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I’ve been reflecting lately on what it means to feel truly cared for—not just by our friends and family, but also by the providers we trust with our mental, emotional, and physical health. To me, feeling cared for means having a person that feels safe — safe to be in my body without hiding, safe to share my feelings without shame, safe to open up about the truth of my experiences. At its core, it means trusting that they have my true wellbeing in mind, not only when I’m thriving, but also in moments of vulnerability—when I’m in pain, doubting myself, or navigating fear. These are often the emotions we bring into a doctor’s office when seeking support for our bodies during uncertain times. For those in larger bodies, health care often doesn’t feel like a safe or supportive space. Too often, the focus shifts away from the actual concerns at hand and onto weight as the assumed root cause of every problem. I’ve sat with hundreds of clients and spoken with many more on the podcast who’ve shared stories of leaving medical appointments feeling unseen, unheard, dismissed, or even insulted. When providers adopt a weight-centric approach—focusing on weight as a marker of health, associating thinness with wellness, and prescribing weight loss as a catch-all intervention—it doesn’t just harm physical health by delaying accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatments. It also erodes the trust that’s essential for genuine care, prevention, healing, and recovery. That trust is the foundation of feeling cared for. I know it can feel like weight still takes center stage in most medical settings. The assumption that fatness equals “unhealthiness” is deeply ingrained—reflected in sensationalized news headlines, amplified across social media, echoed in “health” podcast interviews, and even embedded in conversations with family and friends. But there’s hope. A growing movement of weight-inclusive health care providers is changing the narrative, recognizing that health isn’t determined by the size of your body. These providers take a patient-centered approach, considering the whole picture—your history, symptoms, mental health, and goals—without defaulting to weight as a "problem,” a focal point, or even a relevant marker. They’re compassionate, evidence-based, and committed to working with you on your terms, free from weight stigma or unchecked biases. While I work as a provider in the space of nutrition and body image, I am not a doctor. And we need to be speaking with physicians who can actually answer the hard questions, sharing with all of us why it is possible to provide medical care without suggesting weight loss (and that, in fact, this actually results in better health care.) So this week on the podcast, I am joined by Dr. Mara Gordon, a size-inclusive physician doing incredible work to dismantle anti-fat bias in medicine. I’m so excited to share this conversation with you because I approached it with your most pressing questions in mind. Together, we explored some of the most common concerns in this community. In this episode, Mara and I discuss: The personal and professional experiences that led her to question weight-loss advice. What weight-inclusive care looks like in practice. How diet culture and BMI are entrenched in medical education. The harm caused by weight stigma in healthcare—and why it’s time for change. Why weight-inclusive care benefits everyone, not just people in larger bodies. How to advocate for yourself in medical settings (e.g., declining to be weighed). The science behind why health and weight are not synonymous. Advice for fellow physicians who are skeptical of the size-inclusive approach.
If you’ve ever felt hesitant about going to the doctor, or if you’re curious about approaching your care with more compassion and respect, this episode is for you. Grab a cup of tea, get ready for a cozy pep-talk, and listen here. You deserve providers you can trust.
You deserve to feel truly cared for.
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