. My job isn’t too judge.

My job is multifold: to help my patients stay healthy when possible and mitigate symptoms when it’s not; to help people transition through seasons of life; to change the things that can be changed, or to find treatments or work-arounds; to pursue “health,” although that can mean different things to different people. This job would be a lot easier if my patients left their shame at the door – if they felt empowered to do so. But that’s not an easy ask. The doctor’s office (unfortunately) isn’t always a safe space.

So I do the best that I can during my limited appointment times. I may not be able to change medical culture as a whole, but I can do everything within my power to make my practice a safe place for people to exist without apology.

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We would love to hear from you. If there are topics you would like Sarah to explore in a future column, or if you have questions, reflections, or comments, please reach out to us at info@awsim.org.

In case you missed it, you can also read last month’s column here:

UPCOMING EVENTS:

AWSIM Member Rounds
Third Wednesday of each month
9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET
Led by Dr. Lisa Erlanger, President of AWSIM

A live, member-only space for informal case consultation, interdisciplinary networking, peer learning, and practical support.

Open to AWSIM members only. This event will not be recorded.

Register here

AWSIM x WIDIC: When Weight Bias Shapes Reproductive Care
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
5:00–6:15 PM PT / 8:00–9:15 PM ET
Panelists: Dr. Naomi Busch, Dr. Anna Wheelan, Simone Samuels, and Sarah O’Hara, RD
A live virtual panel exploring how weight-centered assumptions shape reproductive health care and what clinicians can do differently. Free for AWSIM and WIDIC members.
For WIDIC members: Please use the non-member registration link and enter discount code WIDIC at checkout to register for free.
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AWSIM Fall Symposium 2026
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
10:00 AM–2:00 PM PT / 1:00–5:00 PM ET
Save the date for AWSIM’s Fall Symposium. More details coming soon.

There are a few ways to combat fatigue. I’ve done the mandatory self-care modules at work, so I know I should unplug and unwind. But it’s hard. I think a lot of us who went into medicine have a hypersensitive sense of duty. I’ve only called out sick a handful of times in the past ten years, and the subsequent guilt never gets easier. The last time I had COVID I ended up doing telemedicine from home because it didn’t actually occur to me to take a day off to rest.

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I’ve been working on – and struggling with – letting things go. For me, it’s important that I reframe how I approach my decision to not do something. It’s not giving up, I tell myself. It’s making the choice to disengage in certain situations when it’s better for my overall health and wellbeing. And I’m saving my energy for other battles. For example, I’ve chosen to spend less time reading the news. While I want to be up to date about current events, doomscrolling is rarely helpful to anyone. At work, I’ve had to decide what battles to fight with my patients or even the administration. I’ve had to choose when I should engage with a patient about their preconceived notions about weight or dieting and when it’s better for me to step back. Now for the first time – in my 40s – I’ve accepted it’s okay not to finish a book if I’m not enjoying it.

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This doesn’t mean I avoid all hard things, but it does mean I try to be more aware of what battles I fight. I’m hoping this will help me engage more in activities or habits that spark joy. And ultimately will this help me feel less tired? Only time will tell! For now, let’s see how this week of PTO goes.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. April’s column:

Upcoming events:

Join us for When Weight Misleads: Rethinking Dermatologic Diagnosis and Care with Dr. Zed Zha on June 8, 2026, at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET.

This online, case-based session will explore how weight bias can shape dermatologic diagnosis, treatment decisions, and patient trust, with practical strategies for more accurate, weight-inclusive care.

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During medical school, I was taught to document if a patient was “non-compliant” or a “poor historian.” During the first two years of my residency, paper charts were still the norm, so brevity was key. But now I rely on electronic medical records, and almost all my patients use the portal. I am always aware that my patients can – and will – read their chart notes. They read not only my medical recommendations, but the words I use to describe their conditions, their habits, and their medical history.

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My words help me express empathy, demonstrate understanding, and create partnership. They help me foster a working relationship with my patients rather than a hierarchical one. In my opinion, the content of my medical advice is important, but equally important is the way in which I express my message.

Sometimes I meet this challenge. I’m skilled at avoiding gendered language, referencing “pregnant persons“ or “those with prostates.” But whenever I utilize my clinic’s translator services, I’m forced to recognize how often I rely on regional colloquialisms. And sometimes I just plain botch it up. Even if I mean a word a certain way, I can’t always predict a patient’s history, bias, or trauma. I may intend to use a word neutrally, but to the patient, it’s associated with hurt. I have patients who embrace the word “fat” and others who find it harmful. I try to use the word only as a descriptor of tissue, with no more value or fault than “muscle,” “tendon,” or “bone,” but good intentions can only go so far. I’m sure I’ve hurt feelings, and that bothers me.

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Still, I know my method of communication is an important part of my bedside manner. It helps my patients feel safe and listened to. It also helps me navigate tough conversations. When patients ask me about their lifestyle or diet, I try to use positive words or phrases, focusing on what can be added, like joyful movement or tasty, vitamin-rich foods, rather than what can be taken away. And I remind myself over and over again that even if I mess up, I’m doing the best I can and I can always seek to do better.

How about you? Do you sometimes agonize over your written charts? Do you have phrases you rely on or a favorite way of explaining something? How have you navigated your own relationship with language?

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. March’s column:

Sarah Unscripted March

At the heart of my medical practice is my commitment to create a partnership with my patients. I want them to feel empowered in their healthcare journey. But sometimes this leads me to moments of real doubt.

I find myself wondering: in my attempts to encourage patients to exercise their agency, do I become a push-over? Am I acting as a respectful guide, or am I trying too hard to overcorrect for decades of medical paternalism?

In other words — do I let patients walk all over me?

Finding that balance is not always straightforward. Most days, I think I get close. But there are moments when I give in — ordering a test that isn’t medically necessary, or prescribing something I’m not fully convinced is the right next step. And afterward, I sit with it.

Should I have advocated more strongly?
Should I have pushed back more clearly?
Was I too soft? Too ambiguous?

Over time, I’ve developed language that helps me hold this tension a bit more intentionally. I often say some version of: “Here’s what I think you should do and why. But I recognize that this is your body and your health.”

It’s not perfect, but it’s something.

Still, there are clinical situations that challenge this balance more than others. And lately, one of the most difficult has been conversations around GLP-1 receptor agonists.

Patients want to talk about these medications. Avoiding the topic isn’t an option.

As a physician practicing within a weight-inclusive framework, I feel the tension acutely. On one hand, I feel confident in my ability to discuss the evidence, the risks, and the limitations of these treatments. I can contextualize weight and health beyond simplistic narratives.

But on the other hand, many patients arrive having already made a decision. They are not always coming to explore — they are coming to obtain.

And after those visits, I find myself replaying the encounter.

Did I prescribe too quickly?
Did I push too hard and risk sounding dismissive?
Did I truly support autonomy — or did I subtly steer?

The truth is, I still don’t always know.

And maybe part of this work is being willing to sit in that uncertainty. To resist the urge to simplify what is, in reality, deeply complex. To accept that practicing ethically, especially in areas shaped by stigma, evolving evidence, and strong patient expectations, will sometimes feel uncomfortable.

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But I don’t think these are just my questions.

I think they reflect something much bigger — a shift happening across medicine.

We are being asked to hold more nuance. To navigate more uncertainty. To practice in ways that challenge both long-standing paradigms and emerging pressures. The exam room is no longer a place of simple answers — if it ever was.

How do we support patient autonomy without abandoning our clinical voice?
How do we engage with treatments like GLP-1 medications without reinforcing the very harms we are trying to undo?
What does it actually mean to practice weight-inclusive care when the cultural and medical landscape is moving so quickly?

These are not abstract questions. They are showing up in exam rooms every day.

And if we’re being honest, many of us are figuring this out as we go.

That is precisely why spaces for thoughtful, evidence-informed, and sometimes uncomfortable conversations matter.

This is what we are working to create at the upcoming AWSIM first virtual Annual Scientific & Member Assembly — a space where research, clinical practice, and lived experience come together. Not necessarily to offer clean answers, but to build better questions, shared language, and a stronger clinical community.

I don’t have this fully figured out.

But I am increasingly convinced that this work is not meant to be done in isolation.

I would genuinely love to hear how others are navigating this.

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Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. February’s column is available here

Sarah Unscripted, February column

Like many other people, I’ve been watching the Olympics. I don’t typically watch much TV (as I prefer to stream), so I was surprised by the sheer volume of pharmaceutical ads during each commercial break. And during this celebration of human physical achievement, what type of drug do you think enjoyed the greatest amount of commercial time? If you guessed those weight loss superstars, the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, then give yourself a prize!

Sometimes I feel like I end up talking about these drugs in almost every patient encounter – they’re just that popular. But I was a little surprised by the marketing of tirzepatide. The commercials are distinctly upbeat and positive, and they stay away from overt words of judgement. The drug is presented as an option for when “hard work” hasn’t led to successful weight loss. The word “grit” is heavily featured.

After several viewings - seriously, I’m not exaggerating how frequently they play these commercials! - I had to sit with my feelings for a bit. I had a lot of them! But there was something I kept coming back to.

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Here I want to take a moment to break these commercials down. There’s the primary assumption: if your body is not the size that it “should” be, you should change it. Then the next point: if your efforts aren’t enough, here’s a drug. And finally, and most importantly: this will lead to happiness. As proof, these commercials show people dancing or engaging in other physical activities. “Look at these people living their lives,” the commercials suggest. “If you change your body, you could join a dance class with your partner or go on a zipline. You could be happy!”

In other words, if you lose weight, then you can live your life.

While it’s true that those in larger bodies are often excluded from certain activities, I would argue that this is because our society is constructed in a way that’s purposefully exclusive, not because people in larger bodies aren’t able do fun things.

In the past, I spent years telling myself that I would finally do this thing or allow myself that treat if I lost a certain number of pounds. Only if I weighed so much could I buy that cute shirt. I wonder now, why did I never just buy that cute shirt in a larger size? What’s wrong with enjoying life in the bodies we currently inhabit? And couldn’t we make the world more accessible rather than asking people to change?

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. January’s column is available here

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Free for members and students. Non members $35. Recording will be available.

Sarah Unscripted, January column

Recently, I almost did something that I haven’t done in years: I almost got in an argument with a stranger on the Internet!

I feel like I should kick myself. It was on Reddit of all places, in one of the medical subreddits. Long story short, a healthcare provider had posted something unkind about larger-bodied patients, and I saw red. Fortunately, I was able to take a deep breath and remind myself that this wasn’t the type of environment where engagement would lead to any sort of positivity or change. This wasn’t our forum after all, where people come in good faith to engage and learn.

It was hard – I really wanted to type up a fiery reply – but I made myself stop. I closed the app. I made the decision to protect my own peace.

Lately, I’ve tried to make a conscious effort to do this more often – to engage in practices that protect my peace. While I think it’s important for us to be firm (and vocal) in doing the right thing, I think it can sometimes be equally important to set a boundary and disengage from a negative environment.

I live in the United States, and right now it feels really overwhelming, especially if you’re an empathetic person. I’ve thought long and hard about how to respond to the negativity. To me, it’s important that I show my neighbors that I care about them. I want my patients to see my office as a safe space. I need to use my voice to speak out against injustice.

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But – and this is so challenging – I’ve also had to pay extra attention to knowing my own limits. I only work four days in the clinic each week, so I try to be extra cognizant of using my off day to rest and reset. It’s hard for me to allow myself to be “nonproductive,” and I often start to worry if I’m not getting things done. So I make an effort to acknowledge and let go of this negative self-talk. It’s okay to take a nap. It’s okay to read a romance novel or watch TV.

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I do my best to keep consistent boundaries with my patients, but I also acknowledge the need for flexibility. Maybe today this patient needs a little bit of extra handholding, and I’m not setting a bad precedent just because I have the bandwidth to accommodate that. Boundaries are important, but sometimes they can be a little fluid.

There are a lot of scary and big things happening in the world, and 2025 was a rough year in my personal life as well. To make it through, I’ve worked to find ways to protect my peace. I’d encourage you to think about ways that you can protect your own.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. December’s column is available here

Dear colleagues,

AWSIM is pleased to announce the Call for Abstracts for the 1st AWSIM Annual Scientific & Member Assembly, taking place Friday, May 8, 2026, as a fully virtual, one-day meeting.

This inaugural event marks a defining milestone for AWSIM. It brings together scientific exchange, interdisciplinary collaboration, and member governance to advance weight-inclusive, evidence-based care within medicine and health systems.

We invite submissions from clinicians, researchers, educators, trainees, and community partners whose work contributes to transforming care for people of all sizes.

Conference highlights include:

• Two keynote addresses on the future of weight-inclusive medicine, patient safety, advocacy, and systems-level change

• Four scientific sessions featuring selected oral presentations

• A virtual poster session during the lunch hour, with optional short pre-recorded videos

• Breakout and interest groups to foster professional connection and collaboration

• The AWSIM Annual Member Meeting, fulfilling governance responsibilities and shaping organizational priorities for 2026–2027

Abstract categories:

• Research

• Medical and Health Professions Education

• Clinical Practice

• Work in Progress (ideas, early findings, protocols)

• Cross-Cutting Edge (interdisciplinary, innovative, or community-grounded work)

Abstract guidelines:

• Maximum 250 words (excluding title)

• Optional: one table or one figure

• Required structure: objectives, methods, results (if applicable), conclusions

• Preferred format: single PDF

• Please indicate preferred presentation format (oral or poster)

• Submit via email to info@awsim.org with the subject line: Abstract Submission

📅 Submission deadline: January 15, 2026
📩 Notification of acceptance: February 28, 2026
🗓 Conference date: May 8, 2026
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM EST
💻 Format: Fully virtual

We strongly encourage interdisciplinary and interprofessional submissions, as well as work that centers equity, lived experience, and innovation in stigma-reducing care. If you are unsure whether your work “fits,” we encourage you to submit.

Please feel free to share this call with colleagues and networks who may be interested.

We look forward to learning from your work and gathering as a community.

Warmly,
The Education Committee
Association for Weight and Size Inclusive Medicine
www.awsim.org

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I used to somewhat dread holiday parties. Even in the days leading up to them, I’d worry. The focus of my worry was on reduction. How little could I eat the day of the party in preparation? What foods at the party had the least number of calories? How could I cut down, reduce, and make smaller? Even in choosing my clothing, I’d focus on what made my body look slimmer.

Fortunately, over the past several years, this approach has changed. Now, I look at the spread of food, and different thoughts come to mind. How will that taste? Have I tried that dish before? What can I add to my plate? This new way of thought includes my clothing choices – last night, I wore a shirt that fit a little tight, but it was festive and silly and matched my husband’s. It made me happy and made me feel good.

This concept is something I think about a lot as I counsel my patients on a so-called “healthy” lifestyle. I urge people to focus on what they can add rather than what they can take away. How can they add fun movement that feels good to their body? How can they add fruits and veggies because they have tasty nutrients that aid biological functions? What can their bodies do? What can they do for their bodies?

For patients who are caught within the web of diet culture, I’ve become well-versed at pivoting the conversation. When I’m asked, “How can I lose weight,” one of the things I do is urge my patient to pivot their approach. “What can you add to your lifestyle or practices that may improve health?” has been a useful question, good for sparking conversation and a candid discussion.

This has been a positive way for me to approach conversations in the clinic (focusing on what can be included rather than what should be restricted), and I’ve also noticed the positives in my personal life. What can I include? How can I grow? What can I bring into my life rather than what can I cut away?

This has become not just a personal belief system, but a more positive way for me to approach the little things, like even a holiday party. And what do you know? This has helped make parties fun again.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. November’s column is available here

GIVING TUESDAY

Sarah Unscripted, November column

Recently, we’ve been visiting retirement communities with the end goal of finding my mom a safe, supportive, and fun place to live. We narrowed it down to two spots. Both are near parks and boast lovely views of fall foliage. One’s designed with Victorian influences, while the other is more classic, but both have wide hallways, bright lights, and charming little pockets of space where people can sit and socialize. We’ve been having trouble deciding between the two.

To solve this dilemma, we took a second tour of the first community. The marketing manager arranged a short meeting for us with several of the department heads, including those in health services, resident activities, and culinary services (i.e. the head chef). I was touched by this thoughtful gesture and by so many people coming together to make sure my mom’s transition into this new season of life goes as smoothly as possible.

I’m also worried. This will be a big change for Mom. One of my main goals for the meeting was to discuss what we could do to ease the transition. I wanted to know what was done to help new residents feel more at home in their new environment.

Multiple members of the team had suggestions, but it was the chef who really impressed me. He talked about food as something that brings people together. People gather for meals – new friendships are formed, and old friends meet again. Scheduled mealtimes help create consistency, which is helpful when someone’s world feels upended. Favorite foods can stir people’s recollections – while it might feel overwhelming to be in a new place, a comforting, familiar meal can trigger fond memories and bring comfort.

I loved this conversation! In our culture (and in medicine), we talk about food so clinically. We use harsh words like “calories” or “macronutrients” or “salt content.” We restrict food. We advance diets. We break down our plates into a puzzle to be “hacked” – we say, Eat this way to manage your weight or reduce your inflammation or defy aging!

I thought this discussion with the chef was a great reminder that food can be joyful. Food can inspire memories and bring solace. A meal gathers people together. I’m hopeful that in my Mom’s case, a satisfying breakfast might even inspire courage as she starts this new chapter in her life.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. October’s column is available here

Sarah Unscripted, October Column

I’m currently slogging through a spell of burnout.

It’s hard to narrow down the exact cause. My personal responsibilities have ballooned in number over the past six months. And like anyone in healthcare, my professional life can be a lot. Plus, if you consider what’s going on in our country right now … well, it’s no surprise that things feel heavy.

When I’m in the midst of burnout, there are a few things I tell myself, and I thought I’d use this month’s column to share them:

1. First of all, here’s something that I repeat to myself all the time: no feeling lasts forever. That’s tough to keep in mind when struggling with any strong emotion or crisis, so I think it bears repeating: this too will pass.

2. It’s okay to revise your standards. I won’t say that I lower my standards – as a physician, I can’t afford to phone it in. My actions, after all, directly affect the wellbeing of others who trust me. But I need to remind myself that there’s a big difference between giving my patient 110% in the exam room and editing my chart note into perfect, flowing English. Sentence fragments may sting the old English major in me, but they are fine for documentation purposes. Non-urgent lab results can be addressed another day. I can hold myself to a high standard and give myself a bit of a break.

3. When you feel drained, it’s important to find ways to fill the soul. I know creative endeavors can be a good way to combat burnout, and I’ve chosen to interpret this loosely. I’m no artist – honestly, I think trying to paint something would cause me more stress than relief, especially with the potential mess. But working on a fun jigsaw puzzle brings me serenity. I lose myself in my geeky pursuits. I read a new (or old and beloved!) romance novel.

4. It’s not our responsibility to hold others’ emotions. When things get busy in my clinic, I tend to worry that I’m putting too much on my medical assistant’s plate. I want to protect her from her own burnout. But I need to trust her. Just like I set my own boundaries, I need to trust her to set her own. She’s an adult and she can tell me if it’s too much.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. September’s column is available here

Over five hours, speakers and attendees explored what weight-inclusive care looks like in practice, from challenging bias in the exam room to transforming medical education and honoring lived experience as a source of knowledge. Dr. Lisa Erlanger opened the day with Beyond the Blood Pressure Cuff, calling for a shift from access to true equity and reminding us that “access to a biased system isn’t equity.” Dr. Stephanie Hart followed with an in-depth discussion on sexual health and stigma, highlighting how weight bias shapes both diagnosis and intimacy.

The Teaching Beyond the Scale education panel, featuring Drs. Katarina Wind, Cathryn Williams, and Madhuri Rao alongside MSSI leaders Abigail Faust and Jessica Rosenblum, showcased practical ways to embed weight-inclusive principles into medical training. The day concluded with a moving conversation between Tigress Osborn, Angel Austin, and Dr. Anna Mirer on advocacy, sustainability, and community care, leaving us grounded in the truth that supporting patients also means supporting each other.

Together, we built what AWSIM stands for: a community learning, healing, and leading change in healthcare, one conversation at a time.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to every speaker, moderator, and attendee who made this inaugural symposium possible. Your energy, insight, and commitment remind us that weight-inclusive medicine is not just a vision for the future—it’s happening now, in the spaces we create together.

As we look ahead, AWSIM will continue this momentum with new opportunities to learn and connect. Our next event will bring the community together once again to explore how we can keep building systems of care that support both patients and providers. Details below, we hope you’ll join us.

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In collaboration with MSSI

As we look ahead, AWSIM will continue this momentum with new opportunities to learn and connect.

Our next event, hosted in collaboration with Medical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI), will focus on Size-Inclusive Pediatric Medicine: A physician panel to discuss weight-inclusive pediatric healthcare.

This CME-accredited session will bring together Drs. Geraldine Malana, Cortney Crespo, Wendy Schofer, and Taka Yamaguchi for a powerful conversation on the harms of weight-centric pediatric care and the benefits of weight-inclusive approaches. Attendees will gain both a research-based overview and practical insights from clinicians working to transform pediatric practice.

Join us on October 30, 2025, from 12–1:30 PM ET.
Free and open to all—because inclusive medicine begins with inclusive education.

Register now at www.awsim.org

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AWSIM Voices at The Menopause Summit

The thing everyone’s suddenly talking about but few truly understand.

Menopause is not just a personal milestone. It is a cultural reckoning. A transition that holds the power to reshape not only our individual lives but also the systems that define our worth by fertility, productivity, and appearance. It is a portal for rage, grief, clarity, and liberation, and it is time to talk about it differently.

From November 12 to 14, 2025, the Center for Body Trust will host The Menopause Summit: Reimagining “The Change” Together, a free virtual event featuring a powerful lineup of speakers including Mara Gordon, MD, Lisa Erlanger, MD, Ragen Chastain, and Sonya Renee Taylor.

This summit will unpack the myths surrounding menopause, challenge dominant medical narratives, and center those most often left out of the conversation: Black women, fat folks, trans and nonbinary people, and anyone who has felt unseen or dismissed.

Expect real talk about physiology, sex, aging, and body changes from a size-inclusive lens; honest discussions about hormone therapy, eating disorders in midlife, and pleasure; and grounding sessions like a live grief circle and Q&A panels.

Participation is free, and talks are available for 24 hours each day.
Register here to join the conversation and help reimagine what care, connection, and embodiment can look like during this transition.

As we close this month, we are reminded that inclusive care is built together—through learning, reflection, and community. Thank you for being part of AWSIM and for continuing to imagine what healthcare can be when every body belongs.

Sarah Unscripted, September 2025

My work triggers a wide range of emotions. Sometimes it feels like a constant dance - one step forward and one step back.

Recently, I had this really great interaction during a pediatric visit. As we neared the end of our time together, the patient’s mom said she had one more question– and here she whispered – “about [her teenage daughter’s] BMI.”

Fortunately, I know this family well, and I have a good relationship with them. After some more questioning, I learned that Mom was mostly worried about any undue stress on her daughter’s hypermobile joints. Here I managed to pivot the question into a conversation between the three of us. We talked about the failures of BMI, especially when it comes to kids. We talked about reframing our concept of health, asking what can be added, not restricted. We talked about joyful movement rather than punitive exercise. The daughter revealed she enjoyed cooking and would like to be more involved in the dinner-making process. By the end of the appointment, I was feeling good – this was a productive visit, I thought. I’m hopeful that the teenager will also remember our encounter in a positive light.

To be fair, several things went my way during this visit. I had a mom who wanted to listen. I wasn’t running behind, so I was able to take a deep breath and center myself before engaging. The girl and her mom were receptive to my ideas and each other’s.

A few days before that, I had another encounter that went very differently. This was with an elderly woman who was new to me. Her primary was out of town, so I, the covering provider, was being asked to refill a certain weight loss drug. The patient spent much of our visit bemoaning different “heavy” parts of her body. While reminiscing about her weight in high school, the patient went off on a tangent about the ob*sity epidemic. I felt really uncomfortable!

This patient was talkative, so it was harder for me to join the conversation. Furthermore, she had already made up her mind. I had to ask myself: knowing I likely wouldn’t see this woman again, what was my role? Could I gently challenge the recommendations of her primary care doctor while honoring their patient-doctor relationship and the patient’s agency?

Honestly, I don’t think I did very well, and I left that appointment feeling disheartened. I questioned myself. Had I done enough? Had I done too much?

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. August’s column is available here

This week Earn up to 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credits:

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TOMORROW:

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September 23–24, 2025 | Virtual | Free Registration

AWSIM is proud to highlight Weight Stigma Awareness Week (WSAW), created and co-hosted by the Body Equity Alliance and Within Health.

This year’s theme: Healing Without Harm: Ending Weight Stigma in Healthcare.

Over the course of the week, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Attend ten live virtual educational sessions focused on combating weight stigma (earn up to five free CEUs).

• Engage with community resources, including a newly released White Paper calling for systemic change and a vetted list of educational tools.

• Join the movement to dismantle stigma and foster body equity and acceptance across healthcare, education, and society at large.

About WSAW:
Weight Stigma Awareness Week was founded by Dr. Wendy Oliver-Pyatt, co-founder of Within Health, and Chevese Turner, founder of the Body Equity Alliance. Together with a coalition of activists, clinicians, and policymakers, WSAW has become a global call to action for empathy, education, and systemic change.

Register here to join Weight Stigma Awareness Week 2025

At AWSIM, we are committed to advancing these same goals in clinical practice and advocacy—working toward a world where all bodies are treated with dignity and respect.

Resources

Research Spotlight: In Collaboration with MSSI

This new section, developed in partnership with AWSIM’s Medical Student Branch, highlights recent research relevant to weight-inclusive medicine. Each month, MSSI members will select and summarize a paper, offering concise insights to support evidence-based, stigma-free care.

Content warning: Medicalized fatphobia

This month’s highlight: Alison Z Swartz, Kathryn Wood, Eric Farber-Eger, Alexander Petty, Heidi J Silver, Weight Trajectory Impacts Risk for 10 Distinct Cardiometabolic Diseases, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2025;, dgaf348, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf348

This recently published large cohort study examined how different weight trajectories (including weight stability, weight gain, weight loss, or weight cycling) relate to the development of several common cardiometabolic diseases among adults with similar baseline BMI. Using de-identified electronic health records from Vanderbilt University Medical Center spanning 1997–2020, researchers applied multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression to track associations for over 83,000 patients.

Key findings included the following:

1. Compared to weight stability, weight cycling was linked to significantly higher risk of several conditions, including:

   1. Heart failure [hazard ratio (HR) 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31, 1.82]

   2. Obstructive sleep apnea (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.15, 1.42)

   3. MASLD (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.08, 1.51)

   4. Type 2 diabetes (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.10, 1.38)

2. Both weight gain and weight loss also raised the risk of heart failure, compared to weight stability.

3. Importantly, baseline BMI was the same in all groups, meaning the impact of weight cycling on the risk for developing these cardiometabolic diseases was not merely driven by high body mass.

This study draws strength from its large, real-world dataset (>83,000 participants!) spanning more than two decades and its rigorous analytic methods, which allowed for meaningful comparisons across weight trajectory groups with similar baseline BMI. However, the reliance on electronic health records means the intentionality behind weight changes, such as dieting versus illness, cannot be distinguished (though, patients with cancers were intentionally excluded for this reason). There are also the theoretical intrinsic limitations of using electronic health records such as data entry errors.

Overall, this paper underscores the harms of repeated weight loss attempts and weight cycling, which are often encouraged in clinical settings. This is especially relevant now with the rise in popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs. We know very well that for people living in larger bodies, weight cycling is not simply a matter of “non-adherence,” but a predictable consequence of biologically driven weight regain after intentional weight loss. Rather than continuing to promote weight loss at all costs, this study can be cited to:

• Advocate for weight-neutral, stability-focused care that supports cardiometabolic health without prescribing unsustainable dieting.

• Highlight how weight cycling, not high body size alone, contributes to increased disease risk.

• Encourage clinicians to focus on sustainable health behaviours (balanced nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, equitable access to care) instead of repeated, harmful weight loss attempts.

This month’s summary was prepared by , Sophie Lalonde-Bester, MD Class of 2026, University of Alberta, Canada.

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Member Spotlight: Dr. Sarah Halter

We are thrilled to celebrate Dr. Sarah Halter, recently named to Seattle Magazine’s 2025 Top Doctor list in Family Medicine. This recognition highlights not only her clinical excellence, but also her commitment to compassionate, weight-inclusive care that challenges stigma and centers patients’ lived experiences.

Many of you already know Sarah as the voice behind Sarah’s Unscripted, AWSIM’s monthly column that brings honesty, reflection, and humanity to our community.

We asked Sarah a few quick questions about what this award means to her and the values that guide her practice:

1. What does being recognized as one of Seattle Magazine’s Top Doctors 2025 mean to you personally and professionally?

It's an honor! I don't come to work looking for recognition, but it's still nice to hear that someone thinks you’re doing a good job. The hours can be long and the emotional labor exhausting, so I try to remind myself to savor positive interactions, outcomes, etc. Earning a patient’s trust, getting to know families, seeing my pediatric patients grow up - this fills my cup.

2. In your view, what role does weight-inclusive, patient-centered care play in earning trust and recognition in medicine today?

I feel like a lot of the general public distrusts the medical system, and to some degree, I understand why. In my practice, I want my patients to feel empowered and like I'm working with them. How can they feel this way if I reduce them to their body size? Rather than breaking my patients into parts or diseases, I want to engage with the whole person. I think this will make me a better doctor and a better person.

3. What advice would you share with other clinicians who want to make their practice more inclusive and compassionate?

Check your biases! This can be painful. It’s hard to admit our own mistakes and prejudices. We're human and we're going to mess up sometimes, but we can keep trying. We can be better.

Worth Subscribing:

This month we’d like to highlight the Massachusetts Sexual and Reproductive Health Training Center eNewsletter. It’s a great resource for staying connected with colleagues in sexual and reproductive health, offering trainings, tools, and ideas to better support the communities we serve.

AWSIM&WIDIC PRESENTS:
Register now

AWSIM FALL SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Sarah Unscripted July 2025

Please forgive me – this month’s column is going to feel more raw. I’ve had a rough week.

My dog died.

Sam was a black lab mix. As near as the vet could tell, he was about three years old when he arrived in a doggy caravan filled with rescues from Texas. We had him for ten years. And I know all dog owners say this, but that doesn’t make it any less true: he was the best dog.

Sam was a cuddler. He rarely barked. He was a good runner, once going eight miles in a single run, but he also appreciated a good lie in. He loved tennis balls and sticks and chasing squirrels.

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Sam attended more therapy than the average dog. Back in the days before COVID and telemedicine, Sam would sprawl out on my therapist’s couch, dozing as I bared my soul. He was there when my therapist first told me she thought I had an eating disorder. He couldn’t attend IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program), but he often came with my husband to pick me up when the sessions ended. He got a lot of pets from the others in my IOP group, and I like to think he provided a valuable service – doggy cuddles are great for decompression after hard emotional labor.

Like many dogs, Sam practiced unconditional permission when it came to food. He took pleasure in eating. Early in my treatment, when discussing my restrictive eating habits with my therapist, I insisted that being hungry didn’t mean I had to eat. Food, I said, shouldn’t control me (and, yes, now I see the irony of that argument). My therapist pointed out that if Sam was hungry, I wouldn’t hesitant to feed him. He didn’t deserve an empty, aching belly. Why couldn’t I afford myself the same courtesy? At the time, this concept blew my mind.

Pets teach us a lot about life. Sam certainly taught me. He loved unashamedly. He ate when he was hungry, napped when he was tired, and threw himself into life – and at rabbits – with his whole heart. In the past year, I agonized over the clear signs that Sam was aging, but he didn’t think about his own mortality – he was too busy living. On his last day, I caught Sam on our balcony, sitting in a patch of sun. His nose was in the air as he enjoyed the summer breeze.

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I’m in the thick of the grief right now. I know it will get easier, but this sadness won’t ever fully go away. I’m going to miss Sam for the rest of my life. He was my soul dog.

So, if you don’t mind indulging me, can you do me a favor? Hug your pets a little closer. Give them an extra head scritch. And if you have a moment, spare a thought for Sammy, my good boy.

Each month, Dr. Sarah Halter, Family Physician at UW Medicine Primary Care Factoria in Bellevue, WA, shares reflections at the intersection of medicine, compassion, and weight-inclusive care. July’s column is available here

At the 2025 International Weight Stigma Conference, AWSIM was proud to be a sponsor — and even prouder to witness one of the most moving sessions of the entire event: Living the Liberation, presented by therapist and body liberation advocate Tessa Gordon, LMFT, RYT.

This was not a workshop about what weight stigma is. It was about healing from it. Tessa invited us into a space where liberation was lived, not just discussed — a space grounded in narrative therapy, anti-oppressive practice, and embodied resistance.

Through her work, Tessa dismantled the cultural scripts that keep us in shame, guilt, and vigilance — from the master narratives that define fatness as failure to the subtle ways diet culture seeps into daily life. She showed how externalizing the problem, naming its “friends” (capitalism, individualism, perfectionism), and reclaiming anti-language can loosen stigma’s hold and open space for counter-stories that restore dignity and agency.

We heard real-life accounts from clients who had moved from internalized judgment to community connection, from perfectionism to self-acceptance, from aesthetic control to embodied joy. These stories weren’t about “before and after” bodies — they were about reclaiming the self, resisting oppression in both small and profound ways, and living in partnership with one’s body.

What made this session unforgettable was how deeply it honored the complexity of healing from weight stigma: the grief, the anger, the joy, the language shifts, and the micro-moments of resistance that might otherwise go unnoticed. Tessa reminded us that liberation isn’t abstract — it’s found in what we wear, how we move, who we surround ourselves with, and the ways we choose to speak about our bodies.

In her words and in the stories she shared, liberation became something tangible: a collective act of resistance, a daily practice, and an ongoing rewriting of what it means to live well in our bodies.

From the Next Generation: Medical Students for Size Inclusivity

We’re proud to feature Medical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI) — AWSIM’s student branch and an inspiring force for change in medical education.

Founded in April 2022 by medical students who saw weight bias embedded in their curricula across multiple institutions, MSSI was born from a shared commitment to respect, equity, and inclusion. They believe all people, regardless of weight, body shape, or size, have the right to pursue health in the way that’s right for them.

Their mission: To educate future physicians about the harms of diet culture and weight discrimination in healthcare, and to advocate for equitable care for patients in larger bodies.

MSSI’s work spans advocacy, community outreach, student-led research, and pushing for medical school curricular reform. Their guiding principles challenge outdated metrics like BMI, highlight the historical ties between weight bias and racial oppression, and call for healthcare practices that acknowledge the risks of diet prescriptions and the reality that eating disorders can affect people in all bodies.

By empowering the next generation of healthcare providers to dismantle weight bias from within the system, MSSI is helping to shape a future where equitable, size-inclusive care is the norm — not the exception.

Learn more about MSSI → sizeinclusivemedicine.org

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Member Spotlight: Charis Stiles, LCSW

This month, we’re highlighting AWSIM member Charis Stiles, LCSW (pronounced care-iss, like Paris), who is offering an important professional training through NeuroPebble this November.

ADHD Deep Dive: Disordered Eating, Weight Stigma, and Clinical Inclusivity
November 7th — Live and Available On Demand
11am-1pm PST
2 APA CEU’s provided

ADHD has unique impacts on eating patterns, making it essential for clinicians to use both neuro-affirming and weight-neutral approaches in assessment and intervention. In this training, Charis will guide participants through strategies for working with adults and teens — including clients exploring gender expression — and address both internalized and external biases toward clients in larger bodies and toward binge behaviors. Using case examples, attendees will formulate respectful, effective interventions that support meaningful change.

Find out more and register → ADHD Deep Dive Training

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Philly FatCon 2025: Celebrating Fat Joy, Resistance, and Community

November 1–2, 2025 | CYTO | PHL, University City, Philadelphia

Philly FatCon is a two-day celebration of fat joy, resistance, and community — and tickets are now live! This event brings together a vibrant marketplace, movement classes, inspiring keynote speakers, and an after party, all in a size-affirming, HAES-centered space.

This year’s program also includes Professional Roundtables — intimate, profession-specific discussion groups for licensed professionals to connect, share resources, and deepen their practice:

• Sex & Relationships Professionals Roundtable — led by Dr. Noelle Benach, LCPC, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, PhD, Clinical Sexologist

• Dietary & Nutritional Professionals Roundtable — led by Emily Bixler, MS, RDN, LDN, CDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Whether you attend to connect with peers, explore the marketplace, or simply be part of a joyful, affirming community, Philly FatCon is a chance to celebrate and strengthen fat liberation in action.

Learn more and get tickets → Philly FatCon 2025

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AWSIM Fall Symposium 2025 – Registration Now Open!

Join us for the AWSIM Fall Symposium 2025 on Friday, October 24th, 2025 from 12–5 pm EST (Virtual over Zoom).
Theme: “Building community – Supporting patients and each other”

This year’s symposium will feature four 60-minute educational sessions plus an optional networking event, covering:

• Weight-inclusive clinical practice

• Medical education in size-inclusive care

• Lived experience in advocacy

• Strategies for supporting ourselves and each other in the current medical and political climate

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, October 24th, 2025

• Time: 12–5 pm EST

• Location: Virtual via Zoom

• CME: Up to 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (for live attendees only)

• Cost:

  • AWSIM Members & Students: Free

  • Non-Member, Non-Physician: $50

  • Non-Member, Physician + CME Credit: $100

Register here
Help us spread the word!
Download our flyers and share them within your communities, clinics, schools, and networks!

This newsletter is written and curated by members of the AWSIM Communications Committee. The views expressed here are intended to inform, reflect, and invite conversation—but may not represent the full range of perspectives within our broader membership.

This month, we revisited the widely accepted recommendation of walking 10,000 steps a day—and how it wasn’t based on science, but on a 1960s marketing campaign in Japan.

That number has become global shorthand for “being active,” but it often reinforces the idea that movement only counts if it’s intense, exhausting, or trackable.

We talked about how even small amounts of movement—like breaking up long periods of sitting—can have real health benefits, especially for people with limited time, energy, or mobility.

We also discussed the importance of context: Who has access to safe, walkable spaces? Who can afford time to move? Who is praised for movement, and who is shamed?

And finally, we emphasized the need to challenge ableist assumptions about what movement should look like. Not everyone can walk 10,000 steps—and that shouldn’t be the benchmark for health.

We focused on walking because it's an accessible form of movement for many people. But it’s not the only one—and it shouldn’t become a new measuring stick for health or willpower.

Movement can mean many things:
Dancing while seated, stretching in bed, swimming, taking deep breaths, playing with your kids, moving with the help of a mobility aid.
All of that counts.

The goal isn’t to hit a viral target—it’s to find possible and pleasurable ways to inhabit your body. The rest is just noise.

A timely new study published in The Lancet Public Health this month adds weight to that conversation. This systematic review and meta-analysis of over 35 cohorts found that:

• 7000 steps per day was consistently associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and depressive symptoms.

• Risk reduction was significant even at lower step counts—for example, going from 2000 to 4000 steps a day was associated with a 36% lower risk of death.

• More steps can offer more benefit, but the curve plateaus for many outcomes after 7000–8000 steps, suggesting diminishing returns beyond that point.

• Step-based goals could be a more realistic and accessible metric than time- or intensity-based recommendations, especially when tailored to people’s lives and abilities.

Member Spotlight: Dr. Mara Gordon Will Not Sell You a Weighted Vest

In the latest episode of the Burnt Toast podcast, Dr. Mara Gordon—family physician, writer, and AWSIM member—joins Virginia Sole-Smith to tackle the complexities of perimenopause and menopause with nuance, clarity, and zero diet culture.

In a healthcare landscape flooded with fear-based narratives, “miracle” supplements, and aesthetic ideals, Dr. Gordon offers something rare: a physician who practices weight-inclusive care and isn’t afraid to challenge mainstream assumptions. She doesn’t start by prescribing weight loss. She asks: How would I treat this in a thin person?

From hormone therapy to abdominal fat, urinary incontinence, and conflicting advice on protein and calcium, Dr. Gordon holds space for the messy realities of aging without shame or quick fixes. She reminds us that medicine can validate and support bodies in transition—without trying to shrink them.

Listen to the full episode here

Want more? Dr. Gordon also writes Your Doctor Friend, a newsletter committed to making medicine more fat-friendly.

Community Reflections: BIPOC ED Conference

Our Communications Chair recently attended the BIPOC Eating Disorders Conference in Houston—and came back deeply inspired.

The sessions were rich in nuance, profoundly affirming, and a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when care is rooted in community, representation, and lived experience.

We want to honor and thank Whitney Trotter, Angela Goens, and the entire BIPOC ED Conference team for creating such a thoughtful, transformative space.

Discount: Center for Body Trust – Groundwork Course

The Groundwork Summer Sale is on!

From July 23–27, the Center for Body Trust is offering 15% off their signature self-paced course: Groundwork, an introduction to Body Trust® foundations.

This program is a powerful resource for anyone ready to unlearn weight stigma, reconnect with their body, and explore healing through a weight-inclusive lens—with depth, reflection, and compassion.

Discount available for a limited time—don’t miss it!

Save the Date: AWSIM Fall Symposium 2025

We’re building something special—and you’re invited.

Join us for our first annual symposium, a virtual gathering designed to educate, connect, and build a stronger weight-inclusive care community.

Friday, October 24th, 2025
12–5pm EST | Online via Zoom
4 dynamic sessions led by healthcare professionals, educators, and advocates
A panel on lived experience and sustainable advocacy
Optional networking hour to build community
CME available | Scholarships offered
Free for AWSIM members and students

Registration includes live access and/or access to session recordings for 30 days.

Register now and help us spread the word—flyer below!

You are a member and got news to share?

Been interviewed, published, or featured somewhere? Presenting at a conference soon?
We’d love to spotlight your work.
Send us a note at dramonicaperalta@gmail.com

This newsletter is written and curated by members of the AWSIM Communications Committee. The views expressed here are intended to inform, reflect, and invite conversation—but may not represent the full range of perspectives within our broader membership.