ITV's Dr Amir shares how 'weight stigma damages lives' in urgent warning to GPs
NHS GP Dr Amir Khan, who regularly appears on ITV's Lorraine and This Morning, has shared a passionate plea for doctors to take patients who are overweight more seriously, and not just put down all their ailments to how heavy they are. "Living in a larger body shouldn't mean you don't get equal healthcare access," he wrote as part of his Instagram caption.
He shared there are five things his patients often say have stopped them receiving proper healthcare as they're overweight, and he made a passionate video, urging other NHS doctors not to get stuck in this rut of putting everything down to weight.
Dr Amir said: "Living with obesity or excess weight is hard and can increase your risk of certain conditions, but not every illness is weight-related."
He explained "weight stigma damages lives," giving examples of what his patients have said to him.
1. 'They blamed everything on my weight'
Dr Amir said: "Patients come in with joint pain, breathlessness, irregular periods or low mood, and they walk out with one answer. 'You need to lose weight'.
"No questions, no test, no curiosity, but health is multilayered, and treating weight like it's the root of every problem means serious conditions can get missed.
"I've seen things like PCOS, autoimmune conditions, get delayed because no one looked past the BMI. It's not good medicine."
2. 'They wouldn't refer me until I lost weight'
Dr Amir shared that "time and time again," patients are not referred for things like "fertility treatment, knee replacement, hernia repairs, and even mental health services" until they've lost weight.
He said this isn't "just a barrier" but it's a "health delay with consequences".
"For some, weight loss is extremely difficult due to genetics, trauma, medication side effects, or underlying health conditions. Delaying care means people live in pain, in shame, and in fear," he explained, saying it's "often the care that would really help them lose weight safely".
3. 'They didn't believe I eat healthily or exercise because of my weight'
Dr Amir said: "We've been fed the myth that thin equals healthy, and fat equals lazy. But bodies are complicated. You can be metabolically healthy at a higher weight, and unhealthy at a lower weight.
"Assumptions about a patient's lifestyle based on their appearance aren't just insulting, but they block meaningful support."
4. 'They ignored my pain'
"People living in larger bodies are regularly told their pain, especially joint and pelvic pain, is simply the result of their weight, and sometimes, yes, weight does play a role. But that's not an excuse to stop looking," Dr Amir shared.
He continued: "I've had patients with endometriosis, joint problems, fibroids, and inflammatory arthritis, all of whom have had their diagnosis delayed just because of their weight.
"Being in a bigger body should never mean you're left to suffer."
5. 'I dreaded going to the doctor, so I stopped going'
Dr Amir shared this one is "hard," saying when "people feel judged, shamed, or humiliated" when they visit their GP or the hospital, "they start avoiding care altogether".
He explained that because of this, they can skip really important appointments, and they don't mention things "until it may be too late".
The doctor said: "Weight stigma isn't just unkind, it's a barrier to healthcare. It widens inequalities, and it can cost lives.
"So, I say to my patients, you are allowed to be heard before you lose weight. You deserve respect at every size."
In the comments, someone wrote: "Thank you so much for recording this post, Amir. Your patients are so very lucky to have you as their GP. You are an amazing doctor and an amazing human being. You have a perfect soul full of kindness, empathy and compassion."
Another wrote: "I resonate with number 5. Thanks for sharing; all doctors could take a leaf out of your book."
"I think you could educate a lot of GPs," one woman added.
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