The Fat Naturopath - DeAun Nelson, ND

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The Fat Naturopath - DeAun Nelson, ND DeAun Nelson, ND, is a a naturopathic physician. She is a Health at Every Size (R) practitioner. She is also a Health at Every Size (R) (HAES) practitioner.

Accepted Insurance Plans: Cigna, Pacific Source (RBH), Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Providence Preferred, and Care Oregon. Dr. DeAun Nelson is dedicated to serving a diverse population and providing individual health care without judgement. Go ahead and make an appointment with her today on our website: http://www.watershedwellnesspdx.com/w_practitioners/dr-deaun-nelson-nd-lmt/

DISCLAIMER: Facebook is a public forum. I will not share personal information about you here. Please be aware that anything you post on Dr. Nelson's page is seen by all of my fans. If you need to discuss your personal health information, please make an appointment or email or call Dr. Nelson.

Being dismissed by a provider feels awful. And it doesn’t even always look like they were being “unkind”.Sometimes being...
10/19/2026

Being dismissed by a provider feels awful. And it doesn’t even always look like they were being “unkind”.

Sometimes being dismissed looks like being told your symptoms are stress or anxiety - without investigating any potential root causes.

Or having every concern you bring up being tied to your weight.

You can end up leaving the appointment with no answers, no next steps, and a feeling of deep frustration, or even shame.

No one should have to fight to be taken seriously.

Here’s what I recommend if you’re feeling dismissed by your provider:

Ask why. If a test is denied or a concern is brushed off, ask why? You're entitled to a clinical reason, not just a no.

Ask for it to be noted in your chart. If a provider refuses to investigate something, you can request that the refusal be documented. That paper trail matters, especially if you're seeing multiple providers or building a case for further care.

Write it down after, while it's fresh. What was said, how it was framed, what you asked and what the response was. Your notes don't have to be formal, but you documenting your care from your perspective matters.

Be firm about what you know. You live in your body, you feel what is happening firsthand. You’re not looking for permission to feel the way you do, you’re asking for support in understanding what is happening.

If the dismissal is weight-related, ask this question directly: “What would you do if I were thin?” Sometimes that helps the provider look at symptoms and concerns in a new way. If not, it tells you everything you need to know about whether this is the right provider for you.

Know when to move on. Finding a different provider isn't giving up or a failure. It's recognizing that you deserve care that actually meets you where you are. Even people without health concerns will sometimes change providers because it isn’t a good fit.

Save this post for the next time you need support in the exam room, or use the link in my bio to schedule a consultation.

"Health is not a state we owe the world. We are not less valuable, worthy, or lovable because we are not healthy. There ...
10/16/2026

"Health is not a state we owe the world. We are not less valuable, worthy, or lovable because we are not healthy. There is no standard of health that is achievable for all bodies."
— Sonya Renee Taylor

Your symptoms are real.Health can be complicated. There can be very real issues that don’t make sense unless someone goe...
10/13/2026

Your symptoms are real.

Health can be complicated. There can be very real issues that don’t make sense unless someone goes beyond the superficial.

But complex doesn’t mean untreatable or that you should be dismissed because the answer isn’t easy.

It means we need to really look at what is happening from all perspectives.

I’m here to listen, ask questions, and take you seriously.

If you've been looking for a provider who won't brush past the hard stuff, please reach out. I’m here to support you.

“Obese” is one of the words wielded as a weapon to shame and silence. It becomes dehumanizing, and could lead to poor ph...
10/08/2026

“Obese” is one of the words wielded as a weapon to shame and silence. It becomes dehumanizing, and could lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes. - Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, CD

What do your lab results actually mean?Most people get their results through a portal now - often before your provider h...
10/05/2026

What do your lab results actually mean?
Most people get their results through a portal now - often before your provider has seen them.

Which means you’re reading results alone with very little context other than “in range” and “out of range” and if something looks scary? The entire internet is waiting to tell you the worst possible explanation.
I don’t want you to panic the next time results are ready, so let’s talk about those lab numbers.
First, the results are often not as straightforward as they look.

Some values that fall outside the reference range are actually fine in context.

Some results that come back marked normal may still be something I’d want to keep an eye on.

Second, the reference ranges themselves are population averages - they don’t take your history, symptoms, or what's typical for your unique body into account.
Entering your results into Google or something like ChatGPT still doesn’t give you answers because, again, there’s no context.
Instead of leaving my patients to figure it out on their own, we have a conversation about the results and they have an opportunity to ask questions.

I want you to understand your results so you can make informed decisions about your health.

Pushing through pain and hard days is rarely the answer when you have chronic health challenges.If you spend everything ...
10/02/2026

Pushing through pain and hard days is rarely the answer when you have chronic health challenges.

If you spend everything you have to get through the day, and then spend the next three days paying for it - you didn’t come out ahead.
When you have chronic pain or health concerns your body is already working harder to function..

Your life is more than work and basic care tasks. I want you to leave something in reserve so you can do the things that bring you joy.

It takes time to read your body and understand its needs. And even if you’re stopping before you hit a wall or pushing too hard, you will still have days you need to spend in recovery - but I want you to have as much influence over that as possible.

When you have chronic illness, the people who love and support you are seeing you navigate something challenging.They wa...
09/29/2026

When you have chronic illness, the people who love and support you are seeing you navigate something challenging.

They want to help and often don't know how.

They might offer the wrong thing, or hold back because they don't want to overstep. They care, but they aren’t always clear on the best ways to support you.

At the same time, asking for support can be hard because chronic issues have a way of being isolating over time.

So how do you get the support you need from your friends and family?
Talking about it helps. There won’t be one big conversation that fixes everything. But being willing to be vulnerable and share what’s really going on is a good first step.

You’ll need to educate them about what a good day looks like compared to a hard one and how they can show up for you.

How much you share and when is up to you, but please recognize that you are deserving of love and support.

Hear me out - what would you do if your pet was having a hard day?You wouldn't tell them to push through. You wouldn't m...
09/26/2026

Hear me out - what would you do if your pet was having a hard day?
You wouldn't tell them to push through.

You wouldn't make them feel guilty for being tired or in pain.

You'd make sure they had water, something to eat, a comfortable place to rest.

You'd sit with them.

You'd be gentle with them.

It is so easy to extend that kind of care to our pets and loved ones without a second thought.

So why is it so hard to give ourselves that same care?
Self-compassion takes practice.

An easy way to start is to ask yourself this question:

“What would I do for someone I love who was feeling this way right now?”

Then do that.
Self-compassion (and self care) isn’t about spa days or grand gestures.

Instead, focus on the basics first - water, food you enjoy, fresh air, something that grabs your attention without exhausting you.

If you’re managing chronic illness, it is important to remember you’re a person with interests - not just a list of symptoms to manage.

I bet you do this for others all the time. Now try doing it for yourself.

For folks living in significantly larger bodies, fitting in in the world in general can be anxiety provoking and a chall...
09/23/2026

For folks living in significantly larger bodies, fitting in in the world in general can be anxiety provoking and a challenge.

If you live with chronic pain or ongoing medical challenges, you know you have “good” days and not so good days. Your “g...
09/20/2026

If you live with chronic pain or ongoing medical challenges, you know you have “good” days and not so good days.

Your “good” and “bad” days are neutral - they just are what they are - not a reflection on who you are or your worth as a person.

In my experience, planning ahead, where you can, on good days can make the challenging days easier.

This planning doesn’t have to be elaborate or use all of your “good” day spoons.

Here are some simple preparations that might be helpful:

Have body wipes on hand so getting clean on hard or low energy days doesn’t require a full shower.

Plan to have easy snacks and simple meals on hand for when cooking is challenging. If you like to cook, you can double some recipes and freeze single portions for future use.

Layer fitted sheets on your bed, a method from the book Struggle Care by K.C. Davis (which I highly recommend) - so that changing your bedding when you're exhausted means pulling off one layer instead of starting from scratch.

Will any of these prevent hard days? Unfortunately, no. But they do give you a little extra space to feel good in your body and surroundings when things are challenging.

I also want to point out that planning for hard days doesn’t mean you are giving up or only expecting the worst.

They are small actions you can take to care for future you - little gifts from past you to future you.

Address

1340 SW Bertha Boulevard, Suite 102
Portland, OR
97219

Opening Hours

Wednesday 11am - 7pm
Thursday 10am - 7pm
Friday 10am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm

Telephone

+15036106186

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