Real Talk

Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Mableton, Georgia

The Truth About Being Overweight

Prejudices against overweight people stem from the same roots as racism. Lack of knowledge and stereotypes are its key factors. I am writing this article to encourage and plant a seed of confidence into the hearts of the people that donâ€™t look â€œbeautifulâ€ in societyâ€™s eye. There was a time when having a little extra weight was looked upon happily, signifying wealth and good fortune. But now society has changed faces, and now being overweight is frowned upon.
What makes us all unique is that we are all different. We come in all colors, shapes, and sizes, and I can see beauty in them all. Yet society constantly tells us that beauty is not in double digits, when the average American fits that profile. I am blessed to have come from a family and friends that always told me that I was beautiful, so I have lived a lifetime loving myself. I just want to pass it on to another. I want to promote being healthy, not losing weight to please the eye of society.
Just like racism has improved, so has so has the prejudices against the overweight. There are more stores that sell plus size clothing that look more stylish and trendy. They have more shows starring plus size people. But just like racism it still includes its prejudice undertones. Most often the people starring in these movies or shows are shown overeating, having food stashes, and never working out, when in reality that is not true. For example in the original Lifetime Movie â€œFat Like Meâ€, it tried to empathize with overweight people, but still did not remedy the situation because they included the same stereotypes. Studies have shown that many overweight people are actually mal nourished. Of course there are people who are overweight that have bad eating habits and engage in low levels of physical activity. Some thin people have these same habits, so what sets them apart from us. People often associate thin with healthy and overweight with unhealthy, when healthiness knows no size. I know people who are thin that have high blood pressure, but if we were put in a room together, and people had to guess I would most likely be the person they choose. If you see a thin person at a buffet no one takes a second look, but an overweight person is looked upon as if they have no right to be there. I have been in stores that have plus sizes along with smaller sizes, but on the side of the plus sizes it has signs telling to have confidence automatically assuming that we do not have confidence. If you walk across to the smaller sizes you will not find that same sign, when they might be in need of that confidence boost.
I think that it is time out for promoting thin, and time to start promoting good health. Currently, about five million people suffer from eating disorders. We live in a society that is full of bad habits. When they do studies about how many people eat at fast-food restaurants, they are not just talking about overweight people they are talking about us as a nation. As I write this article I can see some of the prejudices that have inadvertently adopted, calling larger sizes plus sizes. Why is a size fourteen and over considered plus size. By dividing those sizes, without even saying anything, you set a precedent of negativity toward that group of individuals. As Americans we say as a nation we stand and divided we fall, and we need to adopt this doctrine across all area of our lives.

Joined: 10 Feb 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Chicago, Il

This is real Deep....

Site Admin Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 6

i feel what ur saying cuz im black. naw on a real note, i was just talkin to my cousin about how people dont know what real beauty is. and how tv shows these small ass women like its cool. i think thats a bigger problem than being overweight. how the show women with their asses/titties out like thats a real woman. yea its cool to look at but its not the right message for these younger girls coming up. i say love who u are and thats it. skip what others think u can go around worryin about that life is too short. people can learn a lot from u dimples. peace.

Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Mableton, Georgia

That is the point that I am trying to get across. I want people to start loving themselves without looking towards society to tell them what beauty is. Besides, inner beauty is what's most important. Thanks.