Prejudice against fat people is widespread, and public health initiatives aimed at reducing obesity have made the problem worse, argues Rekha Nath, an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Alabama, in her new book, “Why It’s OK To Be Fat.”
Nath believes society needs to change how it views fatness. Instead of seeing it as something to eliminate, we should address the social inequalities that penalize fat people for their body size.
“Being fat is seen as unattractive and gross. We view fat as a sign of weakness, greediness, and laziness.
The pursuit of thinness, linked with health, fitness, beauty, and discipline, has become a moral duty,” Nath explains.
This negative view of fatness leads to bullying and harassment of fat people, worse health care, ridicule in schools, and rampant discrimination in the workplace.
Health and Weight
Global obesity rates have tripled in the past 50 years, and the World Health Organization calls childhood obesity one of the most serious global health challenges.
Severe obesity is linked to lower life expectancy and higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.
However, Nath argues that health is more complex than just weight. Research shows that fit, obese individuals are less likely to die prematurely than unfit, normal-weight individuals. Diet and fitness may be more important for health than weight alone.
Nath also highlights that advice to lose weight by eating less and exercising more is often ineffective and can be harmful. Many people who diet end up gaining more weight in the long run.
Stigmatizing Fatness
Public health campaigns aimed at weight loss can make things worse by stigmatizing fatness. “Weight stigma doesn’t help; it actually harms physical and mental health,” Nath explains.
People who feel stigmatized are less likely to lose weight and more likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem.
Research shows that weight discrimination makes people more likely to become or remain obese. A study tracking over 6,000 people for four years found that those who experienced weight discrimination were more likely to stay obese.
Nath envisions a world where fat people receive equal health care, workplace inclusion, and can appear in public without shame. “It’s OK to be fat because there’s nothing wrong with being fat. The problem is society’s oppression of fat people through sizeism,” she says.
In her book, Nath urges society to shift its focus from weight loss to addressing the injustices faced by fat people, promoting a more inclusive and fair approach to health and body size.
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