'Fat shaming' at the doctor's office can harm patients, study finds

New research claims that the way doctors perceive overweight and obese patients may be putting them at risk.

[carleethest]

*Something happened last year that really made me reevaluate my stance on this issue.*
My Mom's friend was morbidly obese. She was having extreme back pain and her doctor told her it was because of her weight; honestly that seemed to be the most likely cause. She tried losing weight but the pain kept getting worse. She'd kept going to this doctor and he would keep saying "lose weight." At one point she asked if he could give her an X-ray to make sure something wasn't seriously wrong; he flat out refused and told her to lose weight.
She finally asked my mom to go with her to a doctors appointment. My mom is pretty infamous for getting crap done; she has a hardcore personality. Needless to say, multiple tests were set up that day.
My Mom's friend had Stage 4 Cancer that had metastasized to her kidneys, lungs, and spine. She died two months later.
I am fully aware that obesity usually causes or affects most issues doctors see, but doctors also need to be willing to rule other issues out. *I just want there to be some sensibility on both sides.* If you are 300 lbs and your doctor isn't letting up about your weight, it isn't because he is fat shaming you; it's because he knows that your weight can kill you. On the flip side, doctors can't always say "it's because my patient is fat" without doing a proper diagnostic workup. The results will probably come back that the issue is weight-related, but sometimes there is something much more sinister under the surface.

[danielgarciajr.]

I’ll admit it, I’m a pretty big guy. I used to weigh 327 and I now weigh 253 and plan to lose more weight. My point is, I know that I have been unhealthy for a good while of my life BUT I don’t blame society and my environment for me being overweight, I blame my poor choices in the past. This fat acceptance cause is idiotic and hurts more than it helps.

The doctors aren’t hateful, they’re trying to keep you from dying.

[Wulfdane]

Fat shaming is wrong if it's done to make fun of someone, but a doctor has a duty to tell their patients if their weight can or is causing health problems. I hope my doctor never lies to me about my health our of fear I might feel bad, I want my doctor to be honest about what I'm doing wrong.

[godisgoodallthetime]

So doctors are damned if they talk about your weight and damned if they don't. Your angry when they point out the consequences of obesity. And you blame them for it. Then your angry if someone dies from it. And you say the doctors should've said something. I'm getting whiplash!

[morganwhite]

My doctor kept telling me he thought I was obese, then he put me on a scale and it came out average for my height, not obese. Instead of correcting his pre-judgement of me, he smirked and I knew he was making fun of me in his head. I lost a little more respect for doctors after that. They are seeing magazine covers and live in a dreamworld that says we all have to be a size 0.

[kennymcfall]

3:00 literally destroys the entire argument.

[lilydimas]

I went to the doctor when I was 19 and complained about knee pain. I was weighting in at 215 lbs and he told me that j was too fat. That helped me realize that I had to change something and now I’m 65 pounds lighter

[WorldSacred]

I was 275lbs about 4 years ago. Saw a photograph of myself. Felt embarrassed. I managed to lose about 60lbs over a 6 month period. Put some of the weight back on, to an extent. Figured that I had to lose the weight by doing what I did last time. Walk 2.5 miles most nights of the week. Got to a fitness level where I could jog the distance. Back down to 230lbs.
It is actually fat-shaming that helps motivate me to lose weight. That photo I saw. All the health problems I have had or could have as a result of being overweight/obese. How a pregnant woman tells me that she works 8 hours a day without complaint. If I dedicated my life to a more sensible diet and exercise routine, I could enjoy life better.

[dylantaylor]

I've been 280lbs. If my doctor emphasized that I needed to lose weight for my health - I'm not going to go home and cry about how I was "fat shamed" because the physician was doing their job. If your feelings are easily hurt, don't leave your house.

[azizgamingchannel]

My doctor today fat shame me calling me "not smart because I'm fat" and my "former" dream was to become a doctor

[paulmd]

If a doctor tells someone that they are overweight and should lose weight, they are just doing their job and trying to help their patient live a longer healthier life.
They are doing their job.
Why is that so hard to understand

[bamfordblue]

Ask your patients permission to discuss their weight? Ugh. If a doctor can't tell it to you straight, who can?

[beatemueller]

People are too easily offended and can’t handle the truth anymore. Being obese puts you at risk for certain health problems even if you don’t have current issues, and people should be allowed to point that out. I smoke cigarettes and even though I don’t have current health issues from it (actually I’m a professional equestrian athlete) people don’t have an issue telling me all the time how I’m putting my health at risk and how I should quit. Even strangers. But how dare you point out if someone is putting their health at risk through their eating habits.

[bdb]

Wa, wa, waaaah! Cry me a river. One month ago doc told me being 6 foot 4 Inches tall and 310 lbs I am obese. If your doctor says you’re overweight they are doing their job.

I agreed and asked her how to start losing weight and get back in shape safely. She gave me advice and I have followed it. I am now 290 lbs one month into my diet

Yes Obesity is caused by over eating, being sedentary and lazy period. Own it!

The problem is most doctors don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. As a result they fail to get the patient to take obesity, diabetes, and other weight related diseases seriously.

That is why our once superior health care system is slapping against the rocks.

BDB has spoken and I am god!

[elmagnificodep]

I call BS on the 5’8” 160 lbs. woman. She is either A. Lying about her weight. B. Stating her current height/weight ratio, but was heavier at the doctors office. A woman at 5’8” 160 lbs. is a normal BMI.

[shadowednightsky]

It's not shaming when doctors are simply pointing out that you're on the fast track to health issues galore. By all means though, complaining, sitting around, and eating too much is a much easier solution than doing something about it.

[ghostlylover]

If handled wrong, then it can, but not if handled correctly

[ElGringoLocoOficial]

FFS!!! You're unhealthy if you are overweight. DOCTORS are supposed to NOT say anything about your unhealthy condition?

[ryanbyrd]

I am SCIENTIFICALLY 90 pounds over my healthy weight and you can tell. Well my doctor noticed and said something about maybe losing some of it. That son of a bitch.

[edwardb]

Why go to the doctor if you can't handle their educated diagnosis? No such thing as fat shaming, just people who cant accept reality.