I have noticed that fat shaming has surged in popularity since the COVID quarantines began. The fat shaming is usually done by those who oppose the mandates whether a mask mandate or a COVID vaccine mandate. I have heard and read countless comments like the following actual comments found on Twitter and other social media platforms:
“The unvaccinated aren’t overwhelming the hospitals, and even so, we don’t take the same approach to smokers or those that are morbidly obese.”
“She’s morbidly obese and double-masked with a face shield. But sipping on a 680 calorie McDonalds frappe.”
“It isn’t my responsibility to get vaccinated to ‘save the hospitals.’ If you want to make that argument, first tell all the morbidly obese people to lose weight to ‘save the hospitals.’ Then get back to me.”
“50% of Americans live sedentary lifestyles. 45% of Americans are obese. 20% are morbidly obese. And we’re told that the most serious pandemic we’re facing is a virus.”
While none of the above comments may seem hurtful to those who have never struggled with obesity, they are very hurtful to anyone who has struggled with obesity. People, usually those who are thin or have a healthy or normal weight, are continually using obesity, over any other health condition, as a way to make a point or compare and contrast with dramatic flair. While it is not okay to use racial slurs or homophobic comments or sexist remarks publicly, it is still considered okay and generally acceptable to mock, bully, and shame those who are obese or “fat.” I have even heard influential and popular social media personalities, whom I highly admire, speak of the obese with disdain and ridicule during this time of COVID.
In case you didn’t know, obese individuals tend to shy away from the spotlight or from bringing attention to themselves. They want to be invisible so nobody starts in on the jokes and ridicule, even from friends and family, those who supposedly love you. They don’t want to notice the looks of disgust that are constantly shot their way. In family gatherings or among friends even, the overweight or obese are bombarded with unsolicited advice on how to lose weight, improve diet or work out more effectively. Everyone suddenly becomes your dietitian or personal trainer.
People believe that the obese choose to be that way and are either lazy, stupid, or gluttonous or all three at the same time. Though this may be true in same cases, it is NOT TRUE in a lot of cases. According to Dr. Susan Pierce Thompson, author of Bright Line Eating, “genes contribute to anywhere from 25% to 80% of the variation we see in people’s weight.” Additionally, “one in six people have a variation that makes them 70% more likely to become obese.” Those who struggle with obesity have “consistently higher levels of Gherlin (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) in their blood and higher responses to Gherlin and food rewards in the brain.” There is another hormone at play called Leptin, which is the satiety hormone. Dr. Thompson writes, “overweight people have more Letpin in their blood than slender people.” Those who struggle with obesity basically struggle with “insatiable hunger caused by Leptin resistance.” So, in essence, obesity is partly a hormonal issue. Yet, we treat it like a sign of lack of willpower.
According to Dr. Thompson, “willpower is actually just a brain function that originates in the anterior cingulate cortex.” She adds that the resource of willpower is actually finite and “…most of us naturally have only about 15 minutes of effective self-regulatory capacity at a time.” Additionally, “…studies have shown that the anticipation of food in the brain of an obese person is much stronger than a slender person, but when they eat, their pleasure is lower.”
When you are overweight or obese, people try to shame you into weight loss. Well, that doesn’t work. You can’t hate yourself to weight loss. So, if you want to support those who are overweight or obese in your life, love on them. Accept them for who they are and whatever shape and size they may be. This is NOT enabling the problem of obesity. Some would suggest that having overweight or heavy or big role models, like Lizzo or Adele, is sending the wrong message to people. Some say that the body positivity movement is a shameful one and one that promotes obesity or poor health. Can’t overweight or obese people love themselves and see their shape or size or struggles reflected in popular culture icons like everyone else? Can’t obese or overweight children see themselves reflected in a positive way in our society? Are they are supposed to hate themselves as children because of this message they are invariably getting implicitly or explicitly from the haters and shamers? Is that supposed to inspire them to love themselves or even feel worthy of being the healthiest weight they can be?
Overweight or obese individuals are worthy of living and receiving their best lives just like everyone else. They have probably been on diets more than anyone else. They likely have been ridiculed and shamed more than anyone else just on the basis of their appearance alone. They may have medical conditions or take medications that interfere with their ability to lose weight and/or contribute to their tendency to hold or put on weight more easily. As previously stated, there is likely a genetic component involved when it comes to issues involving weight or appetite. Whatever the cause, it certainly isn’t due to a character flaw or a lack of willpower. In the grand scheme of things, we ALL need to learn to love ourselves better regardless of what we look like. We have been brainwashed to believe that looks are everything.
One thing that people don’t talk about it is the idea that those in positions of power on this planet may want us to be fat and suffering from ill health. Healthcare is big business, weight loss and diet are big business. When we aren’t in the best of health, we are physically weaker and can’t fight back against the attempt to divide and control us. Ever seen the movie WALL-E? Men are the ones who are typically in positions of power on this planet and we are told that they are “visual” and we ought to respect that. Women who want to get ahead or do get ahead in this world typically do so because they are connected to a powerful man, because they have slept with the right man, are willing to or are mind controlled to play the part of a Jezebel or Honeypot or Sex Kitten, or look appealing to the right audience.
Any sort of position of influence or power in this world may involve increased visibility, fame, attention or celebrity. We are hit over the head with the message that any success in these fields is only for those who look the part because these institutions, such as the mainstream media or the entertainment business, are “visual mediums.” So, people who look the “right” way but who may lack substance or talent or intelligence are chosen over anyone else simply because they meet the visual criteria. I’m hoping that this is all changing right now in the world, right before our very eyes.
There is something to be said for the spiritual purpose of being overweight or obese. Perhaps, you want to work on the spiritual lesson of humility or empathy. Perhaps, you are meant to fulfill a mission where your weight makes you less threatening and more appealing in a way to others, especially other women. Sometimes, those that struggle with weight issues do so because they put others first and live a life in service to others rather than service to self. But obviously, we still have a long way to go when it comes to evolving past judgements and superficiality. It has been open season on the obese and overweight and right now the bullets are coming fast and heavy. But we can all be bullet dodgers and reclaim our health and our light through self-acceptance, compassion and most importantly, self-love.