The Stigma of Obesity - Why It Hurts More Than It Helps

In this episode of Healthier Ever After, Rick and Greg explore the often-overlooked impact of obesity stigma—and why it may be one of the biggest barriers to better health.

Drawing from recent policy statements and research, they unpack how weight bias shows up in healthcare, media, workplaces, and everyday life, and how it contributes to depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, and even avoidance of medical care  .

The conversation highlights a critical shift in thinking:
 ➡️ Obesity is not a personal failure
➡️ It is a complex, chronic disease influenced by biology, genetics, and environment

Rick and Greg also discuss:

• How stigma leads to worse health outcomes—not better ones
• Why many patients feel dismissed with “just lose weight”
• The importance of team-based, solution-focused care
• How to balance honesty about health risks with respect and compassion

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation about a sensitive topic—aimed at helping patients feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:24

All right, welcome back. Hey Rick, here we are, healthier ever after. Uh we're excited. We got uh this episode, and I think another one we're gonna talk about some some stuff that's that I think is is uh needs to be addressed. Uh we give advice and information and education here. Uh we we uh are not your medical provider, so please don't take this as as a personal uh medical relationship. We encourage you to seek care uh and information and advice from your personal uh primary care provider, uh medical provider uh before starting any weight loss program, medication, exercise regimen, or whatever the case may be. Uh now we would like to give some helpful information and so let's get into it. Um we want to talk today a little bit about um the stigma around obesity. Like, like we, you know, we our whole thing is about losing weight and maintaining health, and and and that starts with being obese and not being obese. Like we want to move that direction. Uh, but there's there's big stigma. So so interestingly, um I I think I think we're gonna talk about this. Um, there's there's a a big article and a policy statement um on three leading um obesity organizations gave like new guidance. This is just last month, like March of 2026.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

These are the organizations that we use as providers to get kind of our general outline. It's like the American Cardiology Association or the American Diabetes Association or Endocrinology Association.

SPEAKER_01 1:53

Like these are these are the main bodies that give us the generate and analyze evidence and give recommendations based on what is what is helpful. Uh so one of the things I talk about, we're gonna we're gonna get, I think we'll get into a whole episode on just that article. Like, I guess it's it's it's it is really game-changing on how that the recommendations are so different now, uh recently, with the advent of some of these medications we've been talking about. Uh, but but today we want to talk a little bit about um one of the problems. It says it it says um let's see, one of the problems with with obesity, uh being overweight, whatever you know term, uh we're we're not we're not here to to discriminate because that's what we want to talk about. Is is um it says obesity stigma is long been a problem. Uh this this article says more than 40% of people with class two obesity, that's uh a basic mobile uh BMI um of greater than 35 report discrimination due to their weight. Um, so so that's one of the key things that that some of these recommendations talk about. We just want to talk about that a little bit, like why is that a barrier and what what it uh what we can do to overcome that. Uh, and that's just not not as a a you thing. This is uh us as medical providers, this is your primary care provider. Like they're people that need to know and change their practice um because it's it's just a thing. Like, yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

And I think I think going into this, uh maybe this episode and maybe even next one, because we're looking at talking about this stuff, and some of the topics we'll discuss are a little bit controversial. And they're these are not men, these are more information driven. They're more us um speaking out loud as medical providers and as people that have dealt with probably some of the stigma coming our direction as well, um, as people that have been overweight and and still are always going through this process of being better and being well. Um we never, you know, when you listen to this, don't we might say a word wrong here or something wrong there. Don't take it as anything other than we're just trying to generate a conversation and hopefully you hear us and know that we are on your side. And this isn't uh like a us pointing the finger and saying you're bad, we're good, or anything like that. Um, it's really more so about if you're listening to this, you've probably thought one way or another about these things, and we're just trying to bring it to light and have a discussion about it.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

Yeah, no, it's good. And this uh so this discussion kind of comes from an article that was cited by these organizations. This is an a 2022 article uh by um uh lead our lead author was Adrian Brown, uh couple other authors on that. Um, this is this is in a journal of medicine, e-clinical medicine. So this is uh May 2022. So there's a few years old, but this talks about uh it's a review they did uh on the pervasiveness, impact, and implications of weight stigma. And and just I want to read a little bit of the summary on that. It says it says evidence has accumulated to demonstrate the pervasiveness, impact, and implications of weight stigma. Uh, as such, there is a need for concerted efforts to address weight stigma and discrimination that is evident within uh policy, healthcare, media, workplaces, and education. Uh the continuation of weight stigma, uh, which is known to have a negative impact on mental and physical health, threatens the societal values of equality, diversity, and inclusion. So, so, and then it goes on to talk about some of their suggestions and things, but by weight stigma, I think it was talking about like you you're fat and therefore of less value or less valuable, you know, and and and that that affects, like they've shown there's more evidence that affects a ton of things, like mental health, physical health, but other things like education, um, how it's prepared to meet it, your workplace. I mean, you've got some other information on that.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

Even, yeah, even employment, um, you know, even I mean, yeah, the the you know dating websites, they've gathered tons of data on this because like the new age, like that's where a lot of people are are meeting people. I mean, it's probably the number of data. Yes. And so the they pull that data and they're finding that there's just a significant bias um against uh you know, against people that are overweight or obese. And the answer before, and I think that what we're gonna talk about more a little bit, but the answer before was well, everyone should just accept and be uh just really just accept people for their size and that. Um the shift, and and this is once again lack of a better uh way to maybe say this, is no, let's like address the issue. That's not does not mean everyone has to be the same size and and and all that. What it's saying is that like, why are we trying to just say just ignore the fact that the obesity has a a lot of good, really good health reasons, but also social and economic reasons, yeah, that that why you know losing weight and also feeling healthier and being healthier are really good things. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:04

Well, I think part of the stigma that they're talking about, it comes from you know a perception that that first I think it starts with the belief that that obesity is the result of a behavioral problem or a personality flaw. Um, and and and really we'll get into this other guidelines in the next episode, I think, but but uh we talk about how how really obesity needs to be treated as any chronic medical condition. Yeah, and and so so by saying, hey, you're you're overweight, your basic, uh BMI is 40, you know, that that's a lot of overweightness. Um that's like me saying your blood pressure is high, uh, your cholesterol is high, your blood sugar is high. Your blood sugar is high. Like, like there's there's there's medically there's something going on in your body that is going to reduce your health and longevity and life and lifestyle. Like, like it is it is so we need to treat that as any of these other chronic medical uh conditions, um, and and not not in a judgment type of a way, not like this is bad. It's just it's just you have this disease.

SPEAKER_00 8:09

If we dance around the problem, then we just really end up where we started. We put a lot of effort into dancing around a problem and not really addressing it. It's you know, it's there are things like when your blood pressure is just a little bit high and your first visit to your primary care, maybe they will say, hey, let's try lifestyle changes and check back in three months and see how you're doing. Just like if you were a little bit overweight. But once you get to that point where it's going to be a detriment to your health long term if we don't do something about this, we need to, rather than just saying accepting someone for how big they are, you can accept them while still caring about them enough as their medical provider, as their family member, or even as yourself, just wanting to show yourself some love by saying, hey, look, I know that this is going to have long-term health implications. It may affect pre uh future, and we'll talk about uh some of these stats, future job opportunities, things like that. Now, we're not here to say right or wrong, right? Like it's wrong. When people judge people based on um a size or a weight or a color, a race, or anything like that, that's a wrong thing, right? We acknowledge that that's not okay, but what we're saying is that, like, okay, can we do something about that? Can we help patients like you know, lose some of that weight and feel better and um not necessarily fit into a size two, because that's not always the goal, right? It's the goal is to get you in a good place, and uh, and so hopefully we can we can dance around this without once again offending people, more so just let's provide information about these stigmas, why they're there, and uh and it happens in really all areas of our life.

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Yeah. So, so uh I'm I'm just trying to, I guess, glean out how we're gonna talk about just a few minutes, but um what what do we do about that? What the effects of that are. So, so the effects of when we talk about weight stigma, it's it's how we it's negative attitudes, you know. What is it, right? It's negative attitudes, it's beliefs, it's discrimination based on body weight. Um, it includes bias, stereotyping, social exclusion, unequal treatment, um, and it's directed towards people living with obesity, all right? So, so why does it matter? Uh, key impacts. It it it number one, it it uh affects mental health, at least the increased depression, anxiety, low self-esteem. Um, and that's why it can explain in large portion the link between obesity and poor psychological health. A lot of it is is um, you know, we put that on people, right?

SPEAKER_00 10:34

So what what it was it? I I found it on here, psychological depression risks. 1.5 to two times higher likelihood of depression. I mean, you are doubling, if not, yeah, you're doubling your risk of depression by by simply being overweight.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

And once again, that's not a but but but I think one of the points that they're making too is it's not just by being overweight, you're doubling depression, it's how we treat you because you're overweight. 100%.

SPEAKER_00 10:59

Yeah, and I and I, of course, I'm gonna fumble all over my words here. So the the the truth is is that yes, it's the it's the rooster or the egg, right?

SPEAKER_02 11:08

You're you're trying to figure out like roosters don't lay eggs. Oh, rooster chicken. Chickens. I meant chicken hens. Okay, don't listen to me. We are we are medical professors.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

It is chicken or the egg. Um uh what I was getting at is like, okay, so we can argue why it happens and and and what happened first, like, you know, but it's like the under-treatment even of someone that goes into a medical office. I mean, this is our realm, this is what we do. And the medical treatment, if they don't go into an obesity clinic, a weight loss clinic, I mean, the under-treatment of people is significantly higher than had they gone in and they were of a lower weight, it almost seems opposite of what you'd expect.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

69% of doctors report in in one study report weight bias. Yeah. And I mean you're exactly what we're talking about. It leads to less time spent with patients, less empathy and education, reduced trust from patients, and delayed care.

unknown 12:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

All cost all care, you know. So so I mean, that's a that's a real thing, and that's troubling when when your clinicians have this perception and and treat people differently because of their weight.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

It's it's for example, um, if someone comes into the clinic, and I'm just this has not happened in clinic, I'm just trying to illustrate this from a medical side. Let's say that a patient comes in and they're 100 pounds overweight and they come into the clinic and they say they have knee pain.

unknown 12:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:40

Well, immediately the medical provider may assume it's automatically uh due to their weight. So they say, well, yeah, you know, you have knee pain, you should lose some weight. Or maybe they don't even tell them they should need to lose weight. They just assume and they're like, oh yeah, give it a couple weeks, it's probably just some inflammation, it'll go away. Whereas someone of a normal BMI comes in and they say they have knee pain. Well, now they don't have that crutch to lean on and say, Oh, it's your weight. So they might have to look into this a little bit more. The patient might heal feel more heard. Maybe it is partly due to their weight. Does it really matter?

SPEAKER_01 13:11

Like, should they be treated any differently? No, they shouldn't be treated any differently. I think you do the same things. However, uh contrary to that, like like as a provider, I think I talked about this before, but um so come in with knee pain and and you weigh 350 pounds. Yeah. Um granted, uh I I would be wrong to say, you know what, there's nothing else wrong with your knee but your weight. However, I I feel like I'm doing a disservice if we don't address that. You know, like you've come in, if you come in and say, hey, your kidney function looks like it's decreasing, like we did some basic lab work this year, and compared to last year, your kidney function is is down. Um we want to keep your kidneys healthy. Uh we need to address your blood pressure, right? I think the same thing. Like say, hey, your knee hurts. Let's let's we had to we need to look and and and uh things, but there's also this other thing that may be helping or contributing to that, yeah. Um, that I I we we ought to address together, but but address it not as you need to do better in life, yes, as opposed to I need to help you come up with a strategy and a treatment plan for this chronic medical condition.

SPEAKER_00 14:16

I think if patients felt that their provider was offering solutions and help with, hey, yeah, you have knee pain, maybe your weight is a contributing factor, maybe it's not, but most likely if you're overweight, it could be a contributing factor. We know that eventually, at least if it's not now, it will be later on. And then with a team approach, say, not how are you gonna fix this? You eat less, but how are we gonna fix this? How are we gonna work together as a team to be able to like fix this? Because that's really what your primary care provider is, is uh is uh really uh part of your healthcare team. Yeah. So I think if there was less of uh kind of like, I feel like the fingers being pointed at me, and more of like, hey, let's look at the knee, let's do x-rays or whatever it is that you guys feel like is gonna be best at that visit, but also, hey, let's maybe address some of these contributing causes. Um, you know, maybe you shouldn't play so hard at uh at church ball. Um, maybe you need to take it easy. Um, or maybe it is that you have that excess weight and you do play basketball three times a week, and it's just wearing that dang knee down. So I I really think that it I think that the with the stigma, I think rather than avoiding it and then treating patients differently, I think it's like, hey, let's address this as a possible um at least part causation of this, and let's like attack this together. Let's fix your knee or get it in a better spot, but also like let's help some of the can chronic thing.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

Sure. Okay, so so other effects back to what you know, why this matters, um, behavioral effects. So this is this is interesting that the weight stigma, the the meaning that what we put on people for being overweight, the their our perception of them, the the stress that they feel from that, the the ostracized feeling that they may get, that leads to uh increased calorie intake, increased emotional and binge eating, decreased physical activity, and decreased healthcare engagement. They don't want I don't want to go to the doctor. Yep. He's just gonna tell me I'm fat.

SPEAKER_00 16:10

I had this today in the clinic. In clinic today, I had a gentleman that said he doesn't like to go to the doctor um because he doesn't want to be told that he's fat. Again, again, he doesn't like to go in because so then he came into me. Of course, I'm uh I run a weight loss clinic, and so he he came in um, you know, expecting to try to address this, but he doesn't like to go in. He said it raises his blood pressure, and then they're on him about that. And he's like, I don't normally have high blood pressure, but it just stresses me out to come in and be told that, uh, really with no solutions. And so that's a very frustrating thing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:43

I I think I think that's you just said the key thing, I think. I mean, and and and what that leads to, yeah, people don't engage their healthcare product, they avoid going to the doctor. They and so so there's these health problems build up that they don't address, and and and they're you know, depressed more, and so they eat more, and it just it's just so counterproductive. Can I add to that?

SPEAKER_00 17:02

Yeah, um, also, and I don't want to cut off your thought there.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

I know you're also back to where we're going.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Well, all I was gonna say is that adding to that is what I see anecdotally in clinic all the time, and I think you'd agree with this, is that I see people that say, Look, I I had this 25th uh 25th high school reunion coming up, and I literally I didn't go. I found an excuse not to go because I was so embarrassed about the way I looked. So think about that as like a person that would actually otherwise look forward to going to that high school reunion and catching up with old friends and just seeing where everyone everyone has kind of ended up. And imagine being the only reason that you didn't go to that is because, and and some of you probably are listening to this right now, going, boy, that was me, uh, or that is me. Uh imagine the fact that when you socially isolate yourself like that, you will have more depression, right?

SPEAKER_01 17:52

You will have right based only on your perception of your appearance.

SPEAKER_00 17:56

And and it's so, and so maybe your old high school friends would care or wouldn't care. That's that's not the point. The point is that you care and you feel that stigma or that yeah, that pressure to be a certain size or weight. And the problem is is that like to to ignore that and to say that this is only a physical problem is ignoring half of the problem. Yeah. So sorry. I lost my thought. Yeah. Oh, I knew it. I knew it. I see. I cut you off and I knew it. It's all good.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

No, it's all good. We're talking about like the spiral that does. Um, so but transitioning for that, so I think I think one of the things that uh we have to be cautious. This is really hard to talk about sometimes because you know, we don't want to sit there and just say, hey, you're big, you're uh heavy, you're fat, you're whatever, like like those are and a lot of those terms are kind of diminutive, sure, and that's what we're trying to need to avoid. Uh, but but on the other hand, this is not like there's there's a lot of um I I've heard I've heard people say, well, uh, this such and such overweight person, yeah, they just want me to view them like they're normal or they're regular or they weigh the same or that doesn't matter or whatever. And and and I get that, like we ought to treat everyone the same as people, um, not treating them unless because that they're overweight. We don't, you know, we don't do the same thing. You mean you can't see people's blood pressure. That's the easiest comparison, right? People got high blood pressure, you treat it like a medical condition, right? You need to treat this. Um, but but at the same time, we don't want to say it's okay to be overweight. Yeah, you know, because because from a health, not not from a what type of person you are or or what you're doing right or wrong, but this is just an issue of uh being overweight brings so much other um downside to to your health. And so so at the same time of not saying it's okay to just be overweight, um we just recognize it, I guess, as a I think the what they're they're recommending on this is is we need to get rid of the stigma and recognize that as a chronic medical condition that is multifactorial. I want to get into that a little bit as well. Um but but rather than you know, you you do life wrong, therefore you're overweight, uh that that's not how we need to treat this. So it's it's kind of this this balance, like like it's not okay to be overweight be not because you're doing something wrong, but because it's gonna make your life shorter and more miserable. And and that's what we want to try to avoid, we want to make it better and longer.

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Um, and your your weight is so and what he's saying, and I think he Rick said it earlier, is that your weight is not a personality flaw, but it's often like we either view that about ourselves or uh, or maybe even people do view that about us if if we have some extra weight. Uh, but also the answer and what this is saying is that like for the longest time it was you're overweight, but because we don't want to either make you feel bad, or because maybe as a provider, I don't want to have to deal with that uncomfortable conversation. It sometimes gets glossed over. Hey, you need to lose some weight, and then they move on. And what they're saying is like, no, this needs to be treated like any other disease. We need to address the issue. Why we can't just ignore this. Even if, like, even just saying, hey, you did life wrong, like as you were saying earlier, like that's ignoring it because you're actually not offering solutions. You're just saying Well, that's what I was gonna ask you.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

Yeah, so so you have people coming to the clinic, right? And they feel frustration that, like, man, I just I they I I go to the doctor and it's totally overweight and I need to change, you know, eat less and move more. And and do you think that some of the frustration that people feel like as a patient, like I just don't like going to the doctor because they're they just tell me I'm fat, yeah. Is that do you feel like in your experience maybe um is that because it the there's there's a recognition that you're yes, you are overweight, right? But but there is a lack of of real achievable solutions or care or like like yeah, like if there's not a a path laid out, it's like, yeah, you you need to fix that.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Yeah. I think The and me and Rick have been in medicine for a while. Rick longer than me. I'm not trying to say he's old, but he ain't young. Um, I think really what I've been really interested in the longevity thing because it's getting closer and closer to that. I know we need to like extend that life out a little bit. Well, all I'm saying is that we've we've both been in medicine long enough to know that like it's almost like telling a patient that they're overweight is almost where that ends. Like, almost like we've been around long enough to where it's like, hey, you need to let your patient know that their BMI is elevated, and then it's like end of discussion.

SPEAKER_02 22:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

And we're just proposing, as well as the stigma and and these articles that we like to reference to, we're just proposing that it shouldn't stop there. It should be you're overweight. What can we do? How can we support you? If that's medications, great. If it's just lifestyle, some people do and can be successful just lifestyles. Now we know that's only 5% or a 5% reduction compared to 25% with medications, um, and it's specifically GLP1s, but the point is, is there still is a number of people that through lifestyle changes, but if your provider or whoever's counseling you on this doesn't have good solutions for this, then a lot of times it's like now all you do is get told I'm overweight with no solutions. So once again, who's gonna really want to go back to their doctor's office and say, hey, I have stomach pain, and they always bring it back to, yeah. Yeah, so you're probably overweight.

SPEAKER_01 23:35

This so this article we've been talking about uh mentions that a little bit, kind of how you describe that. What they said is that it there's a the dominant narrative that we've all been taught or had or exists currently is is is they summarized it as weight is fully under personal control.

unknown 23:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:50

So so your result, your weight is a is a hundred percent the result of your behavior, right? And and so that what that does is it it um it it ignores the evidence that shows that obesity is complex, multifactorial, it's biologic, it's genetic, it's environmental, it's determined by social factors. Um, and so so the misconception, this is under your full control, you just need to fix it, right? It that that drives um health policy issues and and and care that you get at the position. There's blame-based policies, there's stigmatizing messages, just eat move, eat less, move more. You know, those are things that that uh perpetuate this idea that that this is just something that you have done. Um and and we would never do that with another medical condition, another problem. We wouldn't say, oh, your blood pressure is high. Yeah, you need to you need to fix that.

SPEAKER_00 24:43

I think you pointed out the thing that is so the biggest thing that's the difference between obesity and your blood pressure or blood sugar or cholesterol. Um, I think you pointed it out earlier, and I haven't actually thought about it like this, but it really did kind of like, oh, like light bulb, is it's one of the only conditions that you can look at someone and tell they have immediate and now you need no other information, right? As their medical provider or as a person walking down the street, you immediately make assumptions based on that. And that that can be good or bad, that can be uh we all have biases, and so I think that this is getting at is like why why not address this issue as opposed to just ignore it?

SPEAKER_01 25:27

Well, and and and and it's and it's then it's it's compounded, like for example, by media, yeah. I mean, it's you know, go that the media's role frequently portrayed. I mean, how how is an obese person portrayed in the media? Yeah, frequently as as lazy or undisciplined, you know, and and and that that perpetuates this narrative. So, so what does that do to anyone? You know, I mean that that that just means this thing that I can see, I can see your medical issue. Yeah, it you you're you're overweight. Um and and it I that have that message from from media, like that, you know, you're overweight, and oh, that means you're lazy and you're undisciplined, and and therefore I'm not gonna hire you, or I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna date you, or I'm not gonna, whatever that may be. It's it's it's it's this cycle.

SPEAKER_00 26:13

It makes you wonder. Um, when you're talking about that, it kind of made me think I'm like, it makes you wonder if what if we had like our blood pressure always on our forehead? Like, what if it was like always printed on our forehead? Like, can you imagine? Like, sometimes you'd look at people and be like, dude, uh your cholesterol, your yeah, like your LDL is printed here, your blood pressure is here, and you're like, ah, wow, dude, what did you eat for lunch? Set down the donut. Um, it's the the the truth is is that when it comes to obesity, that's what it is. And no one else has that. And it's like the scarlet letter. It is. And we treat it that way. We 100% do. So, how do we, as medical providers, is this is what that's trying to address, is how do we address that as medical providers? How do we address that as human beings? And and part of that answer, not the full answer, but part of that answer is to address obesity, right? Is not to view it as something that is uh inchable.

SPEAKER_01 27:08

Address it as the chronic disease that it is.

SPEAKER_00 27:10

Yes. And when we work on your blood pressure and when we work on your blood sugar and everything else that we might be able to find on a lab test somewhere that's not advertised to the public, we also need to treat obesity like that. And it is multifactorial. I've had patients that can um change lifestyle and get their blood pressure under control. And I've had others that no matter what they do, they can work out three times a day and eat all the good things. And even just because of genetics and uh just life factors, they can't get their blood pressure under control without uh medication. So obesity is the same thing. Everyone's gonna require a little bit different answer, and that's gonna be very complex and multifactorial, as it's said.

SPEAKER_01 27:50

Well, and and and and so going on to some key recommendations, then we don't run all night, but but um some of the key recommendations, number one, change the narrative. So we need to change the narrative, treat obesity as a chronic complex disease, shift our our our talk, how we treat this uh from a weight-centric to a health-centric, right? Obesity is not just you're big, you you have a stronger relationship with gravity than I do. I think you see how you put that, but it's a health-centric, and that's what we're talking about, is like all the all the things that come with that. And and so we want to improve health. And so we change that narrative a little bit. We avoid stigmatizing terms like morbidly obese and obese, and like I don't know what else we say as in the medical field. I mean, those are literal things, but but you don't want to say, hey, you're fat, you're you know, whatever. Um, and then um uh there they talked about healthcare reform, train providers. I mean, this this is you know, this is a big policy. This isn't something that anyone listening to this really is gonna um do, but but but it their recommendation, we need to talk to medical providers, we need to train in medical schools how to uh recognize and reduce this bias, how to um create wet weight inclusive environments and and address social determinants of health. So there's there's a whole lot of things, you know, media reform, use accurate, non-stigmatizing portrayal. I mean, there there's a whole lot of things we talked about that that we go into that, but but really it in in the short version, I think I would just say it is it's treat people like people and and treat obesity like any other disease.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

Can you imagine how ironic all of this is that we treat the people that probably need the most attention and the most care? Um the the healthcare system that's supposed to be helping them alienates alienates them. Yeah the the people that are supposed to be helping them uh push them to the side because of a condition that they actually should get more help, more care, feel more comfortable in that environment because that's where they're getting their their problem addressed. Instead, it's met with a stigma that actually forces them, force is a strong word, but um promotes them to really not be able to or feel comfortable going into that environment. And so it it's not saying ignore it. It's not saying, hey, yes, we should just make bigger clothes and promote obesity, uh, because there is kind of a thing that a shift in in society that seemed to go that way for a little while. It's actually saying let's talk about it and address it, let's not shame people, let's address it.

SPEAKER_01 30:20

Yeah. I I mean I got nothing else to add to that. It's yeah, we gotta do. Okay, that's what I gotta do. Um I think that's good. Um, yeah, so so I mean this this I guess this is a little different off the normal path or thing, but it's an important thing to address and and and be aware of. And if you're in any of these situations, really we we we want you to be able to have a relationship with your healthcare provider. We want to, we're actually working on some things to try and uh provide some education to medical providers uh to do to do this very thing, to kind of change this narrative, change how we view and how we treat uh obesity or overweightness, or you know, whatever are we gonna change that narrative to, but uh so that so that we can treat this like any other disease and treat you know people of all shapes and sizes uh the same and equally and get them the help that they need and the health that they need. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 31:12

So I think that's great. Yeah, I think once again, um take this for what it's worth. We're gonna talk about all subjects, and sometimes they're gonna be a little bit touchy, but um, they should be. This is not a this is kind of of a touchy subject, and and so take it for what it's worth. We're here to help. Uh, we're we're trying to provide good information. Hopefully, you can find a good health care provider in your area that you can trust and that is moving towards uh really just trying to help, you know.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

And I'll address this as as yeah, as what it is.

unknown 31:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:42

All right, best of luck, and we hope that you can get to that point where you are healthier ever after.