FAT Acceptance

There are quite a few people out there beating the anti-diet drum. They want to see acceptance of a person no matter what their weight.

I quite agree in theory - people are all created equal and worth should not be measured by body size.

FAT should not matter in an ideal world.

But the reality is different.

There IS prejudice against the obese in work and in society. It's not right but it happens.

And what's more, there ARE serious health implications of being more than a few pounds overweight. There's nothing you can do about that except lose weight.

So I believe the fat acceptance movement have their hearts in the right place. They want to raise our self esteem. They want us to avoid mad schemes to lose weight with "miracle" diet patches, pills and potions. They want us to feel good about ourselves.

But for me feeling good has to be about valuing yourself and your health enough to treat your body right - with balanced nutrition, with lots of activity, with ample rest and fun.

It all boils down to what is best for you - feeling disatisfied by your weight and following a sensible regime to get back in physical shape or believing it's OK to feel good about your fat and leading yourself right into diabetes and a heart condition?

Comments

[Victoria]

I totally agree. I was viciously attacked on a low-carb forum for suggesting what you are - that these people are misguided and that accepting yourself meant loving yourself enough to change (that got me accused of "doublespeak"!).

[Janice]

Thanks for your comment Victoria. Sometimes you just have to say what you believe whether people want to listen or not.

I don't think any of us should be aiming for the stick-insect look of the airbrushed stars just for whatever is a healthy weight for us as individuals. But it's not healthy for anyone to be obese.

Overeating problems are so often tied into low self esteem but sometimes it's a bit "chicken and egg" - you have to value yourself enough to make the changes and then as the changes happen you start feeling better about yourself too - not necessarily because of how you look but because of treating yourself as someone worth proper nourishment.

Janice
editor Think Slim