Have you heard about the doctor who is in trouble for telling his patient she is obese and needs to lose weight? No, it’s not a joke. It’s real life. Read about it in this USA Today article. According to the article, the doctor “told a fat woman she was obese”and she needs “to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you.” The doctor was asked to attend a medical education course and acknowledge that he made a mistake, but he refused. One of the medical board’s members said “Physicians have to be professional with patients and remember everyone is an individual. You should not be inflammatory or degrading to anyone.” And apparently the doctor could face penalties from a reprimand to the revocation of all rights to practice in the state.

Come on. Nobody is saying he called her names. He didn’t say “hey, your fat ass needs to be on a diet.” He told she was obese and it was in her best interest to lose weight. She is unhealthy. He is a doctor. He is telling her what she needs to do to be healthy. How is that at all a case for the legal system? How is that at all a reason to reprimand him, let alone take away his right to practice medicine? If you don’t like your doctor’s bedside manner then find a new doctor. But don’t sue him because his personality clashes with yours. Maybe the problem isn’t him. Maybe it’s you.

What’s next? An anorexic girl sues her doctor for telling her she’s needs to gain weight or she’ll die? Or a cancer patient suing because she didn’t want the bad news that she has cancer? If you want to live in denial then don’t go to the doctor. Cause if your stupid lawsuit jeopardizes my health, then you have more to worry about then your doctor telling you you’re fat. If doctors stop being honest with me about my health issues because they are concerned about lawsuits, then I’ll be pissed. You are a grown ass woman. Surely you can handle a little constructive criticism. If not, shut the fuck up and sit down until you can grow a thicker skin. Yeah, I’m calling you a cry baby bitch. What are you going to do? Sue me?

Body image is such a big deal to girls these days. We take it way too personally. It’s your doctor’s job to give you medical advice. If you are overweight then he needs to tell you how that is affecting your body. If you are underweight he needs to tell you too. That’s his job. That’s why we go to him.

Be offended when your blind date tells you “Oh, John didn’t tell me you were so….umm…heavy.” Or when some bitch tells you to move your fat ass in the grocery store. But when you go the doctor leave your self image problems at the door. Your doctor is there to help you. He’s not telling you you’re fat to hurt your feelings. He’s telling you you’re fat because you are.