Fat, that is. And these days the definition seems to be if you’re over 60kg.
Tatler Asia
Above Body-shaming is extremely prevalent in today’s digital age. (Photo: Pexels.com)

In all seriousness, the statistics of depression, anxiety and self-harm have risen alarmingly in the past decade. Many women (and men) have negative body image issues due to increasing societal and media pressure to look a certain way.

Body-shaming, a form of bullying, extremely prevalent in today’s digital age has sent the rates of anorexia and bulimia amongst young girls in their teens sky high. Cases of underweight babies born to mothers who suffer from eating disorders during pregnancy are very real and incredibly saddening.

And although Body Dysmorphic Disorder, which is an obsession about self-perceived flaws in physical appearance, is usually mild; it can be severe enough to prevent sufferers from going out in public, seeing other people and socialising normally, and even hold down a normal job.

So why do some body-shame? It seems that being thin has become a status symbol—it shows knowledge and access to healthy eating and exercise, versus a different time in the world that status meant being able to afford food. When something is associated with status, we want them. 

Also for some, fat is not just an assessment of weight, but rather a judge of character. It’s considered the person’s fault that they are fat; versus empathy for a person with disability—they are assumed to be dealt bad luck and not have been in an accident drunk driving.

The reality is that only a tiny proportion of us are size zeros. Most of us are a variety of different shapes, and research has shown that the amount of exercise we do (i.e. a ‘fat’ person who exercises regularly) is more important to our health than our weight itself (versus a ‘skinny’ person who does not exercise).

So stop obsessing over that number on the scale, get exercising, and go to that damn fashion show.

Also read: 5 ways happiness can improve your health