Understanding Racially Diverse Community Member Views of Obesity Stigma and Bariatric Surgery.

This qualitative study of community members who qualify for bariatric surgery shows obesity stigma was the main reason individuals rejected bariatric surgery. Obesity was stigmatizing, but undergoing bariatric surgery would further stigmatize individuals. Thus, healthcare providers may be instrumental in increasing bariatric surgery uptake by shifting social discourse from stigmatized notions of obesity towards one focusing on health.