Doctors Fat-shaming Their Patients Happens More Often Than You Think

Fat dishonor doesnt merely hurt a person’s self-esteem. Survey show it can take a real toll on physical health too. And according to a new review of research presented this week the American Psychological Association annual convention, physicians are one of the biggest wrongdoers when it comes to stimulating people feel ashamed of the number on the scale.

That statement may come as a surprise if “youre thinking about” fat-shaming as mainly something that happens in social situations or over the Internetor something that girls do to themselves. But it definitely resonates with those whove experienced it firsthand.

According to the review, this type of medical fat shaming can come in the form of disrespectful therapy, lectures about your weight, embarrassing commentaries, and a less thorough exam. Even well-meaning physicians, if they dont approach the topic carefully, can ruin a patients experience at the doctors officeand potentially inflict long-term damage to their well being.

Studies show that the most common source of fat shaming is family members, and after household comes doctors, says Joan Chrisler, PhD, a professor of psychology at Connecticut College, who presented the review at the conference. I find that kind of upsetting, because these are the people who should have your best interests at heart, and instead theyre constructing you feel the worst.

Doctors need to be aware of this tendency for bias, tells Chrisler, and should be making efforts to stop such behaviors in their offices. They may think that fat patients dont know whats best for them and need to be protected from their unhealthy behaviours, she tells. But really, most fat people know theyre fatthey dont need to be told when they come in for a sore throat or a broken limb, ” adds Chrisler.

Practices like weighing patients at every visit( especially in open areas where other people can see the number on the scale) can also stimulate people hesitating to visit the doctor, tells Chrisler, even when the have a problem unrelated to their weight. Theyre not going to want to come back for a follow-up visit after that, she says, and that could be seriously hurting their own health.

The medical community does a disservice to larger patients in other styles, says Chrisler. Overweight people are often be exempted from clinical trials, which means that recommended drug doses might not be appropriate for them. Some analyzes have suggested this to be the case for certain antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs.

Other examines suggest that medical professionals tend to make assumptions about overweight peoples health and motives. This means they might not take patients symptoms as seriously, and could miss or misdiagnose serious but treatable conditions. In one survey of more than 300 autopsy reports, obese patients were 1.65 times more likely than others to have significant undiagnosed medical conditions, including bowel illness and lung cancer.

Chrisler says that patients need to stand up for themselves and object when they feel their doctor is unfairly or inappropriately calling out their weight. They can also change doctors if they have a physician who is treating them disrespectfully, she says.

She encourages patients to tell their doctors about the Health at Every Size movement, which advocates for compassionate self care, respect, and healthy behaviours for all people , no matter what their weight. She also recommends referring physicians to her 2016 article in the publication Fat Studies , Sizeism Is a Health Hazard .

And while sometimes it is appropriate for physicians to discuss weight and recommend weight loss to patients, Chrisler stresses that theres a right and a wrong way to go about it.

We know that dieting usually fails and we know that making people feel bad about their weight is not the way to go, she tells. People should be focused on trying to eat a nutritious diet, being more physically active, getting enough sleep, things like thatnot focused on what the scale says.”

This article originally appears in Health.

Doctors fat-shaming their patients happens more often than you think

Doctors Fat-shaming Their Patients Happens More Often Than You Think

Doctors Fat-shaming Their Patients Happens More Often Than You Think

Doctors Fat-shaming Their Patients Happens More Often Than You Think

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