“How would you treat me if I was thin?” brings together the lived experiences of Tasmanians in bigger bodies navigating the healthcare system. Based on in‑depth interviews with people from across the state, this consumer consultation report reveals how weight stigma, bias, and exclusion can shape healthcare encounters.

Participants describe diagnostic overshadowing, gatekeeping through rigid BMI rules, unsafe and excluding environments, and the profound physical and psychological impacts that follow, including delayed care, trauma, and avoidance of healthcare altogether. The report also highlights how weight bias intersects with gender, disability, culture, trauma, and socio‑economic disadvantage, compounding harm and inequity.
Importantly, the report does not only identify problems, but it also shows what respectful, size‑inclusive, trauma‑informed care can look like when working in genuine partnership with consumers is made possible. With clear, practical recommendations, this report calls for systemic change to ensure healthcare in Tasmania is safe, dignified and accessible for people of all body sizes.

Read the report to learn why size‑inclusive care is a safety, equity and quality issue, and what can be done to create a health system where everyone belongs.