Have You Ever Experienced Weight Stigma in Healthcare? Letâ??s Talk!

Hi everyone,

I recently read Eating Disorders Don?t Discriminate: Stories of Illness, Hope and Recovery from Diverse Voices, which focuses on eating disorders but also touches on weight stigma in healthcare. It got me thinking about how often people face judgment instead of proper medical care because of their weight.

This reminded me of something that happened to my mom. She went to a doctor for routine gynecological tests, but instead of reviewing her file, the doctor barely glanced at it and immediately said, "Your problem is that you're overweight. Don?t come bac****il you?ve lost at least 10 kilos." He dismissed her completely, ignoring the actual reason she was there. She left feeling frustrated and unheard.

I know she?s not the only one who?s experienced this.

Have you ever felt dismissed by a doctor, nurse, or health staff because of your weight?
Have you been given unhelpful advice instead of real medical care?
How did it affect you?emotionally, physically, or in your willingness to seek medical help in the future?

I?d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Maybe by sharing, we can push for more compassionate and effective care. Feel free to comment or message me privately if you prefer.

Yes.

I was seeing a new Dr as mine had retired. My experience was similar to your mother's. I was in for a sore throat. I was given a prescription and told that I'd better weigh ten pounds less the next time I came in. I didn't go back.

It's a Doctor thing, not necessarily a weight specific thing. You can get a similar response if they think you drink or smoke too much. I went to have a cyst removed and the nurse told me the doctor could do something about my nose if I was interested. I hadn't asked.