Focus: Body Shaming

I struggled with my body image

Even though I have never been overweight, I know what it is like to be judged for my size and appearance. I was a skinny girl growing up. I was judged relentlessly for it. And I was just naturally like that, and it wasn’t in my control to change it. I remember that I ate a lot of fattening food like butter and cream. But I was skinny and would not gain any weight. I think we need to shift weight issues to health, rather than appearances. As an adult I am not skinny anymore, I started eating more and I managed to put on weight, automatically people were less likely to make rude comments, but I still struggled with body issues when people started saying I am putting on weight suddenly. Have I ever struggle with my weight? No. I struggled with my body image. And the comments about body image that people feel are okay to say to a thin person or an overweight person, or any person at all. It doesn’t help, we all have our own battles. Skinny shaming is not okay neither is fat shaming. Anyone who thinks it’s okay to comment on or mock a person’s body, needs to recognize his or her own internalized prejudices. Body shaming is harmful, hurtful and real. If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t bother to say it at all. It is like bullying, you may pass a comment without realizing the effect it is having on the person.

Edila Clare

IT intern based in Louisiana, US

The “dear fat people” video was completely ignorant and not funny at all. Nicole Arbour is a comedian, but she seemed to be providing a personal take on fat people that was more rude than it was humorous. There are jokes and then there is insult, her take was not funny at all it was insulting to overweight people. She acted like a Miss-know-it-all. Body shaming is not acceptable nor is it okay. And it never will be. We all have the right to be happy, in whatever body we are. Body weight is determined by a host of biological, genetic, and social factors, often beyond one’s personal control or choice. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, ‘70 per cent of the variation in people’s weight can be accounted for by genetic inheritance’.

The general attitude that anyone can lose weight by applying themselves is pervasive. Reports and debates on obesity largely emphasize individual responsibility. There are numerous articles that blame children’s weight gain on ‘lazy hours in front of the TV’, instead of engaging in physical activities. But not everyone gains weight due to their lifestyle. And when people with medical conditions are on the receiving end of such comments, they often go into psychological depression and tend to eat more.

Lydia Johansson

Student based in London, UK

I do not think that body shaming is acceptable. But I think Nicole Arbour’s video did make a point. I love comedy and am an avid follower of stand-up comedians. It is not rare for comedians to offend people. All races, genders, body types are made fun of by most comedians. We can choose to be offended, or we can laugh at the stereotyping. Arbour is correct in saying that people are too sensitive about everything these days. Since I have struggled with body weight, I am torn at the subject. It is hard to hear some of the things she said. However, some of her points are very factual. Overweight people are at a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes. They tend to take up more room on airplanes and make others uncomfortable. Many have joint problems that make mobility harder. But I don’t think all overweight and obese people are sensitive about the issue, I have come across many who take such comments lightly. Maybe they appear to take it lightly, you never know how it actually might be affecting them. I for one don’t mind cold hard facts. I do strive to stay healthy and happy and stylish. Appearance does matter. The problem with Arbour and other people who body shame is their delivery. It is not okay that Arbour masks her rude comments with so-called ‘concern’ for the health of ‘fat people’. If she had any concern for them, she would have been considerate to as how it might affect them psychologically, especially those who are already being bullied about their weight. Not all people want to wake up and see this on their newsfeed. The one thing in Arbour’s video that is completely false is when she states fat shaming is not a thing. It is definitely a thing.

Vhiew Rhome Mar

Financial Controller based in Bahrain

Obesity is a serious global problem

I’m not completely against fat shaming. I don’t think it is normal or okay to be obese; otherwise there will be less of an impetus to get healthier. Fat shaming is real and we probably need more of it. The increasing obesity levels around the world is a serious problem, and one of the causes is the normalisation of being overweight. If we want to stop obesity, we need to go back to making it socially unacceptable to be too fat. As long as people think it’s okay to be fat, or live under the illusions that they are remotely attractive, the world will just keep getting fatter and fatter. This is unhealthy! Most obese people know that they are obese. A lot of them are so ashamed of their bodies that they won’t go swimming or running or cycling for fear of attracting the attention of people who will either make fun of them, shame them, or patronise them for how good it was that they started exercising. Some of them may also overeat further to compensate for all that shame. I do know obese people who are very disciplined and controlled in every aspect of their lives apart from eating. They feel like food and their body are the only thing they don’t desperately have to exert control over. I do understand people have medical issues that keep them from losing weight, I think they just need to try harder, it is a win-win situation, they look better and their medical or health issue will be at least slightly if not completely resolved. It is just about making up your mind and taking these negative comments as a challenge to get fit.

Renny Varghese

Call-centre executive based in Mumbai, India

Fat shaming is bullying

Calling someone fat is not just usually bullying, it is always bullying. Shaming in general is wrong! Society has brainwashed us to believe that skinny is the only form of beauty. I’ve known friends who have been picked on for being either fat or skinny. I just tell them, you can’t please everyone. Fat shaming occurs a lot more than skinny shaming, it also comes with a lot more cruel jokes and remarks, most importantly because ‘fat’ is not an accepted body type in society while ‘skinny’ is the standard. To many, being referred to as ‘fat’ is an insult. I have heard skinny girls argue that if heavier girls have no problem saying that skinny girls need to gain weight, there should be no problem with being told to lose weight. My question is why is it even a deciding factor, anyone can be beautiful it does not have to necessarily do with body size. I feel that media is draining our body confidence. This past week, every international news channel and social media platform had stories in reaction to comedian Nicole Arbour’s fat-shaming video. Many understand that it was full of hateful words that mocked the pain of overweight people. And it was nothing that any fat person hadn’t heard multiple times before. What the video did do though was to spark a debate of the importance of educating people on fat-shaming in general. Fat people are regularly shamed for their weight by doctors and media, and constantly told that being thin is morally superior. The harassment of fat people is very real, and it causes serious danger to their health and wellness.

S. Hussaini

Business development executive based in Dubai