I want slim/skinny people to answer: do you understand that you have privilege as a person who isn’t fat?

[psychoticanimaIIover]

I’m not sure it’s considered a privilege to be skinny, because privilege is usually based on something you have been handed without having to work for it. Most thin people work quite hard to maintain their weight, and as someone who has experienced eating disorder, I can attest to bigger people not being the only ones who experience pain and malcontent about their appearance and the way they are perceived by others.

Overweight and obese people are admittedly treated very badly by a large portion of society, but no more than any other group of people - the unemployed, for example, racial minorities, women etc. I realise that not all “fat” people are fat because that’s the lifestyle they’ve chosen - many are that way due to addiction, just like an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sex addict, or a gambler. But all those groups of people are looked down upon by some, way more than people who have a physical illness, like HIV, or cancer, or obsessive compulsive disorder. It’s hard for some people to properly understand and appreciate the fact that not all illnesses are physical.

I think we should all try to be kinder to those around us, especially when making snap judgments based on physical appearance. At the end of the day, it’s not anyone’s duty to be attractive, nor to be healthy. I don’t believe in that sort of communist dogma.

I came across this project on Tumblr the other day. It’s really interesting and made me feel very sad when I looked at the photos. It’s easy to understand the emotions she must have been feeling when looking back at them. It did make me feel quite guilty, as I can admit to staring at large people sometimes in public, just through morbid curiosity. It’s important to stop oneself from doing that as it can be harmful. We are constantly reminded of the pain and severity of anorexia, but rarely are we reminded of the pain of obesity - that’s largely seen as a health issue more than a psychological issue, and any movements aimed at drawing attention to it are overwhelmingly based around body positivity, rather than the psychological shame many people feel about their bodies.

http://www.haleymorriscafiero.com

[mistixs]

I understand slim people are generally treated better than overweight people, but I don't like how that often becomes justification to bully slim people (most often the bullying targets a slim person's breast/butt size & it is considered acceptable because they're "privileged" for being slim). I think it is preferable to just not bully people in general.

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

Firstly, that's a leading question.

Secondly, maintaining a healthy bodyweight is an obligation the individual has to themselves (if they care at all about their long term health, general attractiveness, and ability to produce functional movement patterns through space).
It's not a privilege bestowed upon them by some external agent.

Of course there could be an association with economic privileges, since high income households generally can afford to maintain very healthy dietary patterns over time. Whereas obesity is correlated more with lower-to-middle class families. The problem can also be exacerbated by: Poor education on nutrition, lack of availability to adequate public spaces for exercise, and manipulative advertising aimed at kids and adolescents (the most habit forming stages of life), and other environmental factors. The Standard Western Dietary Pattern is directly correlated to what researchers call an "obesogenic environment". So clearly, there's a systemic, top-down aspect of the obesity epidemic which cannot be explained merely by "lack of personal responsibility". But that doesn't excuse individual adults from informing themselves and making better personal decisions for the health of themselves and, more broadly, their communities.

In conclusion: being a healthy bodyweight is not a "privilege", but obesity is at least *partly* a consequence of the obesogenic environment into which lower-income families are born. It's a complex issue, but when you try to politicise it as a "skinny versus fat" problem, you miss the larger issues that contributed to the obesogenic environment's formation in the first place.

[Andres77]

Everyone wants to be a victim...🙄
If you have a medical condition then go see a medical professional.

If you're not exercising and you're hiding snacks in your bedroom... c'mon...

It's not privilege to gain the benefits of hard work and discipline. It's a reward for a job well done.

Someone else mentioned this, is there going to be a new victim class based on height now?

Just focus on being a better you and stop trying to control other's thoughts. We can't even control our own thoughts all day long.

I used to be extremely fit. I worked on it my whole life. Then I got hurt and I started feeling sorry for myself. I gained about 60 lbs because I was being a big baby. Now I'm struggling to manage my weight. It's not my fault I got hurt but it's certainly my fault I stuffed my face with twinkies and ho-ho's and ding-dongs and washed it all down with mountain dew... and that was just on the way home from work. Then I'd eat a full meal and then drink beer until I fell asleep. And I gave up exercise. And when people would look at me like I was a fat slob I didn't resort to claiming victim status just because they were more fit than me or try to condemn their way of thinking, I stopped buying sugary junk, I controlled my meal portions and I stopped drinking and I exercised until I got my weight under control. And I drank a lot of water.

This privilege bs is just that. bs.
If it's medical, go see a professional.
If not, see the above paragraph for your guidance. And do it when you're younger because it doesn't get any easier the longer you wait.

[Miristheiss]

F... CK the word privilege.
I am so sick of listening to whiny, moronic people endless babbling about how everyone is privileged with this or that.
Go to school, learn a skill, trade, get a job... go to work and do a good job and live your freaking life and quit babbling about how someone else is to blame for all your stupid woes.
If you are fat. Eat sensibly and get routine exercise. If you are still fat. Tough. You get dealt an annoying metabolic hand. No one else cares. We all have our own lives and issues to deal with. No one made you freaking special and responsible for your complaints.

[AlexanderAnttila]

It's not a privilege because you aren't born into it. Fat and fitness are choices. And it's in all, brutal, unfiltered honesty just pathetic to try and speak of privilege only so that you may expiate yourself from responsibility of your own body and put in the work instead of the calories. Instead you see this appalling "body positivity" movement that glorifies obesity that causes massive health issues and diseases that can lead to an early death, and limits your every day ability to move about, to partake in activities and live life normally.

No sane person takes this seriously so girl, grow up, and be healthy if it bothers you that others are. I'm sorry, I generally strive to be respectful but this is just too ludicrous to be met with respect.

[Vetera]

I've worked out consistently for two years and have overcome many things to loose the weight I once had. I was wayyyy overweight but I fixed that. Want to know how? I realized that it was MY fault and realized that only I can fix it. Skinny people aren't privileged at all

[Holisticapproachsara]

Well i am a skinny woman who lives in the middle east. So not many privileges 😂also most people are skinny here we dont have that food quality like the US Like double cheese stuffed pizza. And chicken wings dipped in nacho sauce

[TOTEMPLASTER]

Skinny people have enough self control not to over-eat - not counting those with medical conditions.
'Large' people are elevating their chances of early mortality because they can't control their teeth.

[btbc92]

Are you kidding me? PRIVILEGE!!! Try struggling with gaining weight being privilege. I am strong with health problems because of that. If your so-called fat, do something to get slim. Seriously. But you responded about attractiveness is shallow. You just don't like a healthy person and needs help. Others have to work to be slim. Others like me are born slim. It is not always healthy to be slim. Some people need the fat. Some don't.

[AndyOh]

I am fit and trim. I stay healthy with exercise (Martial Arts) and I eat pretty decent.
I never have seen my body type as a 'privilege' compared to larger bodied people. There is no privilege as you say about me being thinner compared to my housemate who has a good 110 lbs on me at 260. Her DNA did that to her, since her sisters are all skinny.

I wish i was taller, but my DNA did that to me. I don't see taller people as being 'privileged' ether over me.

[Ruenella_]

Yes, that's true. I remember when I lost just twenty pounds, the guys actually started smiling and flirting with me. It was weird because I hadn't even reached my weight goal yet, but people noticed me and that definitely boosted my confidence a bit. I felt like a person again.

[DrunkAss]

No. Voice response:
https://voca.ro/14HpSj6UQ8Us

[FakeName123]

How exactly is it privilege to invest time and take care of your own health by looking at your own body weight?

[Anonymous]

A privilege is something that's only available to a specific demographic and denied to others.
Having a healthy weight is not a privilege, it's a choice everyone can make.

The fact you choose to be fat and lazy, doesn't make people who make better choices than you "privileged".

[vlx-na]

Lmao, no, I'm not. I eat healthy and go to gym.

There are no fat people in places, where there's not enough food. Zero. Privilege is living in abundance and being able to get as fat as you want by eating tons of unhealthy food and then complain on the internet about it.

[SHREYASH007]

Through out my growth years I had thin and athletic body but with time I got a few fat deposits like currently I am on 18% which is thin according to normal standards, It is not a privilege.

[Wise4myage]

I didn't choose to be skinny, In fact I hate it. I'm not saying I want to be fat, I just don't like being skinny.

[Anonymous]

When i was young i was so skinny they nicknamed me skin and bones. As you get older you just gain mass and now in my 40's i'm fighting the scale.
The answer to your question is yes and no. Because some people who have seemingly won the genetic lottery may still obsess about what they still are not. So my advice is eat right, exercise, and then leave it alone. You've done all you can do. And love who you are. Life is too short to hate yourself.

[Waldoe]

I have been on the thin side my whole life, my sister and brother have always struggled with their weight. I know I am lucky, I can have 3 servings of Anything and not gain an ounce... I'm sorry to say it but "I Rule" ok not sorry

[leahzrc]

i mean yeah i dont get fat shamed or picked on for my weight which sounds crushing

[Coulis]

Yes. I do. I have also been fat. Worked my ass off (literally) because my joints were hurting and just existing was tiring.

[SavageGirl101]

people who say that skinny privilege doesn't exist are soooo dumb coming from someone who is skinny asf i know the privilege that i have

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Being fat is your choice. Of course slim people are treated better because they treat themselves better. So how about you do the same?

[Alexa703]

Yes I also watch what eat, yoga 5 days week. But I also work at it.

[TwoToTooTutu2]

I'm not fat per se, but I sure as hell ain't thin. I do not see how they have any privileges though

[Kas19]

As a pretty thick bitch. Skinny people get shit for being skinny too. I do think it happens to bigger women more often, but people need to stop focusing on each other's bodies to begin with.

[Ninani]

I've been on both sides, some people have trouble losing weight, some people struggle to gain weight, neither side is more privileged than the other.

[jesahen505]

my brother used to be very very skinny and he wasn't too privileged haha. but yes i realize that i have it pretty good myself

[Hydra6544]

Yes there are advantages of being skinny such as being able to fit in tiny places and eat anything, but there are disadvantages such as having to eat constantly.

[Anonymous]

I have been both in my life and would pick thin every time
Life is much better if you are thin

[Agape93]

You do realize you can get that “privilege” as well, right?

[jasco]

I don't feel privilege that i am skinny because i workout to be this way, so how am i privilege

[bamesjond0069]

Fat people should just be thin if they want privilege.

[Anonymous]

What kind of privilege? Not true. I have to work hard to maintain my figure

[hellacray]

HAHA!!!

Man trolls can be funny sometimes.

[EmperorRetribution]

No
thats a stupid idea

[joeldalton]

They don’t have “privilege” how crazy can you be?

[Anonymous]

Should I pay reparations to fat people now?

[Skaterboi2]

Not sure on that.

[Sia_nee]

Say what now?

[Pastalavista]

I'm confused lol