Fat Shaming – What Is It?
Fat shaming is the act of mocking, criticizing, or discriminating against individuals based on their body size or weight. It often involves negative comments, jokes, or behaviors that stigmatize and devalue people who are perceived as overweight or obese.
Being plus-size my whole life, fat shaming isn’t anything new to me. Sadly, in this day and age, the issue continues to afflict society, especially on social media platforms. (don’t get me started on how much I deal with it in person in the offline world!)
Even with more awareness around fat acceptance, body positivity, etc., online trolls are relentless in their fat-shaming antics. As someone who promotes radical self-love, body acceptance, and more, I want to talk about the harmful effects of fat shaming but first, there are 3 things I wish the online trolls would think about!
Here’s a video I created sharing about a recent experience on the one place I thought was “safe” from trolls – YouTube – and where I share the 3 things (or you can listen to the podcast episode here):
3 Things Online Trolls Need to Know
- The Person You’re Shaming is a Human Being Worthy of Kindness & Respect
When you ridicule someone for their size, you dehumanize them and ignore their intrinsic worth. Everyone, regardless of their body size deserves to be treated with dignity.
Imagine being in their shoes, facing relentless criticism and mockery. How would it feel? Empathy and compassion are fundamental human qualities, and extending them to others can make a world of difference. - Ask Yourself: Is Your Comment Harmful or Helpful?
Before you type out a derogatory comment, take a moment to reflect. Is what you’re about to say contributing positively to the conversation, or is it inflicting pain and harm? Fat/body shaming is never helpful! It only serves to perpetuate negativity and harm. - Stop Commenting on Other People’s Bodies: It’s Not Okay
The size of someone’s body is not your place to comment! Unsolicited opinions about someone’s body are intrusive and disrespectful.
Every person’s body is unique, and their appearance is not open for public debate or scrutiny. Instead of focusing on others’ bodies, shift your attention to embracing diversity and recognize that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
The Harmful Effects of Fat Shaming
It frustrates me that fat shaming is so prevalent. And it doesn’t surprise me… but I digress. Let me share 4 ways it’s harmful:
- Mental Health Issues – fat shaming can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. The constant negative comments can make individuals feel worthless and isolated. (Being plus-size my whole life… I know all about how being body/fat-shamed affected my mental health!)
- Disordered Eating – criticism of body size can contribute to unhealthy eating habits and eating disorders, as individuals may resort to extreme measures to conform to societal standards. (Just ask me how I know this… from personal experience!)
- Social Isolation – fat shaming can push individuals to withdraw from social activities and relationships, leading to loneliness and further mental health struggles. (Been there done that.)
- Physical Health – the stress from fat shaming can have adverse effects on physical health, including an increased risk of chronic conditions.
It is my hope (fingers crossed but not holding my breath), that one of these days people will stop fat shaming & commenting on others’ bodies and remember that everybody is worthy and deserving of kindness & respect!
