Weight stigma is the belief, baked into nearly everything, that a bigger body is a problem to fix and a sign you’re doing something wrong. It comes up in comments from family, jokes on TV, and airplane seats. It also comes up in a lot of doctor’s offices, which is where it can do the most damage.
What it does to your health
Research links weight stigma to more stress, depression, anxiety, and disordered eating, and to people moving their bodies less. Some of those effects hold up even after researchers account for body size. In other words, being shamed about your weight can hurt your health on its own.
There’s also a practical cost. When every appointment turns into a weight conversation, people stop going. Screenings get skipped, and problems that could have been caught early get caught late.
What it can look like at the doctor
Getting weighed when it has nothing to do with why you came in
Being told to lose weight for a sore knee, a sinus infection, or fatigue
Getting weight loss advice for symptoms where a smaller patient would get tests
Blood pressure cuffs, gowns, and chairs that don’t fit
It doesn’t stop if you’re on a GLP-1
People on GLP-1s often get a new version of it, like “taking the easy way out” comments, or appointments where the only question is how much you’ve lost. You deserve care that pays attention to how you feel and how your body is doing, whatever medication you take.
A few things you can say
“I’d prefer not to be weighed today. Is it medically necessary for this visit?”
“Can we do a blind weight? I’d rather not see the number.”
“What would you recommend for someone at a lower weight with these same symptoms?”
“Can we start with the reason I came in?”
It also helps to write your questions down ahead of time or bring someone with you.
How I work
In my sessions, your weight isn’t how we measure whether things are working. We look at your energy, labs, digestion, and sleep, and how eating actually feels. If healthcare has burned you before, tell me. We’ll go at your pace.
Related: Why I Don’t Use the Words “Obesity” and “Overweight”
Further reading
