Article on Obesity Discrimination

As a society, we have made progress on rights for women, minorities and gays and have begun addressing mental health issues. Why is it still acceptable to discriminate and harrass obese people?

This links to the full text of a recent article by a physician *****counts a lifetime of prejudice and discrimination by other doctors.

I think we all need to pass it along.

markthorntonmd.com/2010/11/16/memoirs-of-an-obese-physician/

That was intense.  It amazes me how people can treat someone overweight - what they say to them, where they say it, who they say it in front of.  It's like they think we're less than human and that gives them the right to say/treat us however they deem fit.  It shouldn't be acceptable to discriminate and harass obese people.   

Sharon,
Thank you for sharing this. I have a friend who struggles a lot with this discrimination due to obesity. EVERY time she goes to the doctor for something, she hears "well if you would lose some weight....." PLEASE!!!!!!!! Every health issue known to man is NOT weight induced, yet if you are obese, they just jump to the conclusion that obesity is the root of all of your problems.

They also seem to think we can just "take off the extra weight" as if it is nothing! If it were that easy, there would be NO obesity! For being doctors, these people sure can be dumb... 

The obesity discrimination problem is one reason I am a member of the obesity action coalition. Whenever there is any kind of issue involving obesity, they notify you and you get to let you voice be heard and help petition for positive change to the treatment and medical care of the obese. They also offer lots of resources, but I like being able to have a voice in things concerning the obese population.

as I read the included article i recalled many times that doctors had given me a look of that i could do better.  I specifically recall a time when i told my then current physician that i thought i felt a lump in my breast.  He never double checked this and just ordered the mammogram.  when i was there having the mammogram they were very surprised when there was nothing but normal tissue and they asked "didn't the Dr check?" and i said no. Needless to say that I switched to the senior partner at that clinic.  It wasn't until last year that my orthopedic doctor asked how long i had been over weight and that maybe i needed some additional help and that i may benefit from gastric by pass surgery. I burst into tears because that doctor recognized that i was unable to lose any significant weight on my own and that i did need extra help.  I finally got the surgery last month on the 5th and if you count back to my highest weight i had gotten to so far I have lost 46 pound .. that is going back about 2 years ago when my weight hit 276 at my doctor's office .. when i went into surgery i weighed 265 and this morning i weighed my self i was down to 230 .. it is so surprising to see this happening.  
Thank you for sharing that article .. alot more physicians need to see that and to learn to understand their patients and the disease of obesity, 

Be blessed

Jenn