Thin privilege is having your doctor listen to your medical concerns and actually make an attempt to diagnose a problem without making it all about your weight… and assuming you are unhealthy because of it.

I recently started having strange pains, cramps, and tingles in my limbs, especially my legs, and made an appointment to see a doctor as soon as possible. My regular GP (who is fabulous A+ never fatshamed me ever) wasn’t in and I made an appointment with Dr. Fucknuts. I’d had problems with this doctor in the past but I’ve been so worried about my symptoms I decided to get it checked out anywho.

First, he kept interrupting me as I was trying to describe my symptoms. He told me that “being big was working against me” and he didn’t know why I wasn’t “thin and fit” knowing that I had diabetes in the family. Something was “wrong” with me and it sure wasn’t a medical issue. He also accused me of being “hypervigilant” and “always needing a medical excuse” for things happening with my body. He did not diagnose me with anything nor suggest I see a specialist, which is why I visited a GP in the first place. He never once asked me about my diet or exercise routine. All he saw was my weight.

I called my mom and girlfriend and sat out in the car and sobbed after the appointment. I have rarely felt fatphobia so acutely from non-family members. It’s all over the media, there are a million tiny microaggressions everywhere, but I don’t think I’ve ever had a medical professional go off on me like that. And I still don’t know why the hell my limbs are tingling.