Citation
Castle E, Kimberly L, Blasdel G, Parker A, Bluebond-Langner R, Zhao LC. Should BMI Help Determine Gender-Affirming Surgery Candidacy? AMA J Ethics. 2023 Jul 1;25(7):E496-506. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2023.496. PMID: 37432002.
Abstract
Use of body mass index (BMI) as a health care metric is controversial, especially in candidacy assessments for gender-affirming surgery. When considering experiences of fat trans individuals, it is important to advocate for equitable divisions of responsibility for and recognition of systemic fat phobia. This commentary on a case suggests strategies for increasing equitable access to safe surgery for all body types. If surgeons use BMI thresholds, simultaneous effort must be made to advocate for data collection so that surgical candidacy criteria are evidence-based and equitably applied.
Key Points
- Published in AMA journal of ethics in 2023.
- Indexed in PubMed as PMID 37432002.
- Mapped to Gender-Affirming Surgery.
- Abstract available from PubMed and rendered as static text on this page.
Clinical Relevance
This publication supports a focused body of work on gender-affirming surgery, including patient-centered outcomes, robotic peritoneal flap vaginoplasty, complications, revisions, and measurement of surgical quality.