Research
The Weight and Healthcare Institute and our Director, Ragen Chastain, produce research that fills gaps in the literature and moves the fields of weight science, weight stigma, and healthcare practice forward.
For questions and/or to inquire about research, send an email to Ragen@WeightandHealthcare.com
Academic Publications
Chastain, R., Meadows, A., & Adams, L. (2026). GLP-1 medications for weight-loss: a triumph of marketing over patient care. Fat Studies, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/21604851.2026.2646492
Skoko Rodriguez M, Thompson JA, Carter B, Wallace R, Riley K, Chastain, R., Fox, R. Kriete, M. Mercedes, M. Johnson R. Improving Weight Bias Awareness Among Providers in the Sexual and Reproductive Health care Setting. Health Equity. 2024;8(1):461-468. Published 2024 Jul 1. doi:10.1089/heq.2024.0096
Tenforde, A. S., Kraus, E., Kliethermes, S. A., Fontana, M. A., Barrack, M. T., Dubon, M., Heikura, I. A., Hollander, K., Kroshus, E., Joachim, M. R., Lopes, A. D., Rauh, M. J., Chastain, R., Harrast, M., Heiderscheit, B., Krabak, B. J., Miller, E. M., Napier, C., Roberts, W. O., … Toresdahl, B. G. (2025). Standardising health history and injury surveillance of participants in endurance events: A modified Delphi consensus statement from the AMSSM runner health consortium. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 59(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2023-108059
Chastain, R. (2017). We must stop making these mistakes about health & body positivity. Feminism & Psychology [journal blog], https://fap-journal.blogspot.com/2017/10/we-must-stop-making-these-mistakes.html
Chastain, R. (2017). The Body Manifesto Video Series: The Body Manifesto Video Series, by Linda Bacon, https://lindabacon.org/videos/. Fat Studies, 6(3), 304–307. https://doi.org/10.1080/21604851.2017.1344536
Chastain, R. (2014). Editor: The Politics of Size: Perspectives from the Size Acceptance Movement. Praeger.
Chastain, R. (2013). Fathletes: Buoyant [Documentary]. 2003. Strong! 2012 [Film reviews]. Fat Studies, 2(1), 110–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/21604851.2013.739051
Chastain, R. (2011). The Fit Fat Fight. [Blog] The Society Pages, Sociological Images.
Manuscripts in Preparation
Chastain, R., Owen, L., A Shot in the Dark: Preparedness of retail pharmacies to vaccinate higher-weight patients (Submitted)
Caitlin A Nicholson, MD; Tiffany Ruan, DO; Julie R Bruene MD; Ragen Chastain, MEd, Jeremy A Alland, MD, Weight bias in sports medicine physicians (Submitted)
Owen, L., Chastain, R. Experiences of weight stigma and iatrogenic harm in the highest-weight patients
Chastain, R. Reducing miscuffings in routine clinical blood pressure readings in higher-weight patients
Tomlinson, J., Chastain, R. Healthcare held hostage: Reducing BMI-based denials of care
Willer, F., Chastain, R. Adams, L. The pharma to media pipeline: Repetition of Novo Nordisk’s misleading claims in global media