Why Are They So Mad At Her?

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Executive Producer: Doctor Mike
Production Director and Editor: Dan Owens
Managing Editor and Producer: Sam Bowers
Editor and Designer: Caroline Weigum
Editor: Juan Carlos Zuniga

* Select photos/videos provided 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 **

[DivaDelgado]

No matter your background, we need to be aware of the risks of being obese. I am in that fight now. Working to regain my health.

[johnwatters]

OBESITY. AS. A. RISK. FACTOR. IS. NOT. RASICT., SEXIST. OR INNAPROPRIATE

[threecards]

I went from 325 last september to 264 last week due to committing to 2.5 hours of walking a day. I have a lot more to lose but it is a real life changer. I feel better and feel like i am flying when i walk these days. I just put on electronic media and walk the treadmill at the local gym.
I am not majorly dieting, just limiting excess sugar and eating preportioned foods.

[DianaEricJ]

I also think that for many people who are obese, bringing it up automatically puts them in the defensive because so many medical professionals ignore symptoms and concerns and just attribute everything to their weight. So even if you aren’t being racist or sexist, they have likely experienced that from other doctors.

[bay]

I was 470+lbs at age 15 and stayed in the 400lbs range until 17. I was 145lbs by age 19 because of an eating disorder brought on by constant bullying and awful self esteem. I ended up in hospital, I could barely stand on my own I was so weak but everyone kept telling me how pretty I was with my hair falling out in clumps. I did get better, I'm 31 now, about 140lbs, I never had weight loss surgery and now I'm fighting insurance company to pay to remove excess skin that causes me a lot of issues. I have a myriad of health issues, asthma, myasthenia gravis, and I carry the Huntington's gene though I'm not yet ill. All of this to say, I wish I could have hugged that kid version of myself and said, "let's do this the right way and I promise you will be okay." Thin doesn't always mean healthy, but I am far better off now than I was at such an astronomical high weight. Thank you Dr. Mike for covering very important issues and to your guest for what she does.

[Vesperitis]

My rule of thumb is that I always listen to doctors first. I may not always follow all their instructions, but I check for their opinions first before I make any decisions.

[ARXZN]

How tf does obesity have anything to do with Racism and Sexism..?

[NessaNASA]

I had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as a kid. In 2021(?) I was finally diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and that I had no signs of diabetes. They had given me medication that wasn't necessary for me and I had trouble taking them to begin with. This led to many problems occuring but when they finally found the right stuff I felt better, I FEEL better now.

I take Levothyroxine now and it's been helping me regulate many things now. I hate how people go about obesity. I as an obese person can agree it's not good and I'm working to get better but this social stigma makes it hard to get better.

[kristin]

We finally got people to engage in acceptance and kindness and they somehow went too far. The herd mentality of society scares me to pieces because the outcome appears to be a net-negative.

[vistry]

Social stigma and others hate should never be the driving factor of why people (myself included) lose weight. Being healthy mentally and physically should be the driving factor. Having fun outside, feeling alive and energized, being able to keep up with my friends and family. It drives me every day to work on myself and make healthy choices. Im glad Doctor Mike (and this wonderful woman!) keep spending the time to inform people of the steep costs of obesity

[AJJesko]

You can have diseases that are not caused by your obesity. And that needs to be acknowledged by doctors rather than just dismissing everything as obesity related for example.

But on average youre more likely to have issues if youre obese conpared to if youre not.

[GrumpyAunt]

People in America are 46% obese. That is a systemic problem of fast food, big portions, and little exercise that needs to be addressed.

[Altrantis]

These are not mutually incompatible. It is both a health and social problem, while also being a source of discrimination.

[soccrstar]

There are disparities in medical care between sexes & races. It’s not intentional by medical professionals- it’s a byproduct of sexes & races being treated differently in society. Hearing experts acknowledge this is refreshing. You can’t gloss over medical care or sugar coat it; humans are humans and should receive the best medical attention, always.

[ellenkarlsson]

Yes, us obese people are being discriminated against on a daily basis. But calling it racist or sexist is just pure stupidity. Obesity is not a race or ethnicity, nor is it a gender. A doctor discussing the risks of obesity is not discriminating, a doctor who is blaming all you ailments on your weight without doing proper tests is.

[aellalee]

It is definitely a risk factor. There are tons of risk factors everywhere. Treat it as such (which I believe we mean the same way).
Which means if obesity is your specialty you help whomever.
The stigma shouldn't be there. And presumptions that anyone overweight only is sick because of their weight is ridiculous and entirely false. A lot of things contribute to weight and even more have almost nothing to do with each other.

[JDHutchison]

It’s almost like it’s a complicated issue where a lot of things can be right at the same time.

[greyeyed]

When you have a rare issue, denying it is harder because everyone around you is telling you that you need help. If you have a common issue, denying it is easier because everyone around you has the same problem and are also denying it's a problem. It becomes as chorus of denial.

[wolfsdream]

I'm overweight myself and I can't dismiss the fact that this is a risk factor for my health - and I would never accuse a doctor of being racist or whatever if they were just talking about that risks with me.
*But* I lived through some things because of discrimination because of my weight and that's when I accuse healthcare workers and doctors of being discriminatory.
For excample my bloodpressure (at rest) is usually more on the low side 110/50 120/70 max same with my heart rate but I can't count how often I've been diagnosed with high bloodpressure because of one high measurement.
When I had surgery concerning a benign tumor in my sinus caverty and the eye socket (the Trigeminus was compromised too) I didn't got adequate pain meds but instead was scolded for my high bloodpressure.
I also have pain in my joints especially my feet because of long covid - which wasn't diagnosed correctly for three years because I'm just fat and depressed so there was no need for any doctor (GP, orthopaedic specialist, rheumatologist...) to even examine me ....
Because of doctors like that it's very hard for good doctors to talk about obesity and the risks coming with it with their patient!

[jessiebouclier]

And the most frustrating thing is when a doctor doesn't look at it as an additional factor but THE factor. Like as if losing weight would solve all the issues - it won't. And sometimes whatever is going on, actually makes it harder to lose weight. Doctor's should instead be looking to connect folks with eating disorder specialists, therapists. You don't get obese without other stuff happening, genetics and mental health ...