It is often said that perfectionism is the enemy of everything. And nowhere is this truer than in our apparent obsession with weight loss and slimming techniques. Of course, it is always desirable and healthier to have a flat stomach. However, the amount of discrimination that fat and overweight people have to endure because of society’s obsession with weight loss and unreal slimming standards is sickening. Being fat has pretty much become a social stigma and the amount of fat-shaming that some people have to go through in their daily lives has often driven many of them to resort to highly dangerous slimming treatments.

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One thing that people who resort to fat-shaming often fail to understand is that each and every individual’s body dynamics are different. A type of figure that works for one individual may not necessarily work for another. Also, the amount of stress and anxiety that people are under due to fat-shaming often causes psychological and mental health disorders and many have to seek professional help as a result. Often times, fat people resort to starving themselves in an effort to lose weight and find some acceptance in society. This ends up doing more harm than good.

You Can Be Overweight But Still Be Healthy

This may sound contradictory but the fact is that not everyone who apparently seems fat and overweight is actually having health issues.

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He or she may even be healthier than your average slim and slender individual. Just like being thin is no guarantee of good health, in the same way being overweight is not simply a sign of health issues.

In essence, there is nothing wrong with being fat and overweight. We have been conditioned by society and brought up to uphold certain unrealistic and prejudiced standards. One of them is the obsession with a slim figure and an utter disregard and contempt for fat people. Our popular media, both mainstream and social, also repeats the same message over and over again that fat or overweight equals bad. Our television shows depict virtually no body positive characters or storylines of any kind. Also, the diet industry today has become a multi-million dollar industry and a huge part of its advertising/promotion campaigns is focused on fat-shaming to entice people to consume more of their weight loss products (pills, fat-burning belts etc).

Appearance Doesn’t Equal Good or Bad Health

You cannot pronounce someone as healthy or unhealthy simply by looking at them and judging their body shape. Good or poor health is the consequence of an individual’s choices. It is, of course, good to eat well and exercise irrespective of body shape and size. But what is more important is to live healthily and strive for personal well-being, instead of losing weight by hook or by crook.

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Nothing Wrong With Being Fat

Certain notions and stereotypes have held strong in almost every era, stuff for which there has never been any scientific explanation or justification. For instance, about 3 generations ago we believed that women could not become good business leaders, politicians, administrators, or academics. About 2 generations ago, we started to realize that women were just as capable and intellectually gifted as men. However, people of colour and non-white races were still considered inferior and uncivilized. About a generation or so ago, we started to realize that there was nothing that made white people superior to other races. Though it has taken a while, but the world is finally starting to realize that being fat is not as much of a doomsday scenario as it is made out to be. Different fashion campaigns have started using plus-size models in a bid to promote body positivity and encourage people to feel more comfortable in their own skin.

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In an age where our body is an integral part of our identity, believing or propagating the notion that being fat is a bad thing will only cause unimaginable stress for countless individuals. What is needed is to be more considerate and understanding towards fat people and help them to practice acceptance of their own bodies while simultaneously pursuing a healthy lifestyle to ensure personal well-being.

You Can Fat and Happy

You do not have to justify anything to anybody and you most certainly do not have to accept other people’s versions of what you should or should not look like. Ultimately it is your body and you should have complete control over it. Own your imperfections and wear them on your sleeve with pride. Trust yourself and trust the journey. While being overweight is not ideal by any means, your body fat should not be preventing you from living a life full of happiness and well-being.

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Recognize that people come in lots of different shapes and sizes and they all have unique qualities and personalities. Accept your own body completely and give a middle finger to the weight loss brigade. Practice healthy eating and workout routines and maintain a healthy lifestyle. You have as much right to be happy and comfortable in your own skin.