Woman’s heartbreaking obituary pleads for fat shaming to end
In an obituary shared by her family, Ellen Bennett – a woman from Canada who died on May 11 – has pleaded for fat shaming to end in the medical community. Her message has been so powerful and touched a chord with so many, the obituary has now gone viral on the internet.
Ellen, who was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and was given just days to live, wanted to share her experience of the constant fat shaming she was subjected to by professionals in the medical industry.
Her family honoured Ellen’s wishes to include a message in her obituary calling out the medical community to put an end to fat shaming.
“Over the past few years of feeling unwell she sought out medical intervention and no one offered any support or suggestions beyond weight loss,” the obituary read.
“Ellen’s dying wish was that women of size make her death matter by advocating strongly for their health and not accepting that fat is the only relevant health issue.”
Photo: Ellen Bennett via Legacy.com
Since going viral, Ellen’s obituary has encouraged others suffering the same fate to come forward and share their experiences of fat shaming.
One woman posted on Twitter, “It is so sad that it has to be in her obit. I personally have been fat shamed more than once by a medical professional and because of it, I have not had a routine physical in years.”
While another woman wrote, “This happened to me four years ago. Too often they just tell us to lose weight and don’t try to resolve the actual problem. They simply blame it on our size. I had bad back pain for months and doctors kept saying to lose weight… I nearly died.”
She added, “I went septic because I was having gallstones which turned me jaundice and they didn’t bother to try and determine the source of my pain – because I was fat and that must be why. Please advocate for yourself and don’t let doctors fat shame you or your loved ones.”
Ellen’s family celebrated her zest for life and acknowledged that they fulfilled her dying wishes of fresh lobster and a bowl of shrimp-wanton soup, as well as filling her hospice room with peonies.
“Please remember Ellen when you next read a great book, go to a play or buy a small object of stunning beauty,” the obituary concluded.
“We’ve lost a remarkable woman.”