Camille Schwartz
Regardless of shape, size or weight, most of us have experienced body dissatisfaction. The negative self-talk begins in the morning when we cringe at the unforgiving number on the scale. At work or school, it continues when we compare ourselves to our friend or co-worker who lost 20 pounds (again!) on the latest fad diet. It haunts us at the end of the day when we look in the mirror and examine the acne or the wrinkles staring back at us.
In light of National Weight Stigma Week (Sept. 23 – 27), I’ve decided to address the increasing pervasiveness of weight stigma in our society and talk about why it is ultimately destructive in promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors.
According to the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), weight stigma is defined as a “judgment or stereotyping based on one’s weight, shape and/or size.” Weight stigma fuels behaviors and actions by individuals and organizations, which include: bullying, insulting slurs and discrimination that limit the ability of a person to gain employment, healthcare and education. Some of these biases come from the assumption that bigger people have a lack of willpower or intelligence, do not lead healthy lifestyles and could be thin if they tried harder. Additionally, BEDA adds that thinner individuals are stigmatized to believe that if they diet on a daily basis, exercise excessively and look thin, they are healthier and more competent individuals.
While excessive weight gain can lead to health-related issues, the fight against being fat has not solved the obesity issue. Moreover, the pursuit and achievement of losing weight and becoming thin does not necessarily make us healthier or happier people. Bottom line: our obsession with food and outward appearance has generated destructive behaviors in our society.
A National College Heath Assessment report studying the eating behaviors of students at the University of Virginia found that 61 percent of college female students have experienced some form of disordered eating. These eating behaviors may manifest in the form of food deprivation, yo-yo dieting and binging or purging.
Our behaviors are ultimately driven by our beliefs, biases and assumptions about the world. If disordered eating behaviors are becoming the norm among college students, maybe it’s time to reexamine our assumptions behind food, weight loss and health. After all, what is the true measure of health? Is it determined by a fixed number on scale, or by how we feel about ourselves and interact with our environment?
When our outward appearance becomes the dominant focus of our lives, we begin to form a negative relationship with the food we consume and how we view our bodies.
We ultimately lose our enjoyment and gratitude for eating as we meticulously control portion sizes and cut out all “bad” foods from our diet. Worst of all, we make assumptions and judgments about other people’s health, intelligence and motivation based on weight related stereotypes.
We can get rid of weight stigmatization by seizing each moment and sharing appreciation for the incredible beauty and functionality of our bodies.
We can begin to accept the idea that our bodies need to be respected, nourished and loved at every size and shape.
Camille Schwartz is a Staff Wrtetr for the Voice and can be reached for comment at CSchwartz14@wooster.edu