#149 - Learn & Grow Part 13 – How to Avoid a “Weight Lecture” at the Doctors with Bernie Salazar

Bernie Salazar guests with an update on how he is changing the conversation with his primary care doctors.

He’s better at boundaries and aiming to keep the focus on medical needs, but the doctors still clearly struggle to understand what it means to provide weight inclusive medical care.

He shares his labs with me again because he still wants my “input” (read: validation) that he is justified in his full commitment to practicing Body Kindness and never dieting again.

We hope you find this conversation and links below helpful. They are some of our best resources you may need for doctors visits.

(Content Note: We recorded 12/19 but delayed the launch planned for early March due to COVID-19 chaos.)

Here’s a summary of what we discussed:

• I went to this new doctor visit with more confidence. I shared what I was looking for in a Dr./Patient relationship. I was honest about where I felt I was.
• I am so tired of being talked at instead of having constructive conversations with medical doctors. I realize nothing will change until I speak up.
• I’m changing as a person and asking for more in my visits. I am able to communicate what I need with respect. I am looking for a partnership in regards to my health rather than someone telling me what I should or shouldn’t be doing.

You’ll also get a replay of our first conversation about Bernie’s return to doctor visits after years of avoidance due to weight stigma and shame he experienced. This remains one of our most popular episodes.

Helpful Resources

Body Kindness episodes

Episode 124: Eliminating weight stigma from medical care with Jennifer Gaudiani MD, author of Sick Enough

Episode 108: How Weight Stigma Harms Culture and Excludes Higher Weight People from IVF, Hip Replacements and More, with Fiona Willer

Episode 71: Athletes at Every Size and The Plight of the “Fit Fatty” with Ragen Chastain, Guinness World Record Holder, Speaker, and Fat Activist

Body Positivity and Fat Activism (series)

Articles and Blogs

What if Physicians Stopped Weighing Patients (MD who doesn’t weigh patients interviewed)

What to Say at the Doctor’s Office with Ragen Chastain

Everything You Know About Obesity is Wrong

Training and Education

National Association for Advancement of Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) official guidelines for healthcare pros working with fat patients (brochure). Other downloadable brochures and toolkits are available, including for fitness pro, child advocacy, school curriculum and more.

Peer-reviewed curriculum designed for teaching health professionals and university students about the Health At Every Size® model.

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Check out all the previous Learn & Grow episodes here

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