At any time in your life have you been the victim of “size-profiling”; someone making an assumption about you based on your size or weight?
Has it happened at work; been denied a job or a promotion?
Has it happened at home; did a family member imply or say directly that your weight would hold you back in life?
Has if happened in regard to medical care; has a health professional ever made an assumption about your medical needs based on your size alone? Has a doctor allowed his or her weight prejudice to cloud medical judgment or prevent a thorough examination that could reveal a true diagnosis? (Read more about that in Abigail Saguy’s Washington Post Op Ed piece, How “Size-Profiling” Harms Overweight Patients )
When it comes to “size-profiling”, this last question may be the most difficult to answer and to face. When it comes to “size-profiling”, are you guilty of victimizing yourself? Have you ever judged yourself not worthy, not capable, not determined enough, not attractive enough, clever, witty, like-able, or lovable enough to engage fully in your life…just because of your size???
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Ellen Shuman is a Life Coach who specializes in empowering people who are working on emotional and binge eating recovery. She is the founder of A Weigh Out & Acoria Eating Disorder Treatment, aPast President of the Binge Eating Disorder Association; BEDA (merged with NEDA), and started the Academy for Eating Disorders Special Interest Group on “Health at Every Size”, ellen@aweighout.com
