As an aside, I'm overweight, currently a size 18, with the GP today he asked was I gaining/losing / staying the same.
I said I'm the same for a while, not losing but not gaining, I'm concentrating on eating healthy nutritious foods, he agreed and said once that's being done the weight should look after itself.
I'm not stupid, I know I'm overweight, and the associated risks, but he also knows that I'm aware of that, and getting on to me about my size isn't going to be helpful.
I am absolutely all for health at every size (eg, in the example given by someone above that they had a genetic issue, any testing should be done to rule out issues, not just "lose weight") but I'm also well aware there are conditions exacerbated by weight
I was a size 16, and had lost 5 stone. I went to the doctor (on call) on a Sunday, with really bad pain across my middle. I had been awake all night, and it was like an elastic band tightening.
The doctor told me I had a pain in my back, diagnosed lumbago, and gave me pain killers. He told me walking wasn't enough exercise and I needed to loose weight to make sure the pain in my back went away.
At no point during the consultation did I say I had a pain in my back, or even tell him what exercise I was doing. I was crying I was in so much pain, and tried arguing back that it wasn't my back, but I was basically told be was the medical professional not me.
I took the painkillers because I needed relief. I was back in the surgery by Wednesday with my usual doctor, and was diagnosed with gallstones (heridatory ) and had to get my gallbladder removed.
That is a perfect example of what people mean about fat phobia. There is a place for weight to be mentioned, but it shouldn't be used an excuse to ignore quite obvious symptoms underneath the weight.
I've since been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder which makes it quite difficult to lose weight, affects energy levels, and a whole heap of other side effects. Luckily my doctor listened when I went to her about how horrible I was feeling, and didn't just say to lose weight. I went to that appointment with a food diary for the previous 6 week, along with my weight over that time as I needed evidence to show I wasn't eating junk food or overeating burgers whatever else people think. As a fat person, I'm terrified to go to the doctor ever since that experience I had with my gallbladder.