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Eurgh, just complained to my GP because they sent me a link to an app that has a WEIGHT TRACKER. Fuck’s sake. There are so many issues with this. So many.
And I’m so, so tired of having to say this... If you really actually care, read my book ‘Happy Fat’. If you just want to argue instead of listening, go away.
Problem number 1: Weight tracking can be incredibly triggering for people recovering from eating disorders which is A LOT of people. When it comes from your DOCTOR, it’s even more triggering because they’re meant to be the GOOD GUYS, right?
Number 2: As long as we keep associating weight with health, we keep seeing all fat people as unhealthy and all thin people as healthy, none of which is true.
Number 3: Losing weight rapidly is unhealthy. Dieting is unhealthy and doesn’t work. Losing weight rapidly is celebrated - which makes us ignore the fact that it could be due to a medical condition or stress or depression or something else.
Number 4: Weight bias in the medical industry is a HUGE problem. Fat people get their symptoms ignored all the time and are just told to ‘lose weight’ regardless of the problem. We know that fat people go to the doctor LESS because we are nervous about being fatshamed.
Number 4 (continued): So to get a ‘weight tracking’ recommendation from your GP is not going to make you MORE inclined to go there, the next time you might be seriously sick.
Your annoying argument: But what if it’s about someone who needs to GAIN weight for MEDICAL reasons? Once my neighbour’s aunt’s friend was—
Me: I’ll just stop you right there. We both know that’s not what the weight tracker is for.
Me: I’ll just stop you right there. We both know that’s not what the weight tracker is for.
(Me continuing to argue with you) When it is mentioned alongside the actual Corona Virus (!), it’s not there because someone might need it for gaining weight. Even if it WAS, it would still be a problem because of the ASSOCIATION between weight tracking and dieting/fatphobia.
You trying to make another contrary point: Maybe they just use the app because it’s good and blah blah blah I think I’m clever —
Me, actually clever: They wrote the text themselves. They could have put ‘Download this app, disregard the shitty weight tracker’
Me, actually clever: They wrote the text themselves. They could have put ‘Download this app, disregard the shitty weight tracker’
I. Am. Just. So. Tired.
I hold my breath every time I go see my GP. I am in enough fat communities that I hear the stories about what other fat people have had to endure.
I have removed fatphobia from my life - I just don’t want it in my inbox from my GP.
I hold my breath every time I go see my GP. I am in enough fat communities that I hear the stories about what other fat people have had to endure.
I have removed fatphobia from my life - I just don’t want it in my inbox from my GP.
Anyways. This isn’t a super informative thread. I haven’t bothered finding the statistics or linking to articles written by scientists backing me up. Even my complaint was half-arsed because I know the outcome. Lots of people get angry. Lots of trolling. Lots of gaslighting.
And then it’ll die down, no changes happen. And then it repeats itself. It has been like that since the fat = unhealthy myth was debunked in the 70s. People just don’t want to be told they’re wrong.
