I’m not even going to lie, up until this instant I thought something was wrong with me (maybe that i was the ‘ugly kind of fat’?) because I didn’t think plus sized models were retouched so much. I know that sounds stupid, but I have never considered the reality that even the models of fat women are heavily doctored.
Same shit, different numbers.
Hey look it’s my catsuit!
not only are plus size models heavily retouched, but they also have to wear padding to make their curves curvier so that we hate ourselves for not having exaggerated curves on our beautiful lumpy bodies.
This is super important and belongs on my fashion blog. Don’t you ever feel ashamed, because your fat doesn’t look like the model fat! It’s the fashion industries fault for not being able to dress actual people!
Partial Reason for reblog: It is just bizarre to see people from high school as like, internet personalities. With their real names and everything.
First of all, I apologize for taking so long to answer your post. When I received it I was still out of town. Second, I wanted to write something thoughtful and I needed time to not write something out of anger. Anger that you would accuse me of doing harm by not mindlessly insisting on weight loss as the ultimate solution to a fat person’s health problems.
To start with I would like to state that I do not refuse to advocate weight loss, where it is appropriate to do so. I assume that you are operating on the false assumption that being fat automatically makes a person unhealthy. I can assure you that it does not.
“But, what about the obesity epidemic? What about the diabetes epidemic? But what about…?” I hear you ask.
There are lots of illnesses that have been statistically correlated with being fat. But the thing to understand is that correlation does not equal causation.
Lets use Type 2 diabetes and fatness as an example. Diabetes type 2 is an illness of insulin resistance. That means the body requires more insulin to produce the same sugar lowering effect than a nondiabetic body would need. Insulin is produced by cells in the pancreas called beta cells.
Contrary to popular belief, people don’t just go from being nondiabetic to diabetic overnight. Rather there is a process that occurs. We have found that there are differences in a person’s beta cells that happen long before a person even begins to show signs of insulin resistance. Many people who go on to become type 2 diabetics will have higher levels of insulin circulating in their bodies for years before they even become prediabetic. One of the other functions of insulin in the body is to promote the storage of excess energy as fat. So, insulin makes people fat, and keeps people fat (makes it harder to lose weight).
Can you see where I’m going with this? The question now becomes, are people diabetic because they are fat? Or are they fat because they are diabetic? This is an extremely important distinction to make.
When I see a diabetic person, fat or not, I tell them to make sure they get plenty of exercise and to watch what they eat to control their carbohydrate intake. What does this sound like? “Diet and exercise.” The difference is that I don’t tell people to lose weight. Many of my patients who follow this advice do in fact lose weight, and that is fine. Many of my patients do not. That is also fine. They all have better control of their sugars, and in most cases, to similar degrees. I fail to see how not insisting on losing weight is “doing harm.”
There are times when a person’s weight turns out to be a factor in their illness and where weight loss may help in treating it. In those cases, I do suggest some weight loss. But in NO case is it ever necessary for someone to get to their “ideal body weight” to help their condition.
Finally, let’s look at the idea of “doing harm.” Did you know that studies (link and link) have shown that the medical profession as a whole is biased against fat people? That there are countless stories about people having serious illnesses going undiagnosed because they are fat and doctors refuse to look beyond that? That fat patients stop going to their doctors after being repeatedly made to feel ashamed for being fat by their doctors? For trying so hard to lose weight but not being “successful?” That, to me is the real harm that is done. The psychological harm. The physical harm that results from not going to the doctor for a serious problem because the doctor will either ignore it or just embarrass them again.
Are you aware that the vast majority of people who lose weight are not able to maintain that weight loss over the long term? And that people can end up far fatter than they would have become otherwise due to the lose-gain cycle. That that cycle can also cause serious harm to a person?
I care about each and every one of my patients whether they are fat or not. Whether they are healthy or not. Fat patients get the same consideration given to their concerns as thin people. I don’t simply dismiss things because a person is fat or tell them that losing weight is the ultimate answer. If my medical work up indicates that losing a small amount of weight may help, then I suggest it. Otherwise, it is not necessary.
Finally, before you try to tell me about all the research that shows being fat is unhealthy, I have a few of links to lots of evidence-based medical research that shows that being fat does not necessarily make one unhealthy.
I always see people talking about how eating too little or forgetting to eat is a symptom of mental illness and therefore shouldn’t be judged, but I never see anyone say anything about how mental illnesses can drive people to overeat.
People with binge eating disorder exist.
People with ADHD who eat when they’re bored, and need something to do exist.
People with depression who comfort eat exist.
People with PTSD who overeat as a way to make themselves look unappealing, or as a way of comfort exist
People who overeat as a form of self harm exist.
We exist.
Because overeating and being fat is so harshly hated upon, no one wants to believe that fat people are struggling with mental illness; they just want to believe that fat people are lazy and refuse to change because they don’t want to.
We don’t owe you anything.
I had no idea that was a symptom of ADHD! I just thought I had no self control or something.
Many fat women are taught from a young age their size is shameful. Activist Jes M. Baker said this is not only insulting, but patently untrue, which is why she’s on a mission to spread the #FatGirlsCan challenge. Watch the inspiring full video for ‘Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls.’
People are really mad that Nike released plus size clothes? How can you say they’re promoting obesity for making athletic clothes in bigger sizes lmao, what do you expect bigger people to wear if they wanted to work out if there aren’t any plus size clothes?
the same people who whine and say “fat people should just work out!!” are now mad Nike is making bigger sizes. i can’t
Steel Phoenix Studios 