Yep! And there have been plenty of fat people who’ve died from cancer because they started losing weight quickly, and their doctor was like “Oh, keep up the good work! :)” and didn’t diagnose them until it was too late. So they died. Rapid weight loss is a sign of a lot of problems.
This is, I think, a thing people have trouble with. They think fatphobia is just “calling fat people mean names” or something.
And, like, you should also not do that, because it’s shitty and being cruel to people about their bodies is BAD, but it’s also frequently not what we’re talking about.
I care if my doctor can deny me medical treatment - or provide substandard medical treatment. I care if a fat person is paid less than a thin person doing the same job. I care if I, as a disabled person, can be denied paratransit services. (Actually a thing in my state! If your disability is “due to alcoholism, drug addiction, or obesity” they can refuse to provide paratransit services. Which - in practice - just means if you’re disabled AND fat, they can decide it’s “due to obesity” regardless of what your disability actually is.)
I care about those godawful “Workplace Wellness” programs, where fat people end up paying more for their health insurance than someone with a “normal” BMI.*
*You’d think if you were actually concerned about “wellness”, and “We’re just worried about your health!”, they’d want to make sure that the people they view as “unhealthy” have access to medical care. Of course, you’d also think that if they were, exercise equipment for heavier people would exist, or not be ridiculously expensive. That’s because it’s not really about “health”, and never was.
It’s the difference between being denied housing or a job because you’re a member of [minority group], and some rando on the street calling you a slur. They shouldn’t do that! They’re assholes! It’s shitty and upsetting! But it’s not the kind of structural oppression we’re talking about.
There are various chronic health problems that cause weight gain. There are also various TREATMENTS for chronic health problems that cause weight gain. If your psych meds make you gain weight, but they keep you from killing yourself? The KEEPING YOU ALIVE is the important part.
stormborns
prguitarman
discoholicmusic
gummygunk
tangentwithtanner
annaxmalina
theartofmadeline
