I'm so glad you wrote this. I'm in that in-between range, where I identify as fat, but I'm on the smaller end (about a size 20).

I was talking with a friend of mine about how frustrated that covid has effected my ability to exercise and now my doctors are treating me different since my weight gain. My thin friend said "I'm at my heaviest, we all are. I've gained 8 lbs." I explained to her I've gained 50lbs due to not being able to exercise as much as I used too.

She was quiet.

Going from 190 lbs to 240 lbs has showed me how much differently doctors treat me at my new weight. They give me stupid advice like "Maybe consider walking" "Try taking a dance class!" "You'd be surprised how much just 30 minutes of cardio can help!" This was after explaining I currently run 3 times a week.

Recently I saw an add that told me I could lose weight by buying their magic pill that would "reduce my cravings for candy, soda, and other unhealthy foods" and then I would eat less. I stopped drinking soda 14 years ago because my dentist said it was bad for my teeth, and I've been living sugar free for the last 5 years and never looked back.

Truth is, my body is very much programmed to be at a larger size, and that's okay. However people assume I'm an idiot and this size is some soft of intellectual or personal failure on my part.

I also feel like doctors don't understand the health risks I watch out for. I have a family history of high blood pressure, and being at this size, I watch my blood pressure carefully as I age. Recently my doctor suggested a medication which had the number one side affect of increase in blood pressure. I had to explain, that as an obese woman, that's a high-risk area for me and I don't think it's safe for me to try that medication. Her suggestion was to buy a blood-pressure machine and monitor it daily. That's not going to stop my blood-pressure from increasing, WTF makes her think I don't already monitor my blood pressure?

Anyway, I know I still have a lot of privilege here. But it makes me so mad the things people assume about me.