It’s no healthier to be anorexic than it is to be overweight, so I’m not encouraging either. What I’d love to see is more useful information, and a better attitude, in these kind of articles. It’s possible to write an article about dressing well at a larger size without turning it into a skinny-bashing piece, and yet so many newspapers and magazines can’t seem to resist the temptation to throw the dig in and imply that anyone who is skinny must be unhappy and unloved by “real” men, etc. The focus should, as you rightly said, be on healthy eating, and on health in general, rather than simply on the relative merits and disadvantages of completely opposite sides of the size scale.

Re: looking beyond the weight in a medical sense, I have also seen that as a problem for some time. While being overweight can cause problems, it’s not the *only* cause of problems, and it shouldn’t be treated as such, because it means that underlying problems go undiagnosed, and untreated. Just because someone is over- (or under)weight, doesn’t mean they deserve lazy healthcare!

There’s prejudice all around, no matter what size you are – as much against overweight people as against skinny people. What I don’t like about the article linked (and any others like it) is that they do nothing to address the prejudice, and instead, simply reinforce it. A paper or magazine with a big following could do so much by spear-heading a campaign for healthy eating, for consistent sizes across clothes, stores, and departments, etc., but instead, they let themselves down by just jumping on the bashing bandwagon.

I agree in essence that skinny-bashing is not something that should be happening, but at the same time, more people are prejudiced towards fat people and they are under a heavier burden (pardon the pun) and always have been. It’s perception that is to blame in both cases.

You look at someone skinny from a not-so-skinny standpoint and the thoughts run to how difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off, and that makes people think that the skinny person doesn’t eat. You look at someone fat from a not-so-fat standpoint and the thoughts run to how they must do nothing but eat and sit on their asses. Neither is particularly true. Okay, there are definitely cases where it is true. But neither is that the whole story.

I am overweight. I know that. I have been for a number of years greater than ten. I don’t make excuses for my weight, nor do I address it very often. I have a fairly extensive medical knowledge and understand the risk factors. However, due to several circumstances, I am not easily able to lose weight. This has a negative impact on more than my health though. My self-esteem takes a fairly solid hit when someone remarks on my size, on my perceived abilities, without knowing more about me.

And yes, there are times when I will do the same both for those higher up the spectrum of size and those at the opposite end. I just wish that “fat” was not a catch all term. I have a sore ankle – I need to lose weight. I have bad period pain – I need to lose weight. Medical practicioners spend more time looking at my waistline and trying to preach to a converted choir than they do actually listening to what I am saying.

Dress size is another issue, and it’s equally hard to find clothing. I have maybe one or two high street stores that cater well to my size. Well, I say they cater, what they actually sell is either dresses or tops that could double as tents or so damned skin tight that you can count the tires. Once you go past a 22 (and I haven’t for a very long time) you are out of luck in all but one store, and even there, you must settle for whatever they deign is fashionable. I would rather shop in the kids department than give them a cent of my money.

Personally, I think that weight, mass, size is something that should not be commented on publically. I don’t see what business it is of anyone elses. Society says that it’s open and accepting of all people, but means all people who adhere to social norms. Those too skinny or too fat are castigated and belittled. “She must be hungry all the time, that’s why she’s in a bad mood.” “Jeez, did you find any food in the shop that wasn’t in the sweet isle?”

I don’t see why we are all supposed to fit a norm that doesn’t even fit the average woman any more. Should there be more emphasis on healthy eating? Yes. Should there be a health awareness campaign? Probably.

If someone is healthy and taking care of themselves, then why the hell should any one else care?

Big is beautiful. But so is thin, svelte, petite, curvaceous, volumptious, tall, short, curvy, leggy, mousy, outgoing, quiet… It just depends on who is doing the looking.

We’re probably never going to see eye to eye on this. I’m fairly sure that there is a certain amount of diametric opposition on our parts through differing experiences but I will back a call for a consistant sizing policy for all items of clothing.

What’s most annoying, and most deceptive, is how “healthy” has become synonymous with plus sized.

Nice post.