Written by Q.Haynes
Everywhere we look, we are bombarded with print and television ads about diets, supplements, and gym clubs encouraging us to lose weight and get rid of body fat. In addition to that, there is this notion that slender people are healthier than fat people. However, articles on weight and health like that of Paul Campos's article Weighting Game refutes that that idea.
In our society, there is this idea that being fat is unhealthy and that we must control our weight. The media portrays losing weight as the means to ultimate health rather than proper eating and exercise. Paul Campos mentions in his article that "while a sedentary lifestyle or a lousy diet...can contribute to weight lose--do pose health risk, there's virtually no evidence that being fat, in of itself, is at all bad for you". He also states that, "there is considerable evidence that even substantially 'obese' people are not less healthy because they're fat".
Most still believe that diseases or medical conditions are sometimes attributed to being overweight. That is not the case. Campos discusses in his article a survey that took place based on the morality rate of groups of people. The results showed that "overweight" people "have equal to lower morality rates than groups supposedly 'ideal-weight' individuals". With that being said, many people of a larger size do in fact live healthy lifestyles. They eat nutritional foods and exercise. Yet, you'll find a thin person who eats whatever their heart desires and is inactive. There are "overweight" people that are healthier than thin people. Sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits equate to bad health, not the actual size of a person.
Unfortunately we live in a society where fat is not accepted. Such discrimination results in people feeling pressured to be thin. Campos explains that the harm that is occurring amongst Americans in reference to weight brought on by the eagerness of wanting to lose it, which can actually have negative consequences. Campos says that, "weight loss of this magnitude and even as little as ten pounds leads to an increase risk of premature death". People also suffer from self-hatred because of their size and turn to terrible eating habits that can result in eating disorders. When it comes to the body, the focus should not be on fat or skinny but overall health.
To read the full article click here
Here is a video of Fatima Parker who is size acceptance activist speaking about size acceptance and having good health.
Khrystal Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting. I agree that there are those who are not skinny and eat healthy I know plenty of people like that. I agree to the statement above that "There are "overweight" people that are healthier than thin people and that Sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits equate to bad health, not the actual size of a person". It was interesting to listen to the activist speaking and she had a point when she said "We all come in different shapes and sizes". She posed the question who said being fat is bad? and I began to think about it. What came to mind was the media they have created this notion that if you are obese its not good lose weight. Every day there is a constant amount of weight loss commercials which clearly gives the assumption that "obese" or "overweight" is not good. She also had a good point that those negative notions against "obese" or "fat" being different leads to discrimination. This was an eye opener and I learned something new today.
I 100% agree with this blog, i did a similiar one myself. I HATE when people call themselves fat. Ask my sister, she has been struggling with her weight since she was little, we are four years apart with me being older. I am of a slender build that if compared to my sister I would be percieved as the "healthy sister". She is a "Fat accepter",meaning she loves herself the way she is, but does want to become healthier, with losing weight as a bonus. She works out 4-5 times a week, eats three healthy portion controlled meals, eats healthy snacks, and barely drinks alcohol. Myself on the other hand eats two unhealthy meals a day, barely snacks except at nigh before bed, barely works out, and drinks almost evey weekend, oh, and smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. So who is healthier? obviously, its my "overweight" sister. Its not fair that people judge other people health on their weight. You can not tell how healthy a person is from the outside.I hate when my sister calls herself fat, even in jokingly ways. She is 100% beautiful, healthy person.
ReplyDeleteSubmitted by Jamiylah Miller
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence about this blog. I feel like the blog itself was well argued. You did great with using and article to support your point. I do agree that the stigma of being "thick" as I'll call it because "fat" is normally a negative term does need to be fixed. As Ms. Parker says in her conversation people need to accept that everyone comes in different sizes. The outdated idea that the thin models on magazines represent the everyday person needs to be eliminated. What I don't agree with is that you can be overweight and have lower morality than someone of ideal weight. That's saying that someone at 400lbs could at live someone at 150lbs. The odds of that are slim because there are Many complications that are strictly tied to obesity. Once again great blog and good argument with supporting theories!