It seems to be the topic on every girl’s mind lately and on many women’s: Am I too fat?
The latest trend is to tell girls not to worry, that obesity is OK, and it’s just a matter of changing societal views so that fat becomes accepted. We see feel-good advertisements showing women of all sizes in an attempt to counter images of models with anorexia, the other unhealthy extreme.
And lately, things have gone a step further. Social media is rife with posts publicly shaming men and women who are rude enough to admit they personally prefer partners who aren’t obese. How dare they?
Fat, it seems, should be accepted and even celebrated, and anyone who does not find obese people sexy has a character flaw – or so the current thinking goes.
But should we accept fat? Or should we acknowledge it as the dangerous health threat it is and help the obese to lose weight by providing real information?
Obesity has become a serious health issue, and there are serious consequences. We should not sugarcoat the dangers of allowing fat to envelope our bodies. As a society, we should educate people – including youth – on how to keep themselves healthy, and that includes keeping themselves at a healthy weight. We all stand to benefit, including the girls currently receiving our confusing messaging about excess fat being fine.
The dangers of obesity extend far beyond damage to self-esteem and affect both women and men. Obesity increases the risk of serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, and breathing problems including sleep apnea, plus mental health problems including depression and low self-esteem, according to Health Canada.
Health Canada suggests limiting the amount of food we eat, making healthier food choices and incorporating plenty of physical activity into our daily lives.
As the obesity crisis worsens, it’s time we started paying attention to science-based information instead of advertising that promotes either anorexia or fat acceptance. We should be telling those we love: Keep yourself healthy.
Get fit, eat right and stay lean. You’ll reap the long-term benefits.
It’s time to deliver realistic messages and education that actually help, rather than confusing young women through corporate feel-good advertising.
– Editor Christine Endicott
