Weight bias and stigma in healthcare professionals: a narrative review with a Singapore lens

Addressing weight stigma is essential to obesity management as it causes inequalities in healthcare and impacts the outcomes of health. This narrative review summarises systematic review findings about the presence of weight bias in healthcare professionals, and interventions to reduce weight bias or stigma in these professionals. Two databases (PubMed and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature [CINAHL]) were searched. Seven eligible reviews were identified from 872 search results. Four reviews identified the presence of weight bias, and three investigated trials to reduce weight bias or stigma in healthcare professionals. The findings may help further research and the treatment, health and well-being of individuals with overweight or obesity in Singapore. Weight bias was prevalent among qualified and student healthcare professionals globally, and there is a lack of clear guidance for effective interventions to reduce it, particularly in Asia. Future research is essential to identify the issues and inform initiatives to reduce weight bias and stigma among healthcare professionals in Singapore.

Agoitrous Graves’ Hyperthyroidism with Markedly Elevated Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin Titre displaying Rapid Response to Carbimazole with Discordant Thyroid Function / Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies

@#We characterize the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 5 patients with Graves’ thyrotoxicosis whose serum free thyroxine (fT4) concentration decreased unexpectedly to low levels on conventional doses of carbimazole (CMZ) therapy. The initial fT4 mean was 40.0 pM, range 25-69 pM. Thyroid volume by ultrasound measured as mean 11 ml, range 9.0-15.6 ml. Initial TSI levels measured 1487% to >4444%. Serum fT4 fell to low-normal or hypothyroid levels within 3.6 to 9.3 weeks of initiating CMZ 5 to 15 mg daily, and subsequently modulated by fine dosage adjustments. In one patient, serum fT4 fluctuated in a “yo-yo” pattern. There also emerged a pattern of low normal/low serum fT4 levels associated with discordant low/mid normal serum TSH levels respectively, at normal serum fT3 levels. The long-term daily-averaged CMZ maintenance dose ranged from 0.7 mg to 3.2 mg. Patients with newly diagnosed Graves' hyperthyroidism who have small thyroid glands and markedly elevated TSI titres appear to be “ATD dose sensitive.” Their TFT on ATD therapy may display a “central hypothyroid” pattern. We suggest finer CMZ dose titration at closer follow-up intervals to achieve biochemical euthyroidism.