Obesity is a challenging health issue for patients, health care providers, and health care organizations. Health care providers are charged with treating patients’ multiple obesity-related medical conditions, and health care organizations realize the costs of providing health care services and ensuring quality clinical outcomes (DeMaria, 2013). Patients diagnosed with obesity may face many obstacles as recipients of health care services (Winterfield & Cauchi, 2014). Patients diagnosed with obesity have reported feeling stigmatized and discriminated against in the health care setting (Phelan et al., 2015). Health care providers have also reported having negative attitudes about obese patients (DiGiacinto, D., Gildon, B., Stamile, E., & Aubrey, J., 2015; Essex, Miyahara, & Rowe, 2016; Puhl & Huer, 2012; Puhl, R.M., Latner, J.D., King, K.M., & Luedicke, J., 2014).

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the attitudes and perceptions of health care providers in the Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob-Gyn) department at a large academic medical center caring for patients diagnosed with obesity. This study also explored the perceptions of patients diagnosed with obesity about their experiences seeking and receiving health care services. A patient focus group session was conducted at a monthly Bariatric Support Group meeting and face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with health care providers. Four themes regarding obesity in health care were identified. The data showed commonality between both patients’ and providers’ perceptions around relevant obesity discussions, reluctance in addressing obesity, resources needed to care for patients with obesity, and the lack of readiness to address obesity.