A ‘Can of Worms’ inspired piece.
Is it okay to tell a fat person that they need to lose a few pounds?
If you answered no to the above question, good for you! You agree with the majority of Australians. Well no. You agree with NICE people. Now here is my next question:
Is it okay to tell a skinny person that they need to put on a few pounds?
I’m sorry, but if you answered yes to that and you’re not a doctor of any kind, you’re a hypocrite. Though it is in fact DANGEROUS to be too skinny and can lead to many health disorders just as someone who is fat can be unhealthy
As one of those “skinny people”, I have to say that I’m sick of people declaring “Oh my God, you’re so skinny!” or, significantly worse, “You’re so anorexic!”
I do not have an eating or mental disorder, thank you very much. And no, I don’t like hearing that sort of thing, not even from my friends. Even though I should know that they're only looking out for my health
I think people assume that because we’re skinny, we don’t have any self-esteem issues concerning weight and body image. Wrong. I think people assume that I don’t eat, or throw up after every meal. Wrong. I actually eat a pretty unhealthy amount of junk food. And I cry every time I want to eat a white chocolate bar., because I know it's unhealthy! And I can't have any chips or soda. And just because I'm thin I don't think it's a serious health hazard even though people have told me that I look very sickly. Other than walking to my bus stop for school every day, I don’t do much exercise. I don’t shove my fingers down my throat to make myself throw up everything I eat. I have a fast metabolism; meaning that I can eat basically whatever I want and not have to worry about the consequences. Not right now, anyway. Later on in life I could develop diabetes or find that my arteries are clogged. Just because I am skinny does not mean I am healthy. But it doesn’t mean I’m unhealthy, either. Even though I am, and modern medicine could provide me with a solution so I can gain some pounds and be a proper weight for my age and height.
Now, most of us look at fat people and immediately assume they eat too much, or at least too much of the wrong sort of foods. And while in some cases that is probably true, it’s not the case in all. I know a girl my age who looks obese. She’s tried dieting, she’s tried exercising, but it doesn’t shift the weight she’s put on. She actually has a medical problem. But she isn't being provided with medicine to help fix it even though it's POSSIBLE. And for some, like the people on The Biggest Loser, it’s not just about eating the right food and exercising six hours a day. It’s a mental thing, too.
And for skinny people, that can be true as well. One of my cousins on my father’s side has anorexia. It’s not her fault, but because it now supposedly “runs in the family”, my grandmother is constantly pestering me about not eating enough. My mother pesters me about not eating enough, even though she was smaller than I was at the same age. But I should be listening to them. But I don't because they're parents and they don't understand me.
How many times have we heard “you can’t judge a book by its cover”? You can’t judge anyone by what they look like, or the front they put up. Skinny people can be just as sensitive as fat people when it comes to their weight and appearance. So next time, before you exclaim how skinny someone is, or how fat someone is, just stop. Think about what you’re doing and how it would feel if it was you. Remember that there is usually a reason they’re how they are. That goes for everything; personality, opinions, everything. But they all don't matter. Other perspectives don't matter if they come from people who hurt your feelings. dramallama
