[Trigger warning: healthism, weight loss]

Last week in school I had PE class, which is mandatory for all students. Our normal PE teacher was sick, so we got a substitute instead.

The teacher told us to run 10 laps, which I did along with the rest of the students. I finished the 10 laps and went to go get a drink of water when the teacher stopped me and told me to do 2 extra laps.

When I protested, since none of my thin classmates were told to do any extra laps, the teacher just sneered and told me that I needed it because of my weight.

I told him that it was unfair and that she was discriminating against me, and that I’m not fat because I’m lazy like he thinks but because my thyroid prevents me from losing weight. He just got mad and told me that I will run the extra 2 laps if I don’t want detention.

I felt defeated, I ran the 2 extra laps alone while the rest of my classmates looked at me and laughed.

That teacher knew nothing about me. I’m actually a very active person and if you’d ask the regular PE teacher she’d tell you that I’m in good shape just as much as some of my thinner classmates. I wouldn’t have minded running a few more laps if everyone else had to do it, but I was singled out because I just happen to be fat. Not all people are meant to be skinny, yet thin people who have it easy because they’ve been thin they’re whole life assume anyone who’s fat must be lazy and unhealthy.

Thin privilege is having people assume you’re healthy just by looking at you. Thin privilege is not having people feel the need to “take matters into their own hands” and deal with your weight as if it were a problem that needs to be fixed.

The whole thing was a super traumatic experience, the other kids at school still make fun of me because of it. They’ve been so mean about it that I come home in tears most days. Luckily my mom understands me and agrees that they just don’t get it because they’re thin and have it way easier.