Myths about Body Positivity

Hello! Brittney here again! I just wanted to take a second to talk about one of the biggest problems people have with body positivity.

Condoning loving fat bodies is the same as condoning an unhealthy lifestyle!

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. And so wrong. And here are three reasons why.

1. Okay, I'm only going to say this once. No, actually I'm going to say it a million times because people still don't understand. Fat does not equal unhealthy. Fat. Does. Not. Equal. Unhealthy. FAT DOES NOT EQUAL UNHEALTHY. Did everyone get that? Okay, good. Now, let me explain. Body weight does not determine how healthy a person is. You can be thin and be "unhealthy" and live an "unhealthy" lifestyle. You can be fat and live a very "healthy lifestyle." Many people assume that being fat leads to a plethora of diseases, however you can get a disease no matter what your weight is. Including diabetes, heart disease, and heart attacks. These generalizations are not only unhealthy for fat people who receive improper healthcare due to their weight. But, thin people do too! If your doctor assumes you are healthy just because you are thin, you are getting duped by your own doctor too! So, please get this fact into your mind. Being fat does not make you unhealhty.

2. The body positivity movement is simply a shame-free movement that seeks to remove the stigma, harassment, and discrimination against people of a certain body type. The last thing that I want to do is tell someone how to live. If you want to eat healthy, work out, and count calories, go for it! If you're a sloth like myself who likes junk food more than me, go for it! It's not up to any person to decide that for you. But, once your lifestyle choices affect someone else' way of life, that's a problem. We should be able to eat, dress, and do what we please without judgment regardless of body size. The goal is to stop assuming that every fat person is lazy, unhealthy, and careless. Because that discrimination is extremely problematic and simply untrue.

3. Most of us know what kinds of food is healthy and what that exercise is a must. However, most people don't realize that diet culture is one of the most unhealthy facets to our society. Dieting not only promotes body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem which leads to depression and anxiety, but dieting is not good for your body. The constant changing from one type of food to another is not good and doesn't work. Most people gain diet weight loss back and then some. Which is why I think accepting your body the way it is, is much more effective than dieting and worrying about what you eat. The stress, self-hatred, and constant change of diet is far worse on your body than pizza!

Okay, that last part may have been condoning my own unhealthy lifestyle a bit. But, really. Loving and appreciating your body for what it does for you everyday is not suggesting that you don't take care of yourself. It's just the opposite! I heard a quote on "Rosanne" the other day that seems fitting. "We aren't bodies with souls, we are souls with bodies." I take away that we have to remember to love the person we are, not just the way we look.

Hope this helps clear up some body positive confusion (and keep in mind that everyone persons view is different when it comes to anything including body positivity) Bye!