Being fat is NOT GOOD. Neither is being super skinny to the point of anorexia. Being overweight is not something that should be encouraged. It is not ‘empowering’ to tell an obese person that they can stay the same and not change their lifestyle. It is not fucking ‘fatphobic’ to say that being overweight comes with a plethora of health problems. It is not rude to politely suggest to an overweight friend ways of helping themselves lose weight and reduce their health risks.
I’ve had overweight
friends, and I’m aware it’s a sensitive thing to discuss. You don’t want to
hurt the feelings of someone you care about. Directly saying ‘go lose weight!’
is not helpful. Lots of overweight people also have problems they can’t control
like slow metabolism, thyroid problems, or simply genes. I have slim, short
parents so I’m (fairly) slim and short. Despite the fact that I stuff myself
with Burger King Burgers everyday (I’m joking) I still weigh only about 57kg.
If I had a friend who was
drinking themselves to death almost every day – and I did, I used to see her in
the mirror all the time – I would gently advise her to stop or cut down. But you can’t help someone who doesn’t want
to help themselves. If a person has a problem of any kind – food, sex,
drugs, alcohol, gambling, SHOPPING – the only person that can help them is
them. Once they turn around and decide, look; I think I need to change
something here, then you’re ready to help them. Until then they won’t stop.
‘Fat Acceptance’ is
helping no one. The awful irony of it is that it claims to support ‘all’ body
types, yet shames images of healthy attractive people and says it’s ‘fat
shaming.’ I agree, idealised bodies are constantly shown in the media and we
should accept how we look as long as we’re healthy. I don’t think I’m ever
gonna have a pancake flat stomach; I have stretch marks, my hands sweat constantly, if I don’t shave I’ll turn into an ape – you get me. There is no
such thing as a ‘perfect’ body. But there is such a thing as an unhealthy body.

Health and fitness
programs are there for a reason. I wouldn’t call myself the epitome of perfect
health, but I’m not clinically overweight or underweight. I drink lots of
water, I eat fruit, I take Vitamin C tablets, I try to eat as balanced as I can
(be bothered). I walk everywhere and play drums. I probably sleep too much and
could use more exercise, but whatever. The point is; my lifestyle is not
killing me. I don’t drink, use drugs, smoke (regularly), I don’t drink caffeine
and eat less sugar than I used to. I’m a generally healthy person.
Someone that is severely
overweight is not a healthy person. If I was very fat I would look at ways to
change the way I live. But I’m not. Binging on junk has never
made me fat. It’s a bad habit and drinking is worse but it never made me fat. Some people have slower
metabolisms. It takes longer for the body to break down certain foods. Just
like some people have faster metabolisms and don’t seem to put on any weight.
If the way you’re living your life is having a bad effect on your health,
something needs to change. ‘Fat acceptance’ is nonsense that needs to be thrown
in the trash.
I agree with most of this. My further thoughts:
ReplyDelete1. Media marketing goes with aspirational images because they tend to work better at drawing the customer in.
2. I believe the "perfect" body is the "healthy" body. When you are the weight and size etc. you want to be, you feel healthy and perfect. It's more realistic than it seems. :)
Exactly, looking and being healthy and dressing well is all tied to self esteem.
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