By Kirsty Coleman-
Skinny shaming can have dangerous psychological effects on targeted individuals. Everyone is affected by other people’s comments on one’s body because it is a personal subject and something which is out of one’s control. School bullies, a high-school crush, even friends and family may comment on one’s appearance, and whether the intention to hurt is there or not, it can often come to the same result. Everyone wants to feel loved, not shamed.
Skinny shaming is the negative commenting on another person’s body with a view that they are too skinny. This happens to both men and women, adults and children, just the same as fat shaming does. An overweight individual would be hurt by comments on one’s weight, and equally, a so-called “skinny” person would be too, as it is directed derogatorily towards them. Google search engine defines the word ‘skinny’ as “(of a person or part of their body) unattractively too thin.” It gives definitions of ‘overweight’ as “above a weight considered normal or desirable”, and “excessive or extra weight”. As harsh as this may sound, humans are not naturally obese. However, there is never an excuse or need for body shaming of any type.
SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE AND NORMALISATION
Humans are not born overweight. Undeniably, there are some who struggle with weight gain as children, but this is not the same as embracing it. Obesity unnecessarily damages and adds stress to the body, and it is simply a result of what has been done to the body by oneself. The human race was previously an athletic, strong and resilient species, whom survived in the wilderness and were capable of defending themselves against many species such as the dire wolf. However, obesity is being normalised and this has resulted in the overall decline of human fitness and capabilities, leaving those who are naturally slim and athletic, sometimes being quietly shunned.
It seems that society has made it acceptable to be overweight, yet those who are underweight, or even only perceived as underweight by others, can be humiliated. With many top models being extremely slim, it is easy to see why those who are not of a naturally small frame can become self-conscious. The UK seems to have focused on fat shaming a lot in the past, and it has resulted in models within high street stores becoming more diverse in size, as well as shops offering a large variety of clothes sizes including sections called ‘plus size’ or ‘curvy’. As a nation, we have encouraged those of a larger size to embrace it, and whilst this is fantastic for their self-esteem, those on the other end of the spectrum appear to be non-existent.
HEALTH RISKS
The NHS website states health risks which can occur as a result of obesity, are coronary heart disease, some types of cancer such as breast cancer and bowel cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Health risks as a result of being underweight are, a weakened immune system, nutrition deficiencies and fertility problems.
NHS facts show that being overweight can have significantly more damaging consequences than being skinny, since most of the risks listed above can result in death. Health risks as a result of being underweight are of course still unhealthy, but are far less likely to result in death. Needless to say, this is unless an individual is starving their body of food and rapidly losing weight, as a result of anorexia perhaps, but this is not the case for the average slim person in society. All of these risks due to being overweight or underweight, have no correlation to the way one looks at another’s body, they are facts, not an individual’s interpretation. So why has society normalised obesity and begun to look down on those of a slimmer nature, with the view that being slim, or as some people incorrectly use the word ‘skinny’, is unnatural?
PERCEPTION
Skinny shaming affects people in the same way as fat shaming. This is particularly noticeable for those in the limelight, such as celebrities. There is an unattainable social expectancy in which females are to be the perfect weight with perfect breasts, and males are to be of a large frame and perfectly chiselled physique. ‘Perfect’, is defined as “having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.” This means that perfection is only each individuals perception and cannot be put in a box, labelled or listed.
BARRIERS
It is not always clear why someone is overweight, or underweight. Someone may have a health condition which makes it more difficult than others to lose weight, and on the flip side, this can be the case for someone who is underweight, struggling with anorexia for example. Another barrier could be financial difficulty, and whilst one person may choose to reduce their food intake to cut costs, another may choose to divulge in cheap and unhealthy junk food, resulting in weight gain. Mental illnesses and disabilities are common factors for weight loss and weight gain, with an abundance of different reasons linked to changes in weight, including medication, for example.
HOW SHAMING AFFECTS PEOPLE
Fat shaming can make people feel ugly, looked-down upon, discriminated against, judged, isolated, offended and hurt. Skinny shaming has exactly the same affect. When someone gives their unwanted and negative opinion on another person’s body, it hurts their feelings. Passing judgement on how you think another person should look is disrespectful and uncalled for.
Children are taught in school and by parents to “treat others how we wish to be treated”, and “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, but sometimes it is easy even as adults, to forget the impact in which words can have on others. Perception, not perfection; it is a small difference, yet a huge difference at the same time.