Our culture’s obsession with thinness is no secret, as we are constantly bombarded with images of skinny models, diet plans, and weight loss products. But what about the reality of living in a larger body?
When you’re fat, people often see you as lazy, unhealthy, and lacking willpower. You may feel as though you’re not allowed to eat “normal” foods or enjoy an occasional treat; instead, you must be 100% committed to your diet. And if those diets don’t work, well, then you just have to deal with the consequences.
This goes beyond just dieting. Society tends to treat fat people poorly, viewing them as lazy or weak if they don’t follow strict rules about what they can and can’t eat. People who make mistakes on their diet plan (like eating too much chocolate) are punished. Living in a larger body can be challenging.
It’s frustrating because despite knowing that it’s not true, that our bodies are complex and beautiful, and that there is no such thing as a “normal” size, shape, or weight, we still feel trapped in this cycle of fat-baiting.
Fat-baiting is the act of shaming or mocking someone for their body size or weight. This can take many forms, such as making negative comments about someone’s appearance, assuming things about their health or lifestyle based solely on their weight, or promoting harmful stereotypes about larger people. It can happen in both subtle and overt ways and can have serious consequences for the people who experience it, including feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and discrimination. We must recognise and call out fat-baiting when we see it and work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society for people of all sizes.
Fat people are often required to prove that they are worthy of respect. But it’s unnecessary. We can be proud of our bodies without having to prove anything. Instead, we should focus on being good friends or supportive partners. Challenge the status quo: speak up and challenge negative comments about someone’s weight or body size. Together, let’s create a more inclusive and accepting society.
