When I was 18 I went to a gynecologist appointment, something that is never the most pleasant experience. I was called back to the exam room, the nurse asked me some intake questions, handed me a gown, and left the room. The gown wasn’t large enough. I called to the nurse from the exam room and asked her if she had a larger gown. She audibly sighed, said nothing, and walked away. A few moments later she returned and tossed me another gown and said “Here.” When I tried it on I discovered it was the same size. I motioned for her again and told her that it was the same size as the first gown. She said with a disgusted tone “just put one on the front and one on the back. We don’t have gowns for big girls like you.” I didn’t go back to a gynecologist again for 9 years.
I wish I could say that was a one-off experience but similar negative experiences and treatment by health care professionals kept me from going to any doctor unless it was a dire emergency for years. I know my health conditions worsened because I avoided care, follow-ups, and preventative screenings.
The doctor’s office should be a safe zone, free from weight bias, our lives and the lives of our loved ones depend on it.
Help #BePartoftheSolution to #STOPWeightBias!
