Changing Perspectives for Medical Students

Graphic shows a medical symbol and reads “Changing Perspectives”.

By Alexis Wildman, MS2 

As a second-year medical student and long-time devotee of the “clean eating” diet, stumbling upon Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison shook my foundational understanding of nutrition and what it meant to eat healthy. It made me realize how I, as both a member of society and as a medical student, had been perpetuating a system that values and respects smaller bodies under the snooty guise of health monitoring. 

Having witnessed this side of the diet industry and its enabling cousin, the medical establishment, there was now no denying that people in larger bodies had a vastly different, and often problematic, experience as they sought out healthcare as compared to their smaller-bodied peers. 

As I moved along in my medical education, it became abundantly clear that while people might have preconceived notions and biases about weight going into the field of medicine, it is nearly impossible to come out without them. It seemed that diet and exercise were the answer to so many different diseases and it would be remiss to not include a quick chat on “lifestyle modification” when discussing a course of treatment. While certain conditions may benefit from this “lifestyle modification” (whatever that may mean), diet, exercise, and especially weight loss are not the panacea they are prescribed to be.

This journey of identifying and challenging fatphobia began as a personal one, but I realized that this was knowledge that my fellow medical students needed too. We are the next generation of health professionals, but our education on the treatment of larger bodies is being informed by the current establishment. If something is to change, it needs to start with us.

Knowing that I would encounter a minefield of criticism by challenging the medical establishment’s attitudes towards weight, I wanted to bring as much authority and knowledge to this topic as possible. I wanted an expert in the field because I knew this message would be better delivered and received if done by a well-versed, reputable source. During my search, I came across NAAFA. At first contact, I was nervous because these were true experts in a field that I was only beginning to scratch the surface of, but I was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm.

NAAFA connected me to Dr. Lily O’Hara PhD, MPH and an associate professor at Qatar University. She was exactly who I had been looking for. Despite an 11-hour time difference, Dr. O’Hara agreed to speak to our students during a lunch hour talk. Her lecture offered a brief overview of many topics surrounding fatphobia and medicine including the over reliance of BMI as a marker of health, the social determinants of health and Health at Every Size principles. With over 50 students from all levels of training in attendance, it was clear that this was a conversation we not only needed to have, but wanted to have.

While we couldn’t solve fatphobic medicine in a lunch hour, Dr. O’Hara provided a new perspective and some action items to carry forward into our budding medical careers. Most importantly, it started a dialogue. The reviews were in, and the majority were positive. I had numerous conversations about how eye-opening this lecture was for both their professional and personal lives. People were starting to see the harmful effects of fatphobia and question their assumptions of what health looks like. There were also critics who came to the talk armed with research papers backing their preconceived notions, but I’d like to think that while we might not have changed their mind, we added some nuisance and empathy to their world-view. I hope these conversations will continue and that my colleagues and I can move into our careers with greater diligence placed on maintaining a weight-inclusive practice so that patients of all body sizes feel comfortable and welcome to receive medical care.  

Picture of Alexis Wildman.

Alexis is currently a medical student in California. She was born and raised in the Golden State. She has wanted to be a doctor for a long as she, or her parents, can remember. Her dream career is working with underserved populations as an OB/GYN in an urban/suburban setting. She wants to make her practice inclusive to all folks that seek medical care, especially those living in larger bodies, those with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+.

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