What Can Doctors Do Better For Fat Patients?
Plus summer crafts, summer of nah, summer sandwiches and more.
Heads up: Corinne and I are recording your July Indulgence Gospel on Monday! Drop your questions here.
Friday Thread: What Do You Want Doctors To Know?
Today’s Thread prompt comes from reader Jessica, who writes:
I have a question I would love for you to pose to your readers—it is to benefit me directly as a new primary care provider.
What is one thing I can do as a PCP to be safe and affirming for fat folks?
I have a few ideas, but I am more recently fat, as opposed to fat my whole life and I know my perspective is not complete (obvs). I can’t wait to see what the Burnt Toast community comes up with!
A big thanks to Jessica and all the doctors I’ve been hearing from lately who are trying to learn and do better. This is so encouraging. And now it’s your turn, Toasties: What do you wish your doctor knew about providing fat positive, weight-inclusive healthcare?
PS. Most weeks I paywall both the ability to comment and the ability to view the conversation. I’m going to keep today’s comments visible so that Jessica and her colleagues (and hopefully other medical professionals!) can read and learn from you. But you do need to be a paid or comped subscriber to comment, because that’s how I keep the trolls out. Here’s how to go paid if you’re able, or just hit reply to this email if you’d like a comp. (No explanation needed!)
Links & Recs
My reels almost always have a Farideh Olsen soundtrack, and now she’s crowdfunding to put out an album! All the songs about motherhood and diet culture, please!
Making this turkey sandwich as soon as humanly possible.
Here for the Summer of Nah.
Relevant only to Hudson Valley gardeners but the ugly plant sale has begun.
A perfect “what will the kids eat at this potluck?” solution.
on the Supreme Court’s terrible precedents.The fallacy of maternal self-sacrifice.
These chalk markers have made rock painting our go-to outdoor craft project.
And for rainy/insanely hot days, we are now a Perler Bead Household.
Lots of you emailed me about the NYT Ethicist’s column, and as per usual, I’m so grateful that
has already done the assignment:
Book Stuff
I had such an interesting conversation—with a lot of unpacking of those complicated family dinner table moments—with Jane Black and Liz Dunn for the Pressure Cooker Podcast:
And I did My Beauty Uniform for Cup of Jo, and oh my goodness, how fun to be interviewed by my beloved Kelsey Miller. We talked about showing up fat, obnoxious glasses and chin hair.
PS. Just in case you never read my first baby, heads up that the Kindle version is just $2.99 right now, through the end of July.
I know others will have better, more helpful things, but for me, I wish my PCP (who is trying very hard) could understand that while it might be the first time I’ve talked to her, I’m bringing every conversation I’ve had with a doctor with me. So yes, my blood pressure is likely to be higher and my tone defensive, but that doesn’t come from nowhere. It comes from having what seemed like a perfectly good, productive appointment and then getting a phone call at home for for the doctor to push weight loss drugs and tell me I’m obese. It comes from having the assumption that my numbers would be improved by a diet when I’m actually concerned that I don’t eat enough. I don’t have the long history a lot of fat folks have with medical mistreatment, and I’m sure other prowl will have better advice, but those are things I wish my current PCP knew.
Two things for me - 1) that all health conditions are not tied to my weight. I have a family history of high cholesterol. My paternal grandfather repaired air conditioners and fridges and did farm labor his whole life - "healthy" weight, healthy diet, etc. He has high cholesterol. So does my dad. I could live off of saltines for the rest of my life and still have high cholesterol.
And 2) If you DO bring up my weight, actually listen when I say I have a history of disordered eating. Don't suggest I cut all carbs, sugar, red meat, and shellfish from my diet. That's not helpful. If I wanted that advice I could go to the internet. I'm coming to you because I want you to LISTEN and use your best judgment to come up with a treatment plan that works for ME.
Oh, and a 3) If you do gynecological exams, do not, under any circumstances, talk about my weight while I'm in a paper gown, naked. I'm already vulnerable because, hello, naked!