Meet Marla

66% of patients with obesity have experienced weight stigma from a medical provider.

Michigan is the only state that has laws against weight discrimination.

Today we tackle weight discrimination by hearing a very personal story from Marla

Marla is the mom of 6 of my patients. I have know her for 13 years

Her oldest son, Miguel (who you will meet on the podcast next week) was the first patient in my IHBLT.

Marla has been on her own weight loss journey for most of her life

In today’s podcast she was generous enough to share that story with us; from childhood to today. What she has been through; as a women, and as a mother. What she has faced, in herself, in her own family, from medical providers, and from strangers.

Marla’s story is so compelling. If you have struggles with overweight or obesity, you will relate. If you have children struggling with overweight or obesity, you will feel heard and validated. If you feel like you are unknowingly passing judgement on others, this will bring those feeling up and force you to reckon with them.

We also explore the fascinating world of epigenetics; the study of how environmental factors and behaviors can affect how genes work without changing the DNA sequence. My hope is that we start to understand the biology and genetics of obesity, we start to lose our stigma and judgements

It’s hard to judge someone that you feel like you can understand or relate to. I hope today’s episode moves us forward in our understanding as Obesity as a Chronic Disease.