In this powerful episode, Dr. Cristina Castagnini interviews Nicola Salmon about the pervasive weight bias in fertility healthcare. They explore how systemic discrimination impacts people in larger bodies seeking reproductive care, challenging harmful myths about fertility, pregnancy, and body size.

Nicola Salmon (she/her) is an award-winning fertility advocate and fat-positive fertility specialist. She is passionate about supporting fat folks who feel excluded or dismissed by traditional fertility spaces, offering compassionate guidance and evidence-based support to help them navigate their fertility journey without diets, shame, or stigma. Nicola’s work challenges weight bias in the fertility industry and empowers people to trust their bodies and take control of their reproductive health.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The problematic use of BMI as a health metric
  • Misconceptions about fertility and pregnancy in larger bodies
  • The impact of weight stigma in medical settings
  • Challenges faced by individuals seeking fertility treatments
  • The dangerous trend of weight loss medications in fertility care

Nicola Personal Journey Highlights

  •     Diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) at age 16
  •     Initially told she would have difficulty getting pregnant
  •     Contrary to medical predictions, she got pregnant easily
  •     Her pregnancy occurred despite having PCOS and being in a larger body
  •     This personal experience sparked her curiosity about fertility myths

Recovery Process Outlined:

  Community and Representation  
  • Seeing other fat people thriving and doing things she wanted to do
  • Witnessing fat individuals having children and being happy
  • Realizing she wasn't alone in her experiences
Professional and Personal Exploration    
  • Training as an acupuncturist
  • Studying research about fertility
  • Understanding her identity as a fat person
  • Examining how weight stigma impacts health perceptions
  Personal Choices  
  • Deciding nine years ago to stop weighing herself
  • Experiencing significant mental health improvement by removing scale-based self-worth
  • Developing body acceptance
  Advocacy and Empowerment  
  • Transforming her personal experiences into professional advocacy
  • Creating resources for other fat individuals navigating fertility
  • Building supportive communities
  • Challenging systemic biases in healthcare
Powerful Insights
  • 90% of people in the highest BMI bracket do not develop gestational diabetes
  • Weight is not a definitive predictor of fertility or pregnancy outcomes
  • Medical research often contains inherent biases against larger bodies
  • Community and support are crucial for navigating fertility challenges

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THE EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Behind the Bite
  • 00:50 Today's Topic: Fertility and Fat Bodies
  • 01:19 Meet Nicola Salmon: Fat Positive Fertility Specialist
  • 02:33 Nicola's Personal Journey with PCOS
  • 03:43 Challenging Weight Bias in Fertility
  • 04:38 The Harm of Diet Culture in Fertility
  • 05:35 Systemic Biases in Healthcare
  • 08:40 The Flawed Concept of BMI
  • 10:04 Complexities of Health and Fertility
  • 12:07 Anti-Fat Bias in Medical Diagnoses

HOW TO CONNECT WITH NICOLA TO LEARN MORE:

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

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Until next time, remember, we're here to break down barriers, challenge stigma, and support each other on the path to a better life.

Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, nor the guests are rendering legal, clinical, or other professional information. If you want or need a professional, you should find one to work with who can address your individual needs and situation.