5 Tips If You Dread Going to the Doctor

Going in to see your doctor might be something that fills you with dread. While you may be all-too familiar with this feeling, there is a name for what you might be experiencing when you step into a clinic: weight bias.

This is defined as negative views, usually based on serotypes or misconceptions, towards people who are overweight or obese.

Everyday people who are overweight face discrimination, from the size of seats on a plane to critical looks and comments from others. There are prominent beliefs that plus size or obese individuals are somehow lesser than, aren’t considered beautiful, and should be blamed (and shamed) for the size of their waistline. This bias also exists in healthcare. 

While there have been strides made in providing training to nurses and doctors that provide primary care, it can still be daunting to go to the doctor for something that *seems* simple like an annual checkup. Here are five things to keep in mind that might help you feel empowered when gathering your courage to take charge of your health:

Remind yourself: you are courageous! Looking after yourself, in a world that constantly tells you you’re not enough, is a rebellious act of self-love! It gives you a voice and it can feel powerful to stand up for yourself.

Calm yourself with the worst-case scenario. Before you go to the doctor’s office, pull out your journal and write down what you are most scared of happening. Don’t hold back! It might be the doctor suggesting another diet or asking about your level of physical activity. Once it is all out on the page, go through it and challenge each thing you wrote down. Ask yourself: what is the likelihood of this happening? What can/will I do if it does? You will already feel better prepared!

You do not have to be weighed. You can absolutely say no to being weighed when you go to the doctor’s office. This surprises many people! If what you are seeing the doctor about requires a recent weight number, ask if you can stand backwards on the scale so as not to be triggered by seeing a number.

Focus on the issue at hand. Too often weight loss becomes a doctor’s go-to recommendation for an overweight or obese patient… Even if the issue isn’t weight-related! This may take some getting out of your comfort zone but advocating for your health and talking through your symptoms can give the doctor a clearer picture.

You have the power to change. The only ‘weight change’ we suggest is cutting out the doctor that is no longer serving you! While this option may take some planning, you do not have to keep seeing the same doctor who is making you feel terrible and not listening to your concerns. You deserve to find someone who will see you as you are—in all your beautiful complexity!

💛 Your peace awaits.