Doctors React to Controversial Cosmo Cover

Today I interview Dr. Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD., and board-certified bariatric surgeon about the recently released covers of Cosmopolitan magazine, depicting women of all shapes and sizes and boldly claiming “this is healthy.” Dr. Salles and I dove into the nuances of the Healthy At Every Size (HAES) movement, fatphobia, and reality of obesity. There are some difficult subjects in here, like struggles with insurance and diets/dieting, so please let me know your thoughts down below!

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-Doctor Mike Varshavski

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* Select medical photos/videos supplied by Getty Images *

** The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional **

[Zephirite.]

I just realized....I’ve never seen a plus size male model.

[TrDylan]

Be supportive to obese people
Don’t be supportive of becoming obese.

[patmaurer]

"I don't think being aware of the health consequences of obesity is the same as fat-shaming." Well said, doc.

[sarah]

As someone who was obese and is now overweight, and working on a healthier lifestyle daily. I've noticed less aches and pains, I don't get sick as often anymore, and I have far more energy than I used to. Being healthy is a huge part of self-love, I want to feel my best so I have to give my body the best.

[dragoninthewest]

I am obese, however I've been bike riding (road) everyday for the past 5 months and lost 40 lbs. I feel much better about myself, sleep more efficiently and stand straighter.
Edit: recently started doing calisthenics to avoid squirrel wing skin

[delphi-moochymaker]

I was obese for 23 years. I have changed my lifestyle, lost 75lbs and kept it off. By every measurable and subjective metric, I am healthier and happier. I can also confirm that fat shaming doesn't help. It is simply hurtful.

[BabySavageYoutube]

YES. I’m 250lbs. I KNOW I’m a bigger girl. I’m confident in the body I’m in. But I KNOW that it has attributed to my current health issues. I don’t get offended when I’m told I need to lose weight at the doctors to help myself. Because it’s true.

[casserole]

As a type 1 diabetic, I would really appreciate if they would specify that they're talking about type 2 diabetes. Type 2 has a chance of reversal with lifestyle changes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that currently has no known cure. Type 1 and 2 are almost completely different diseases in terms of symptoms and lifestyle.

[Morden]

She says it all right at the start "I dont think being aware of the health risks of being fat is fat phobic"

As a fat person I agree with this statement 200%

[Sidious]

The fact that a doctor is accused of being "fatphobic" because he encourages everyone to be healthy.

We have crossed into the twilight zone clearly.

[chandler]

Body positivity is accepting the flaws in you that cannot be changed, not embracing own bad habit

Edit : people seem to think im just straight up fat shaming. If someone is obese or overweight because of a medical condition then that falls under the flaws that cannot be changed. People are just so dense and defensive for no reason.

[junsuidearu]

Something that is overlooked and not often talked about is how much people of bigger sizes are misdiagnosed by physicians (I'm talking in general, not about Dr. Mike). In my country (Spain) a case gained media attention, a girl went to the doctor to ask to be derived to a psychologist because she was having suicidal thoughts and the doctor who treated her refused to sent her because "she was sad just because she was fat and she was going to waste the psychologist's time". The whole exchange was recorded by the victim because it had happened to her before so she went prepared and it became viral here. Following this case a famous body positivity influencer compiled testimonies of people who experienced fatphobia at the doctor and it became viral as well. It was so heartbreaking, I was in tears by the end of it. People's relatives dying because the doctor refused to give another solution to their symptoms other than "lose weight" and they ended up dying of cancer and other illnesses. Obesity is not healthy but obese people deserve the same medical treatment as skinny People without the medical bias of weight.

[carlosgonzg]

I was obese and the only thing I can say is: Being healthy is part of loving yourself. The more I exercised and ate healthier, the more I felt comfortable with myself and helped me a lot with my self-love

[justaleafinthewind]

Fat is not synonymous with ugly, but it is also not synonymous with healthy. Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[moniquereed]

Thank you for addressing food deserts and the socioeconomic roots of obesity. It can also be very difficult to eat a healthful diet when we get inconsistent messages about nutrition from various sources--e.g., "low fat" items that are full of sugar and salt, constantly changing guidelines from the government, huge and hugely funded ad campaigns from various lobbies. It is hard work to find the truth among all the noise.

[ananyagrace]

you know what i like? how he got a bariatric doctor who is ALSO a obesity researcher so she is knowledgeable on the subject

[o.m]

“Overweight is not healthy, but don’t hate yourself because of it”. -Body positivity.

[sarahtehninja]

I really like the “body neutral” movement. Like, it’s our body, we don’t have to LOVE it all the time but we don’t have to hate it either, we just have to accept it and take care of it.

[Beeboopbop]

Ive never struggled with obesity, but I started getting more serious about my health. It wasn’t until I learned to love myself and my body for what it was that I was consistent with my health journey. That’s why I get so angry with people who go into the DM’s/comments of bigger people, who are bothering no one, and harass them about their weight. You aren’t “concerned for them”, you’re a bully who wants to justify your harassment of someone. Having low self esteem made me treat myself worse, not better

[TheIceQueen]

I've struggled with weight issues after my second child. I tried everything and finally decided that the doctors was not looking at the whole picture and started cuting foods out of my diet that were "healthy" I went to being gluten free first and then went meat free almost 1 year ago. I seen huge improvements and lost almost 40 pounds in a years time. Switched doctors who looked past my weight and seen a lot of other things that needed to be addressed like EDS and PoTS. She found my adrenal gland was also not working correctly. None of these had anything to do with my weight. Having a doctor who listens to you is the biggest issue many over weight people face.