Episode 232: Weight Stigma in Healthcare Is NOT in Your Head (and What You Can Do About It) with Dr. Vicky Borgia

”Telling someone to lose weight is a really quick way to get through that eight minute visit, and not ask about what people actually eat before you say ‘eat less’.”

Walking into a doctor’s office shouldn’t leave anyone feeling ashamed, dismissed, or anxious about their body size. Yet for so many of us, medical care is filled with weight stigma and harmful assumptions that have nothing to do with real health. In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Vicky Borgia, a physician who practices truly weight-inclusive medicine. She shares candidly about what’s really happening behind the scenes in healthcare, why these biases persist, and how you can start advocating for yourself, no matter what size your body is.

I know firsthand how quickly conversations at the doctor’s office can turn toward weight, even when it has nothing to do with what your body needs. Dr. Vicky opens up about her journey through medicine, battling systemic pressures, insurance-driven metrics, and her own history with eating disorders. Her honest reflections reveal how deeply diet culture and fatphobia are woven into the medical world – not just impacting patients, but providers too.

This episode isn’t just about naming the problem. It’s about reclaiming your power. Dr. Vicky breaks down the logic behind weight stigma, how it turns up in everything from blood pressure readings to access to surgeries, and offers practical tools anyone can use to protect themselves in medical spaces. You’ll walk away feeling validated, educated, and ready to challenge the narrative that your worth or health should ever be measured by a number.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why weight stigma in healthcare is NOT “just in your head” (and how it actually shows up in real appointments)
• How physician bias, billing pressures, and convenience often drive weight-centered care, not evidence-based medicine
• Practical strategies to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office, even if it means declining to be weighed
• How to start building a weight-inclusive care team (or set boundaries with the team you already have)
• What happens when medical advice differs wildly based on body size

Resources:

• Connect with Dr. Vicky Borgia
• Don’t Weigh Me Cards
• Ragen Chastain on Substack
• ASDAH Health at Every Size® Healthcare Provider Listing
• M.S.S.I: Size Inclusive Healthcare
• Aubrey Gordon
• What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is it so hard to stop eating when I’m full?” – you’re not alone. And spoiler alert: it’s not about willpower or control. It goes so much deeper than that. Grab the free Honoring Fullness Checklist right now at DietCultureRebel.com/Checklist to start building a more positive relationship with food.

Come back next week for another episode and connect with me over on Instagram at @diet.culture.rebel.

Struggling with food, but not sure where to start?

You don’t have to feel 100% ready to get support. If you’re tired of obsessing over food or feeling stuck in the diet cycle, my team of Registered Dietitians is here to help. We offer one-on-one nutrition counseling—and we accept insurance! Spots are limited, so head to https://dietculturerebel.com/insurance to see if we’re covered in your state and learn how to get started.