Credit where credit is due

So, yesterday I went to the doctor for my annual checkup.  I do this because I am concerned about my health, and because I was raised to be a mild hypochondriac.  I do this because while I know when I feel okay, I also know that I don't know what is going on INSIDE my body and I want to make sure everything is going well.  I do this because a friend of a friend who was in her 30's died last month completely out of the blue, and it was shocking, and I don't ever want to shock the people I love like that.

Here is the deal:

• I want to make sure my heart is healthy.  This means checking my cholesterol, good and bad.
• I want to make sure my thyroid is on track, which means making sure my levels are good, and my meds are working.
• I want to make sure my blood sugar is normal - it always has been, but I don't want to screw around with it, especially with a family history.

Here is what I walked out with:

• A referral to an allergist, because after years of treating me for chronic ear, sinus and chest infections, my doctor thinks this is getting ridiculous.
• A referral to a cool new OB-GYN.
• A flu shot.
• A lecture about weight loss.

Here is what I did NOT walk out with:

• Any credit at all for being a healthy person, regardless of my weight.

I like my doctor.  She is cool and smart and always has time for me.  She is competent.  I believe she truly has my best interest at heart.  And if any of those tests come back with red flags, you can bet your ass that I will work with her on ways to combat any future health risks.  Problem is, she looks at me and thinks my very existence as a fat person is a health risk.  Now, you're thinking, "but hey, she is your doctor, she might know better here."  But this lecture came before her having any evidence in front of her that my weight is affecting my health.  (We'll leave aside arguments about correlation vs causation here, even though those are completely relevant also.)  Her weight loss lecture consisted entirely of "well, I don't like seeing you this heavy, and in the long run it might help you avoid joint issues."

So what she is saying is: I am pretty healthy overall.  She has no idea if there is anything wrong with me, other than hayfever and mild acid reflux (a health issue that plagues friends of mine both fat and thin).  I should put my body through the physical and emotional stress of a weight loss regimen because... just because.  Because she looks at me and sees FAT and her brain translates that to UNHEALTHY.

I would like, for once, to be given some credit for being a generally healthy person who likes walking (even if she hates the gym), enjoys foods (of all sorts, even green), and goes to the doctor regularly.  Setting aside the issue that it's my body, and my business what I do with it, I like to think I DO treat my body with some modicum of respect, and the fact that my outward appearance makes people (including my doctor) assume that I do not is just frustrating as all hell.

You know what they say about people who assume, after all.