There is a big movement today to support plus sized people, but that does not carry over into healthcare. Overweight people tend to be overlooked in the healthcare industry, as most of their issues are thought to be caused by their weight, when there are actual serious issues that are going on. A big example of this is colon cancer. Many young women who are of a larger weight and go to the doctor for GI changes often get told that their weight is the problem. However, many of them get diagnosed with colon cancer that could have been easily treated had their complaints been taken seriously. Overweight patients are also seen to have worse experiences in doctor’s offices. These doctors have shorter appointments with them and show less emotional rapport and respect towards them, as they tend to focus on their weight as the main issue even if there are signs that what is going on is non-weight related. Therefore, these differences in the care they receive can cause worse outcomes for their health, and can have really long term serious consequences.

By signing this petition, you are helping to raise awareness of this major flaw in the healthcare system that affects many people today. You help push healthcare professionals to keep bias out of their practice and take patient complaints seriously, as they can have fatal consequences.