How to Find a Doctor Who Won’t Judge You by Your Weight
The stigma against being overweight affects many areas of life, but it is especially harmful in the presence of a doctor. Your doctor is likely to talk about your weight, but is unlikely to tell you anything helpful about it, as documented in a recent Huffpost article .
But there are good doctors – the point is to find them. The Obesity Action Coalition has a directory of health care providers who are committed to helping you “have a positive conversation about your weight and health.” There is no guarantee that all the providers listed are great, but the coalition accepts complaints about the providers they list because they don’t need a database full of assholes. So this is the starting point.
They also have a checklist of what to look for from a healthcare provider who can help you figure out if a doctor – from their list or from what you find elsewhere – will be understanding and helpful.
For example, it’s easy to tell how they talk about weight issues. Do they speak the first language and treat you as a person? OAC says:
Words such as “fat” or “obese” refer to people with their disease / condition. Look for suppliers who use respectful language when discussing weight. For example: “You are obese. Let’s work together to design a health insurance plan that suits your needs. ”
Before making an appointment, you can also inquire about equipment and supplies at their office. Do they have waiting areas suitable for people of all sizes? Do they have dresses, scales and blood pressure cuffs that work for you? Squeezing a cuff that is too small can affect readings, so the right equipment is important to your health, regardless of how you feel.
If you need help specifically designed to address obesity-related problems, find out if your health care provider has passed obesity medicine and is certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine .