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Fat in American Healthcare Part 2: Teenage Period Problems

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TW: Fatphobia, Menstruation  I didn't start my period until March of 1997. I had just turned 14 the December before and my mom was out of town. I kind of knew what was going on, but had to tell my dad because my mom was out of town. I woke my dad up and he went to the store to buy me some pads.  I was in 8th grade and was happy and relived that I finally had gotten my period. I was one of the last girls in my grade to get it. My mom started asking the doctor about it when I was in 5th grade when I started "developing." The doctor said that it was probably delayed due to my weight and if I were to lose the weight that is should starts sooner. Once I did start my period I my thyroid was tested because "She should finally be losing her baby fat." This started my epic journey of testing to see if there was another reason for me being fat. Again this was four years after being told I was fat. This went on for years, but my results were always on the lower side of nor...
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Fat in American Healthcare Part 1: Origins

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TW: Fatphobia, Diet Culture I am fat. No ifs ands or buts about it. I have know this since I was in third grade. I gained weight rapidly despite being an active child. This was first pointed out at a doctor's appointment when I was 9 almost 10 years old. My pediatrician walked in after taking my height and weight and announced that I was in the 95th percentile for weight. She then went on the state that "we" needed to do something about this before it got "out of control." She then started questioning my mom on my routines and eating habits. Looking back now she was not so subtlety blaming my mom for me being "heavy." As a mom now myself I can't imaging how that must have felt. From then on my mom was on a mission to make the family, and by extension me, healthier. From the ages of 10-18 I was on most major (fad) diets of the 1990's and early two thousands. I would lose weight, go back to "normal" eating and gain it all back again. Ev...
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