How do obese people know if they are sick? Right now I'm sick. When I am sick I experience stomach pain, irregular bowel movement and irregular menstruation, and have a higher than average body temperature and sluggishness.  If this were your constant state, how could you diagnose a fever or the flu? Sure being fat is kind of like always being sick, but I don't understand how you would know if you're ill if your usual state is the same as me when I feel like I need a doctor. Do fat people have to be aware of different symptoms of illness? Is there a chance they go undiagnosed when sick more often? I was looking for stats on this but can't yield anything.