Thin privilege is being able to have a kind gesture you perform appreciated at face value, not used as justification for fat-shaming.

I’m starting medical school in about a week (!!). One of my friends, who’s a year ahead of me, just got back from a month-long summer preceptorship (where a med student goes and works alongside a doctor) in a rural area. We were chatting and catching up yesterday, and of course I had tons of questions about her trip, since I’ll probably do something similar next year. She mentioned that one day while she was there, a patient brought in a home-made pie for the doctor and clinic staff. “It was so delicious! Of course, the patient who brought it in was, like, over 500 pounds … I guess it’s obvious why they’re so big,” she said, giggling.

SERIOUSLY? Setting aside the numerous logical fallacies in that statement … someone was grateful enough for the care they received to bring in home-made baked goods (I’ve worked in clinical settings for 4+ years, and seen this happen approximately never; sometimes patients will write thank-you notes, but home-made treats are not common), baked goods you ate and enjoyed, and your response is to make a snarky comment about their weight? I know you didn’t say it in the patient’s hearing, but if that’s your attitude to your fat patients, please don’t delude yourself that it won’t carry over into your interactions with them, or that they won’t pick up on it.

I didn’t actually say that to her, although in retrospect I kind of wish I had. I just ignored the weight comment entirely, and pointed out how kind and thoughtful it was for the patient to take the time to bake a pie for the staff.

Incidentally, this friend and I used to work together. She is very small and thin, and I am much larger than she is. I also love to bake, and frequently bring in treats to share with my co-workers. Hearing her comment made me wonder if she’d ever said something similar about me behind my back.