Obesity is recognized as one of the most common chronic health problems in the United States. Because of the many diseases associated with obesity, an increasing number of obese individuals are in need of healthcare services. Meeting the challenge of providing safe, quality care to the bariatric population is a concern. The physical attributes of these patients often require different resources, equipment, procedures, and protocols. However, the attitudes and behaviors of healthcare professionals that help develop mutually respectful and beneficial relationships with patients are not fundamentally different when the patient is obese. Studies show, however, that nurses and other healthcare professionals have strong negative attitudes and reactions toward obese persons, indicating the pervasiveness of the social stigma of obesity. Evidence also reveals that when obese patients are confronted with prejudices and discrimination in healthcare, it may lead to a reluctance to seek care or follow medical advice. The key to providing quality, patient-centered, sensitive care to the bariatric patient is R-E-S-P-E-C-T: • R—Rapport • E—Environment/Equipment • S—Safety • P—Privacy • E—Encouragement • C—Caring/Compassion • T—Tact To provide effective care to our patients, clinical expertise and strong interpersonal skills have always been important. To promote positive patient outcomes, nurses and other healthcare professionals must also be able to interact effectively with and demonstrate RESPECT for bariatric patients and their families. This article will describe the RESPECT Model and strategies to promote the sensitive care for this special patient population.