At the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), we believe in sharing real stories from our members to help others understand the challenges and stigma of living with obesity.

Tara is an OAC Community Member who recently wrote in about wanting to share her personal experiences in hopes of educating healthcare providers and supporting individuals going through similar struggles. You might recognize yourself in Tara’s experiences. How do they challenge the stigma often associated with obesity? How did Tara advocate for herself?

My Experience with Weight and Healthcare

I learned early in life that you must work for what you want. When things don’t go as planned, I allow myself to feel it — to cry, scream, whatever I must do — but then I take action. I pivot to either make it go the way I want or change what I want. This mindset hasn’t just applied to material things like a house or car; it’s been a big part of my approach to health.

I have three autoimmune diseases, two metabolic diseases, a newly diagnosed condition called MCAS, and one of my autoimmune diseases is now understood to cause obesity. For me, weight and health have been an uphill battle. What’s even more frustrating is when the doctors who are supposed to help me have preconceived opinions about how I should lose weight or what being healthy looks like.

I was upset by the doctors who called me lazy and insisted that I must be eating cake and candy all the time. They couldn’t believe that someone as active and health conscious as me could carry the weight that I do. But as I said before, I don’t give up. So, I went to a cardiologist. I thought my fatigue and weight might be linked to my heart since I wasn’t getting diagnosed with anything else, and heart disease runs in my family, along with obesity.

The cardiologist told me, “Weight isn’t my specialty, but I can tell from your test results that you exercise and eat healthy. Your heart is in excellent condition. If you keep this up, I won’t need to see you for ten years. I have no idea why you carry this weight.”

This cardiologist gave me the strength to keep fighting, even if he didn’t realize it. I stopped doubting myself and I continued my journey to feel, look and be the person I want to be. I am confident, hard-working, intelligent, pretty and funny.

The moral of my story is that if those who influence us from birth to death could change their biases and truly understand the complexity of obesity — because thin people also face stigma — we would all be better off. Ethnically and culturally, we are all different. The data used to determine what is normal for lab results, BMI, blood pressure and even risks like skin cancer must be fluid. For example, some populations may have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease at lower BMI levels compared to others.

“It Should Not Be My Job to Educate My Doctors”

It shouldn’t be my job to educate my doctors and the people in my life on how to treat me and others with obesity. But I’m also not willing to just stand on my soapbox and complain — I need to take action for myself, for my daughter who shares some of my genetic factors, and for those who can’t find their voice to speak out. Forums like this one can enlighten those in the medical field who genuinely want to help their patients. It’s not enough to just have information on how to get healthy; the patient needs to know that their doctor is working for them. In other words, the medical field needs to believe that the patient is not the only part of the obesity equation; it is a disease that needs support instead of accusations.

Take Action and Help End Weight Bias

If Tara’s experiences resonate with you, we encourage you to share your own. By speaking out, we can continue to elevate the voices of people with obesity and challenge the deep-seated weight bias that persists in healthcare. Email membership@obesityaction.org to talk to our team about sharing your story.

Inspired to take action? Here’s two easy ways you can join the fight:

1. Check out the OAC’s weight bias resources, such as our “Weight Bias in Healthcare Guide, at https://www.obesityaction.org/advocacy/resources/weight-bias-resources/
2. Learn more about and be part of the OAC’s Stop Weight Bias Campaign, a national initiative committed to raising awareness, changing public perceptions, pushing equality forward, and putting a stop to weight bias.