Does your doctor treat you differently because of your body fat? (Weight Bias)

Have you ever gone to a doctor and felt like they only talked about your body fat and didn't listen to your real illness? Or, did you feel like they labeled you as lazy and undisciplined because of your weight? This is a painful, unspoken experience that many people experience. Today we're talking about this condition called 'Weight Bias'. That is, treating someone differently based on their weight and body shape.

Let's start with this story. Lekan is a 27-year-old woman. She believes that her depression was hidden from everyone because of her body fat. During her university years, she never slept well. She even forgot to eat. She lost more than 13 kilos in one semester. Usually, sudden weight loss for no reason can be a sign of a serious illness. But no one suspected that she had lost weight. "My friends and teachers all said that I was thin and beautiful. But in reality, I was at the weakest point in my life, both mentally and physically," she says.

She sought mental health help and went to see a doctor. The doctor's advice was, "If you lose a little more weight, you'll feel better." Months later, she narrowly escaped a suicide attempt. Now she's back to her normal weight and is being treated for depression. She feels better about her body now. But she still wonders, "If I were thinner, would people see these warning signs? Would they take me seriously?"

What is Weight Bias and Weight Stigma?

Although these two words may seem to mean the same thing, there is a slight difference. Professor Rebecca Poole, who researches this, explains it this way.

• Weight Stigma: Simply put, the social stigma that people with overweight bodies are treated with disdain. That is, the general belief that "being fat is not good."
• Weight Bi AS : This goes a little further than that. That is, wrong attitudes such as fat people being "lazy", "out of control", "dirty" and treating them unfairly based on that.

These situations can come from your employer, teachers, loved ones, or even the doctor who treats you. When you start to make these judgments about yourself, it's called 'Internalized Weight Stigma'. It means you think to yourself, "I'm worthless because I'm fat."

What are the effects of Weight Bias?

This can have a major impact on your daily life and the medical care you receive. Often, obese people say that they experience this type of discomfort most from doctors.

Because of experiences like this, many people don't go to see a doctor until their illness is very serious , because they are afraid and embarrassed about the care they will receive.

How do you stand up against this injustice?

Yes, it's a challenge. But when something like this happens to you, you have the right to speak up. If someone says something unkind about your weight, tell them they're wrong. It's not as easy as it sounds. But at times like this, you have to speak up for yourself. Even with your doctor.

These tips will help when visiting a doctor:

• Plan ahead: Before you go to see the doctor , write down the questions you want to ask. If the doctor starts talking about your weight, but you have another medical condition, clearly state, "Doctor, I'm not here today to talk about this problem. I'm here to talk about another problem I'm having."
• Calm down: Talking about weight can be stressful. At times like these, take a deep breath, talk to yourself, and think, "Okay, I'll deal with this calmly," before rejoining the conversation.
• Go with someone to help you: Go with a friend or family member. Before you go, explain to them what your goal is. If you find it difficult to speak up, ask them to speak for you.
• Inform your doctor: Talk directly about weight bias. Telling your doctor that you've had bad experiences like this before may help them change their approach. There are many doctors who are helpful and understanding.

How do you find a doctor who respects you?

By now, many doctors are aware that weight bias is a problem. Some even advertise in their clinics that they will only discuss weight if the patient is willing.

You can ask a doctor if they follow the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach. Simply put, it means, "I don't make it about whether you lose weight or not, that I'll give you the best medical care."

Ask your friends who are overweight and obese where they get their treatment. That's also a good way to go. It may take years to find a doctor you trust and respect. But don't give up trying.

Love yourself and find support.

It's not easy to get rid of these internalized stigmas. But cognitive behavioral strategies can help. Ask your doctor to refer you to a counselor who works with people with obesity. He or she can help you identify the negative thoughts that come to your mind and replace them with positive ones.

There are many groups on social media that talk about concepts like 'Body Positivity', 'Body Neutrality', and HAES. You can gain a lot of strength from them.

"Body Neutrality" means "Your body doesn't always have to be beautiful or amazing." But "Body Positivity" means "Celebrate your body, love it, and be happy with what it can do."

Weight Bias, Weight Stigma, Fat, Weight, Medical Treatment, Mental Health, Doctor, Patient Rights