Projects
Psychophysiology
Weight stigma and cardiovascular function
Weight stigma has been linked with poor physical health but it's not well understood why this is. We are currently developing a project to explore the impact of weight stigma on a measure of cardiovascular function (endothelial function) and the potential role that feelings of shame may have in that effect.
Social epidemiology
Role of weight bias internalization in relationship between body weight and health
Several studies have found that one of the reasons people with higher body weight have worse health outcomes is because they have a negative perception of their weight and themselves due to the significant stigmatization of body weight in our society. We are starting a project to summarize this literature in a scoping review.
Role of chronic shame in relationship between body weight and health
A small body of research suggests that shame is an independent predictor of health. This project will investigate whether this is true among people with a higher body weight (stigmatized population), and how much of the relationship between body weight and health can be attributed to chronic shame rather than body weight itself.
Healthcare quality improvement
Co-designing a social prescribing approach for Nova Scotia Primary Care
Social determinants of health such as income, employment, and social isolation are some of the most important determinants of health. Social prescribing can help address social determinant of health challenges by working with people to develop treatment plans that include referral to community and social programs. We are currently working with partners in Nova Scotia to create a plan for co-designing a regional social prescribing approach for Nova Scotia primary care.
Incorporating health justice into physiotherapy competencies
As physiotherapists, we are only at the beginning of understanding what health justice looks like in the context of physiotherapy practice. We are currently working with physiotherapy partners to develop a plan to incorporate health justice into the physiotherapy competency profile.
