by Jonathan P. Evans, Joanna McLaughlin, Jonathan T.
Evans Joint replacement surgery transforms lives for patients with higher body mass index (BMI). Strong evidence shows safe outcomes and meaningful benefit, yet access remains restricted by BMI alone, an approach that risks stigma, inequity, and avoidable harm.
In this Perspective, Jonathan Evans and colleagues discuss why restricting access to joint replacement surgery based on BMI alone is not supported by evidence, and highlight how such restrictions risk exacerbating stigma, inequity and avoidable harm to those who would benefit from surgery.
PLOS Medicine published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 24 Mar 2026.
The item focuses on Reassessing BMI-based access to joint replacement surgery.
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