tw: fat hate

Earlier this year I had gone to visit my Granddad overseas and I got sick- coughing, sneezing, sore throat and vomiting. Due to that, I had to go to his Doctor to get a prescription for medicine.

I walked into her office while my Granddad waited outside and the first remark she made was ‘oh you’re very overweight aren’t you?'

I was stunned, I froze in my spot, too shocked to be upset. I’m not a very socially confident person so I said nothing, I just stared at the ground, hoping that she wouldn’t make any other comments about my weight. But she did.

While she was examining me she said:

“Is there a lot of obesity in Australia? When my own daughter went to visit she was horrified at the amount of obesity there!”

“Do you eat a lot of meat?” (I’m a vegetarian!)

“Do you have an obese parent?"

"Do you go to the gym?"

"You should perhaps go to the gym."

"You’ll be less sick if you exercise everyday."

etc.

I wanted to cry. I knew I was going to cry. I wished I had enough courage to snap at her and walk out but I simply didn’t.

When I left the clinic and told the story to my Granddad, his response was, "It’s your own fault for being fat, she’s a good doctor."

I cried my eyes out for hours after that.

Thin privilege is not having to go through this^ ordeal with your doctor and family.