I originally created these cards as part of a post about what to say at the doctor’s office to help get the appropriate evidence-based care you should be getting in the first place from doctors and other healthcare professionals. They have been shared around a lot, and I love hearing from people about how they used them and how much they helped (even though they shouldn’t be necessary to begin with, but that’s a subject for another post!)
Then recently Marilou Morin contacted me and asked if she could translate them into French. Of course I immediately said yes. So below you’ll find the English and French versions. These cards are intended to be helpful, but are not for every situation (and if you are looking for one link to give to your healthcare provider, I recommend this one) I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice, just what has helped me to get appropriate healthcare as a fat patient. You’ll also need to use your own judgment as to whether you want to hand the cards to your healthcare provider, or just use the information from them to talk to your healthcare provider.
A reminder that nobody is obligated to engage in activism at any time, but especially at the doctor’s office where there can be an extreme power imbalance. While medical fatphobia becomes our problem, it is not our fault – the problem is not fat people existing, it’s healthcare providers who are working from a place of weight stigma. While there are clear arguments whenever a healthcare provider says that a health issue is caused by being fat. you can also do what you have to do to get the healthcare you need.
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Need some fat-positive end-of-year cheer? Here’s a playlist of re-vamped holiday songs that highlight things like the importance of fat-friendly seating, singing the praises of our amazing bodies, and just saying no to giving unsolicited weight-loss gifts. Enjoy!
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Book and Dance Class Sale! I’m on a journey to complete an IRON-distance triathlon, and I’m having a sale on all my books, DVDs, and digital downloads to help pay for it. You get books and dance classes, I get spandex clothes and bike parts. Everybody wins! If you want, you can check it out here! (DancesWithFat Members get an even better deal, make sure to make your purchases from the Members Page!)
Book Me! I’d love to speak to your organization. You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
I’m (still!) training for an Iron-distance triathlon! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com .
If you are uncomfortable with my offering things for sale on this site, you are invited to check out this post.
Excellent. Most should work, depending on the entrenched position of the doctor in question and how quickly they can come up with legitimate responses to factual rejoinders.
In the limited amount of time we have….”
Winner winner, that!
Those are fucking awesom!
OMG, just discovered your blog through Sally Cronin’s “Smorgasbord Daily.” I recently got a cut my leg and the cut got infected. My regular doctor wasn’t available, so I had to go to another. Her first suggestion: weight loss surgery! For an infected cut on my leg. Yup. Because thin people never get cuts on their legs. I needed this card.
Ugh! I’m so sorry, at that point I feel like it’s medical malpractice. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.
WAY! I read that and had to read it to my Mom. OMG! Is right. Infected cut, I’m sure in medical year one text book; cure by offering invasive, dangerous weight loss/nutrient denying surgery! THESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE OUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
And you can’t educate bigotry away in all cases! Clearly. Then again, what other path of higher education has such a biased focus on fixing fat people? Gym Teachers, doctors, nurses…