Background

There is increasing evidence that racial/ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, compounding longstanding racial/ethnic health disparities. In addition, obesity has been shown to worsen COVID-19 outcomes. Undoubtedly, the burden of colliding pandemics has resulted in significant increases in psychological distress. Bariatric programs have been faced with navigating the intersection between race/ethnicity, obesity, and COVID-19 and behavioral health providers play a key role in supporting pre-and post-surgical patients. Guided by an intersectionality approach, this panel discussion will provide an overview of how systems of inequality shape uneven burden for bariatric patients from racial/ethnic minority groups. We hope to provide clinicians with practical strategies for assessing the multi-level influence of interacting social identities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the use of case studies, we aim to highlight the importance of using an intersectional approach in informing the development and delivery of novel psychological and behavioral interventions including those that leverage technology during this time.