Why are girls so sensitive about being fat?

[Anonymous]

as above. my pov is that weight is something that can be changed with the proper lifestyle and discipline. if you're unhappy about it, then do something about it instead of being sensitive about it.

Updates

+1 y

just did some reading and found that more than 75% of Americans are overweight and 1/3 of Americans are obese. a horrifying figure.

[madmisskelly]

Body shape and size is changeable to a certain degree. Your body protects against a particular build or body shape.

There are many girls who are naturally very thin, and some of them want to be bigger but cannot put on a lot of weight because their metabolism is so fast, and their body wants to keep them very slender.

Same with my body type. My body naturally wants to bulk up, whether it be fat or muscle. I am 5'1 and 130 pounds, most of which is muscle. However, if I wanted to lose 20 pounds, I would have to go to extreme lengths. First of all, I don't think I ever COULD lose that much without compromising muscle mass. Also, I would probably have to work out 2 hours a day, and eat and extremely strict and controlled diet. It could be done, but it isn't necessarily realistic, especially for the rest of my life.

When you look at weight loss and a desired body shape, you also have to look at the work it takes to get there and stay there. The whole point is being able to stay there for the rest of your life. I wouldn't be able to maintain a 20 pound weight loss, because the path it took to get there was so intense. Could I sustain a 10 pound weight loss? Maybe. I've been 127 pounds, but I was starving myself, and was unhappy.

My point of all of this is that women get offended because we have this huge conflict, especially when the shape and weight our body naturally wants us at, is not the mainstream "hot body." Many of us try to force our body into it, but when it doesn't go the direction we want, its very defeating, and then we end up getting told by men such as yourself that if we just tried hard enough, we could get there.

[Asker]

i really don't think it is too hard because most fat girls that I speak to who are unhappy about their weight say it is too difficult. and when I ask them what have they tried doing to lose weight, they say things like they've tried to eat less each meal but they can't control. now how is that even trying? when I lost weight, I cut out all forms of soda from my meal, stopped eating anything deep fried and committed myself to three times a week of exercise. that isn't too difficult is it?

[madmisskelly]

Im not saying those girls really tried, but some people can put in as much effort as you do and still not be super fit. What I was talking about is people who eat relatively healthy and do commit themselves to being active- that doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be thin and super lean.

link

The pic above is me, and that is when I'm actively working out all the time and eating right.

[woohoo_friday]

The problem I have is that people make assumptions on you solely based on your appearance. I suppose I'm on the bigger side, however having been a soccer player all my life, I have a good deal of muscle (especially in my legs) and I'm in pretty decent shape. Some people might look at me and think "wow, that girl is probably really unhealthy" (though honestly I don't think I look it, but people are weird, haha), which just isn't true. Skinny/slim girls can be unhealthy as well. There are girls smaller than me that I could run circles around. You can't tell how "in shape" or "healthy" a person is by looking at them.

I also have a problem with mistreatment. So what if someone is bigger? Doesn't mean they aren't people with feelings. So many people think they can say whatever they want about bigger people, and that those people even DESERVE it because they're "lazy" "or unmotivated". A lot of people also seem to think that bigger people can be bullied into wanting to lose weight. Well let me tell you this. That is exactly what leads to things like anorexia and bulimia. People get bullied into feeling terrible about themselves, so they decide that they have to do something about it fast.

[Asker]

thanks for the insight(:

if your picture is indeed you, I don't think you are fat at all.

what I'm saying is that if a girl is fat, then she should realize it instead of feeling hurt every time someone says she is fat.

[woohoo_friday]

So no denial, is what you're getting at then? Yeah, I agree on that. Accept what you are, and then either change it or don't

And my picture is indeed me. I'm... soft, haha, in certain places in particular. Though I've accepted what I am, and I don't complain because it's nobody else's problem but mine. Though that doesn't mean I wouldn't be hurt if someone called me fat, or insulted me in any other way for that matter

[queenofpeen]

I love this answer so much.

@QA: If a girl is fat, she knows she's fat. She gets hurt because people are mean about it for no reason.

[cun7n1nja]

I'm in the same boat as you, lol, played soccer for yeeears and was very athletic. I don't play anymore, but my work is very physical. I've always been chubby, years of soccer and eating well didn't change that, but it did give me a high percentage of muscle. Some people WOULD call me fat, but I don't see myself that way, and I think I carry my weight rather well. People actually guess me to weight 30-40 pounds less than I actually weigh, largely in part to all that muscle, I have to assume. =P

[UptownGirl]

It's because women are told from a very young age by media and advertising that we should look a certain way. We should all be skinny and beautiful with gorgeous hair and flawless makeup. We should be goddesses. Unfortunately, most normal women don't look like that naturally. We're sensitive about our weight because we want to be perceived as gorgeous and flawless and beautiful. Most women are average size but aren't happy with it because they think it's not what "conventional" beauty is because of what we see in media.

I agree though that complaining about being overweight if you are overweight does nothing. Actions most certainly speak louder than words and if anyone is unhappy with the way they look it's up to them to take action.

Fun little fact, in the middle ages being large, overweight or plum meant that you had a lot of food and therefore a lot of money. Being skinny meant that you had very little food and were therefore poor. Today, that's not so much the case...

[Asker]

i'm not into skinny but I'm more into fit and healthy. thanks for the insight.(:

[toulouse]

@It's because women are told from a very young age by media and advertising that we should look a certain way. _regrdless of the media 'tells' you- you should want to be healthy. most women are fat.

in addition, that's a crap argument. that's like saying - no one could do anything about nazi germany- because hitler made them do it.

human beings have a conscience for a reason. you can decide for yourself what is right for you. & anyways if the media bothers you don't watch tv.

[UptownGirl]

I'm not saying that it's right. In fact, I think that it's absurd to look at women on TV and think "that's what I should look like." I'm looking at facts, that's it.

Unfortunately it's what happens, whether it's wrong or right.

[Kain6th]

"in addition, that's a crap argument. that's like saying - no one could do anything about nazi germany- because hitler made them do it."

When people are unhappy and out of jobs and poor they tend to listen to irrational people like hitler. Their conscience probably ain't so healthy neither

[KERMlT]

Some people have it easier than others. There are microbes there are finding in the stomach that contribute to a person's weight. It is funny when I hear people rave about the Atkin's diet and these no carbs diets. I mainly eat carbs and I am 175 and nearly all muscle. Fast food to me is Subway and I don't go to those other places like McDs or BK.

I love curvy women and it is too bad women feel bad about their figure. The average size in the US is like 12 or 14 but I can't seem to find them. It is like they hide or something. Though average is just that so perhaps we only have thin women and plump ones. :-/

[Asker]

good on you mate.

[queenofpeen]

Because we're told that being fat is the worst thing you could ever be. The media tells us that the most important thing about a girl is how she looks, and if she's fat, she's unattractive and inferior and deserving of ridicule. Many people WOULDN'T be unhappy about being fat if society wasn't so mean about it.

And like woohoo_Friday said, plenty of people are fat AND fit, so the "lose weight for your health" argument doesn't sit well. Exercise and eat well for your health, and if you happen to also lose weight, so be it. I started a whole new healthy lifestyle about a year ago and haven't lost a pound, yet all of my stats (glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc) are great now. According to the BMI, I'm "obese" and apparently current health is just irrelevant.

@update: Did you know a huge number of people became "overweight" overnight just because the International Obesity Task Force decided to lower the "normal" BMI level? Also, interestingly enough, the IOTF is primarily funded by two companies who manufacture weight loss drugs.

[toulouse]

Well I agree that's its an obnoxious thing to complain about. and the 'do these make me look fat' imo is retarded. f OU feel fat lose weight. what difference does it make if someone else thinks you look great if you feel fat. or if they think you are fat but you feel fine. make up your own mind.

anyways losing weight is 'usually' an option. I think people worry about being fat as an excise to do nothing about it. you can eat healthy & not eat more tan you need. its not rocket science. and exercise doesn't help you lose weight as much as not pigging out. unless of course you are an athlete exercising 12 hours a day.

On the other hand, I have NO idea why you think this only applies only to Women. Men are just as paranoid& just as irresponsible about it.

[Asker]

haha. maybe I have this perception cos the men I hang around with lead a more healthy lifestyle. there used to be a really fat guy in my clique but he lost weight (65 pounds) thanks to fitness and diet.

thanks for the insight(:

[toulouse]

yes I don't have any fat friends per se. but I know guys who complain about it. or are shy to go out because they are overweight. I'm really active& being fat is so repulsive to me because it would cut into the quality of my life.

for people who don't want to be fat. they really need to think of how they got to where they are in the first place. its not like they woke up suddenly 50 pounds heavier.

everyone can easily learn how much they need-only if they CARE -following that will help immensely.

[rfanm]

Well, in a perfect world it would be easy to start working out everyday and eat healthily. Unfortunately, here's the cycle that many get sucked into: "I'm fat because I eat and I eat because I'm fat." It's a hard cycle to get out of, especially if your childhood didn't consist of a lot of athletics.

[rudy37lee]

Some people have weight problems because their parents didn't feed them properly or encourage and enforce them to excercise. Others have health issues that because them to weigh more. Not all weight issues are the fault of the person in question.

[toulouse]

yes but way more people hate being fat than there are people who can't help it. just lose the weight if you can. which is most.

[Asker]

other than health issues that because one to gain weight rapidly, I see no other justification of being obese other than an unhealthy lifestyle.

[rudy37lee]

There is also no reason to for any of us to eat fatty foods, drink or smoke . . . Too much of anything is bad for you. Some people don't have enough will power or support from others to make positive changes in their life. Guys are self concious about weight too. We all have things we can do to improve ourselves, that doesn't mean we always do.

[Anonymous]

because skinny and beautiful is what everyone wants