Diet & Fitness Blog
Weighing in on Sizeism: Fear, Self-Loathing & Our Nation's Battle of the Bulge
Email PageeDiets Senior Writer/Editor
In case you missed it, the last issue of the UTNE Reader included an extremely provocative series of articles about America's war on obesity. In spite of the health risks associated with being overweight, the editors of this alternative publication argue that our approach to fatness is at least as unhealthy as being fat. "Sizeism remains the only truly socially acceptable form of discrimination on the planet," writes Courtney E. Martin, author of Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body.
While the authors make some alarming generalizations about the dieting industry as a whole, they definitely bring up an insightful point about our cultural bias against fat. "To be fat in our culture is to be labeled not only a glutton, but also a vessel of disease," writes associate editor, Hannah Lobel.
"Short of burning obese people in effigy, it's hard to imagine how we could stigmatize fat more in this culture. Body hatred is regarded as a feminine virtue."
Now, I have worked at eDiets for over five years, and I honestly believe we provide a valuable public service. We help countless numbers of people to transform their lives. But the most important reason to eat nutritious foods and exercise is to protect your own health. It is really all about looking and feeling your personal best-- not trying to meet some unrealistic expectation.
The magazine cites a poll of 10,000 ELLEgirl readers, in which 30 percent said they would rather be thin than healthy. That's downright disturbing! In our superficial culture that often values form over substance, I don't doubt that people are often discriminated against because of their size and appearance. However, I hope that doesn't deter people making the ever-important decision to exercise and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Do you agree that we have an unfair bias against fat in this culture? Have you ever felt discriminated against because of your size? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Comment by 
said... - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:51:00 AM
I completely agree about the sizeism observations. I am young woman and i wear a size 12 but everyday I am made to feel like i should be smaller. Like i'm not as attractive because i'm a little soft in the middle. No one can say that at a size 12 anyone is at health risk, I just happen to not be (and never have been) a small girl but everyday I feel like i'm punished for it. The only way to defeat sizeism (i've learned) is to love you, just as you are, not as you will be or have been in the past. Sizeism will only change when we change out perceptions of ourselves not change other ppls perceptions of us.
Comment by said... - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:41:00 AM
I think the diet industry has gotten out of control, as someone with an ED, I've seen it negatively affect scores of people. I'm not at all surprised hat 30% of girls would rather be thin than healthy. I'm actully surprised the number is not higher. I was much happier at 82 pounds (at 5'5) than I am at 110 (gee, thanks, feeding tube)
Comment by said... - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:17:00 AM
I have been big my whole life. I can tell you from being a kid to an adult the world is a very hard place to live when you are overweight. I am fighting back, getting into shape but the scares from the teasing and the comments will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Comment by 
Amy in Michigan said... - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:34:00 AM
I watched a segment on a news show this morning regarding a "plus size" beauty contestant. Good for the plus size girl! We do need accept people for what and who they are....however our society also needs to stay tuned to the fact that being overweight is not healty and is generally caused by a not so great diet and lack of exercise. Let's not swing the other way and forgot about what is really important here.
Comment by said... - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:35:00 AM
The funny thing about being discriminated is that you don't have to be obese. Just being slightly overwight gives certain people the view that you are a slob or that you don't care how you look. Whether you are dressed nicely or not. They assume because you are overweight that you don't deserve the same respect as them as a person. These type of people in my opinion are the ones who really have the issues of body image.
Comment by said... - Monday, May 12, 2008 9:44:00 AM
I agree that size matters in this society. I have a friend that was thin until she needed to take meds for her chronic illness. She is unable to exercise due to the pain she feels everyday. I am not making excuses for her, just trying to make people aware that the reasons a person is overweight is not always under that persons control.
Comment by Madeira Darling said... - Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:47:00 PM
Now I'm I fairly small girl (size four) but I have to completely agree with this article. I think that the obesity and body hatred problems are flip sides of the same coin. Until we learn to start loving our bodies as they are we'll never treat them right.
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