About Us
Medical Students for Size Inclusivity (MSSI) at the University of Minnesota is a chapter of the national MSSI student organization, an interscholastic community of medical students raising awareness about the interplay between eating disorders and the weight bias in medicine. Our mission is to educate future physicians about the harms of diet culture and weight discrimination in the healthcare system, and to advocate for equitable care on behalf of patients in larger bodies. Our goals include advocacy among current and future healthcare providers, community outreach and education, student-led research, and medical school curricular reform. Our principles: 1. All people, regardless of their weight, body shape, and size, deserve equitable medical treatment and the right to pursue health. 2. Weight bias, which has its roots in the societal idealization of thinness, is prevalent in the healthcare system and negatively affects all patients, especially those in larger bodies. Weight bias is also historically tied to racial oppression, and disproportionately impacts marginalized populations. 3. BMI is a flawed measure of body fat, body fat is a flawed measure of health - neither should be used as the sole proxy for an individual’s health. Health and wellness are multidimensional, influenced by social determinants, and can look different for different people. 4. Healthcare providers should acknowledge that diets can lead to, or worsen, disordered eating and/or eating disorders. They should consider these risks before recommending dietary restriction of any form, and avoid prescribing diets with a goal of weight loss. 5. Eating disorders are serious, complex, and often undertreated psychiatric illnesses that can occur in people of all identities. This includes, but is not limited to age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, weight, and body shape. A “normal” or “overweight” BMI does not preclude any individual from developing medical or psychological complications related to their eating disorder. Our vision is a healthcare system that is equitable and inclusive of all patients, regardless of body weight, shape, and size. We hope to ensure that all future healthcare providers are well- equipped to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, regardless of a patient’s body size, and to advocate on behalf of these patients.
