We live in a world of unexamined fat prejudice and size prejudice, especially against women. This results in a bias that influences researchers, impacting how research is carried out and interpreted. We end up with questionable research that few people question.

Sadly, some of the worst fat shaming comes from those who we pay to help us -- medical professionals. These well-meaning (or not) professionals have been reported to make negative comments about a patient’s weight, pressure patients to lose weight, and even dismiss worrying symptoms as mere byproducts of body size. While this is not only bad medicine, it is highly irresponsible.