Is 'fat shaming' keeping people from getting the medical care they need?

After a cancer patient used her obituary to make a final plea for medical professionalsto stop 'fat shaming' people with health problems, others are speaking up about similar experiences.

Ellen Maud Bennett, 64, died May 11 after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer andgiven only days to live. In her obituary, Bennett said she spent years feeling unwell and being told by medical professionals weight loss was the solution to her health problems.

Faith Clark talked about her experiences with her weight and the health care system onherYouTubechannel earlier this year. She saidit issomething she has had to deal with her entire life.

In fact, Clark says it is verystressful to go to the doctorbecause she doesn't want to have the same conversation about her weight every time.

"As soon as I book that appointment, sometimes I will move it three or four times because I'm so anxious about going," she says.

Fat shaming can have serious health consequences, agrees Halifax psychologist Michael Vallis, who'san associate professor in family medicine at Dalhousie University.

Speaking to CBC's Maritime Noon, Vallissaidhe believes physicians tend to pursue health complaints more vigorously when they come from people without excess weight.

"People don't look beyond the weight," he said."People living with weight are less likely to get investigated."

He defines fat shaming asholding negative beliefs about individuals because of their weight, making assumptionsandshaming them in a very public way.

Carolanne Power's discomfort with the way medical professionals view her weight has actually prevented her from seeking health care.

In a Facebook discussion, she toldMaritime Noon that she hasn't been to doctor in over 30 years because of the anxiety.

"It didn't seem to matter why I was there, it always came back to my weight. Last time I went it was an inner ear infection, but somehow I was referred to a dietitian. I gave up and haven't been since."

Vallis said despite what some people assume,weight isnot strictly abehavioural issue. There are many factors to take into account includingmetabolic, biological, hormonal and genetic influences, he said.

He says peopleneed to start looking at fat shamingas an ethical, moraland medical issue.

"Sixty-sevenper centof Nova Scotians are overweight or obese," said Vallis. "It's not the few. These issues really are [common] to the majority."

Vallis said instead of focusing on one particular body type for all people, it is better to look at the "best weight" of an individual the weight they can achieve and maintainwhile being the healthiest and happiest they can be.

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