"Just a number" - larger-bodied women's experiences of weight-centric and weight-inclusive maternity care: a national online photovoice study.
12 affiliations
- 1UQ Clinical Trials Capability (ULTRA) Team, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. [email protected].
- 2School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- 3Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
- 4Lived Experience Expert, Melbourne, Australia.
- 5UQ Clinical Trials Capability (ULTRA) Team, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- 6Health and Social Care Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 7Lived Experience Expert, Scenic Rim, Australia.
- 8Lived Experience Expert, Representing Birth Trauma Australia, Melbourne, Australia.
- 9Lived Experience Expert, Representing Lamaze Australia, Melbourne, Australia.
- 10Australian Breastfeeding Association, Melbourne, Australia.
- 11Health Systems and Equity Directorate, Eastern Health Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- 12Royal Brisbane Clinical Unit, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Abstract
Background
Weight stigma is a pervasive issue in healthcare, including maternity care, characterised by bias, discrimination, and exclusion. Experiencing weight stigma can negatively impact health outcomes, self-esteem, and engagement with care. While existing literature documents the nature and consequences of weight stigma in maternity care, few studies have explored solutions or involved women with lived experience. This study aimed to investigate larger-bodied women's experiences of weight-centric and weight-inclusive maternity care across the preconception, antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, as part of a broader program to co-create Best Practice Principles for Weight-Inclusive Maternity Care.Methods
A consumer-led, national online photovoice study was co-designed and co-facilitated by a multidisciplinary team of lived experience experts and academic researchers. Qualitative data-including transcripts, images, and discussions-were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participant demographics were analysed descriptively. Synthesised member checking was used to enhance trustworthiness.Results
Sixty-five women from across Australia took part in the photovoice activity, attending virtual workshops and engaging in asynchronous online discussions that yielded 261 shared images and 899 comments. Thematic analysis generated seven themes: (1) BMI dictates care, (2) larger-bodied women feel excluded, (3) weight-centric care creates burdens, (4) stigmatising experiences leave lasting impacts, (5) women have embodied knowledge of their own health and wellbeing, (6) women hope for weight-inclusive care, and (7) individual maternity care providers can make a difference. Participants described weight-centric care as stigmatising, exclusionary, and emotionally burdensome, often undermining their autonomy and birthing confidence and leaving lasting impacts. Encounters with weight-inclusive care providers were described as empowering and healing. Women articulated a clear vision for respectful, individualised, and holistic maternity care.Conclusion
Larger-bodied women experience maternity care as weight-centric and stigmatising. Conversely, encounters with weight-inclusive providers contributed to positive care experiences, and shaped women's vision for more respectful, strengths-based care. Larger-bodied women's experiences inform the need for respectful, strengths-based care and informed choice. Findings will inform the co-development of national care guidelines to address weight stigma and improve maternity care for women in larger bodies.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{jenkinson2026just,
title = {{"Just a number" - larger-bodied women's experiences of weight-centric and weight-inclusive maternity care: a national online photovoice study.}},
author = {Bec Jenkinson and Lauren Kearney and Ahlia Griffiths and Brianne Mackinnon and Sara B Gill and Briony Hill and Renee Tome and Tina Siale and Kayla Barrow and Laura Hewett and Tanya Cawthorne and Jennifer Hocking and Jacqueline A Boyle and Leonie Callaway},
journal = {BMC pregnancy and childbirth},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12884-026-09715-9},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958506},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - "Just a number" - larger-bodied women's experiences of weight-centric and weight-inclusive maternity care: a national online photovoice study.
AU - Bec Jenkinson
AU - Lauren Kearney
AU - Ahlia Griffiths
AU - Brianne Mackinnon
AU - Sara B Gill
AU - Briony Hill
AU - Renee Tome
AU - Tina Siale
AU - Kayla Barrow
AU - Laura Hewett
AU - Tanya Cawthorne
AU - Jennifer Hocking
AU - Jacqueline A Boyle
AU - Leonie Callaway
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - BMC pregnancy and childbirth
DO - 10.1186/s12884-026-09715-9
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958506
AB - Background Weight stigma is a pervasive issue in healthcare, including maternity care, characterised by bias, discrimination, and exclusion. Experiencing weight stigma can negatively impact health outcomes, self-esteem, and engagement with care. While existing literature documents the nature and consequences of weight stigma in maternity care, few studies have explored solutions or involved women with lived experience. This study aimed to investigate larger-bodied women's experiences of weight-centric and weight-inclusive maternity care across the preconception, antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods, as part of a broader program to co-create Best Practice Principles for Weight-Inclusive Maternity Care.Methods A consumer-led, national online photovoice study was co-designed and co-facilitated by a multidisciplinary team of lived experience experts and academic researchers. Qualitative data-including transcripts, images, and discussions-were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participant demographics were analysed descriptively. Synthesised member checking was used to enhance trustworthiness.Results Sixty-five women from across Australia took part in the photovoice activity, attending virtual workshops and engaging in asynchronous online discussions that yielded 261 shared images and 899 comments. Thematic analysis generated seven themes: (1) BMI dictates care, (2) larger-bodied women feel excluded, (3) weight-centric care creates burdens, (4) stigmatising experiences leave lasting impacts, (5) women have embodied knowledge of their own health and wellbeing, (6) women hope for weight-inclusive care, and (7) individual maternity care providers can make a difference. Participants described weight-centric care as stigmatising, exclusionary, and emotionally burdensome, often undermining their autonomy and birthing confidence and leaving lasting impacts. Encounters with weight-inclusive care providers were described as empowering and healing. Women articulated a clear vision for respectful, individualised, and holistic maternity care.Conclusion Larger-bodied women experience maternity care as weight-centric and stigmatising. Conversely, encounters with weight-inclusive providers contributed to positive care experiences, and shaped women's vision for more respectful, strengths-based care. Larger-bodied women's experiences inform the need for respectful, strengths-based care and informed choice. Findings will inform the co-development of national care guidelines to address weight stigma and improve maternity care for women in larger bodies.
SN - 1471-2393
ER -