She describes a bias against people with obesity by health care providers (and its implications for obtaining adequate health care) that are well documented in the research literature. I recently gained a lot more empathy for large people when I joined the club (part of my motivation for reading the book). Gay describes some experiences that I have had myself. For Gay, both issues are intimately and inextricably connected as she relates a raw, difficult tale that offers insight and an opportunity for empathy development beneficial for any reporter writing about these issues.īy medical definition, Gay would be considered “super morbidly obese,” but she prefers to call herself “fat.” She is highly critical of both the medical community’s treatment of extremely large people and what she perceives as a public health “hysteria” over the “obesity epidemic.” While I did not agree with everything she writes on this topic, I found myself nodding along more often than shaking my head. Gay describes her book as a “memoir of her body.” It’s a body that has wrangled for decades with two issues frequently in the headlines and covered by medical journalists: obesity and sexual assault. (My reason for saying “if they are able” will become apparent shortly.) I think it’s a book every health journalist ought to consider reading if they are able. It was not an easy book to listen to, but I’m so glad that I did - both personally and for my work as a journalist. I recently made an exception on a friend’s recommendation and listened to the audiobook of Roxane Gay’s “ Hunger,” as read by the author (which was important and relevant given its content). I read (and write) nonfiction all day long, so most of my me-time pleasure reading is limited to fiction.
Content note: This blog post mentions sexual assault.