I recently came across an article called, “Body Positivity Is Great And All But Not When It’s Ignoring Health Concerns.” Honestly, it ignited me with strong feelings, which doesn’t happen very often. Sure, I have my own opinions, but I don’t feel the need to rub them in people’s faces unless I am pushed to. This issue that has come across not once, not twice, but multiple times has really started to get under my skin. It annoys me so much because it involves people caring about people’s weight and health when they actually don’t at all. That’s nice and all, but you’re not actually concerned, are you? The whole concerned act just seems like a ploy to make another person feel bad (or perhaps worse).
Let’s get one thing out of the way. I’m a girl with a little bit of chub on me and every day I strive to make my days great. Why shouldn’t I? I try to eat healthily and exercise at least 3 times a week but of course, I like to have cheat days too. What people don’t know is that everyone is at different points of their lives and that is completely okay. And if you feel the need to say something like, “well I think body positivity is just fat acceptance and being fat is not okay,” I think you should keep reading this article with an open mind and heart.
When it comes to body positivity, everyone has a right to be happy. People don’t understand that progress is a slow journey. So a person may appear overweight or obese, but they could also be working on their health. My journey started for many reasons but I’m still working towards a better me. You can’t judge this by outward appearance alone.
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Look, you never know what someone is going through or where they are in their health and weight journey. It kills me that whenever there’s mention of body positivity or being happy in your own skin, there are always people who pretend to care about that person’s health and weight. Let’s cut the crap right now.
Since when did anyone think body positivity equaled pro-obesity? People who are overweight know they are overweight and they are either doing something about it, not doing something about it because of their own reasons, or feeling bad about it because there are some really inconsiderate jerks in the world.
Look, you never know what someone is going through or where they are in their health and weight journey.
Just because you’re overweight doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy. Every body is different. When I say that being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean the person is unhealthy, I’m not just talking about medical reasons. This includes those who have normal lab results or people who have progressed a long way but still have progress to go. It’s hard to tell everything about a person just by looking at them.
So, my question is why try to make people feel bad? To me, body positivity is exactly what it sounds like. It sounds like it’s promoting people being positive in the body that they have in this moment, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, and beyond. No one should be unhappy and down on themselves. Who would want someone to be? Unless your motive is to make overweight individuals feel bad. In that case, you’re a real jerk.
Let’s Stop Caring About People’s Weight. It’s No Body’s Business.
So let’s say someone is overweight, they see the body positivity movement, and they accept that they’re fine just the way they are. Who are we to point fingers and try to discipline over the internet? This person knows about their weight and health. The only opinions that really should matter are the doctors who have seen their lab results. Not random people on social media. Why is someone caring about people’s weight anyway?
What are your thoughts about body positivity? Have you encountered people caring about people’s weight when they actually don’t? Let me know down in the comments!
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Those kind of comments enrage me too, they’re so ignorant and if they really cared about people having a healthy weight they’d shut their mouth as only ourselves can know our bodies, and the results of tests our doctors do, not strangers on the internet. As someone with a history of eating disorders I think body positivity is key to healthy weight loss. When you feel bad about your body you’re most likely to go to extremes that only make it worse, whether by being trapped in bingeing or bulimic cycles or ruining your health being too thin without the right nutrients. If you love your body then being healthy becomes taking care of it, not a war on it, and that’s when you get results long term. We need more of it, not less.
I definitely agree! I think eating disorders don’t discriminate when it comes to size. Just like how some may restrict others may binge. I think it’s very insensitive to comment on someone’s weight because you never know where someone is in their journey. You are absolutely right that when you love your body, being healthy and kind to it yields healthy long-term results. Thanks for reading and commenting, Alessia!