For those battling obesity, true progress starts not with judgment, but with the self-compassion that body positivity ignites.
It is frustrating when individuals who have never dealt with obesity themselves think they know best. They ridicule the body positivity movement; they (inaccurately) believe “normalizing” obesity means we don’t try to lose weight. There are several issues with this mindset. Here’s why, simply put, it’s wrong.
Negative Self-Image
Let me start by saying that obesity is a complex medical condition. It can be caused by any single or combination of mental, physical, environmental, and lifestyle factors. I only have experience with the mental causes, so that is all I will speak on. It is also because of these mental factors that body positivity is so important.
For those of us struggling with our weight, feelings of low self-worth lead to a vicious cycle. The negative self-image causes us to fall back on our emotional eating and avoidance due to shame. If you have ever dealt with addiction, it’s the same thing. If you tell a smoker they should quit, it triggers their need to self-comfort. The easiest way they know to do this is to smoke.
Traditional beauty standards emphasize thinness or a specific body shape. We are bombarded with it on television, billboards, social media, etc … These are unattainable to some of us. For myself, society says I should weigh less than 150 pounds and wear somewhere around a size 6. My body can’t even attain that, let alone maintain. For a long time, this led to dissatisfaction with my body. I was a healthy weight for MY body, but society said I should be a certain number.
After all this bombardment, I had to deal with chronic pain, PTSD, and depression. I gave up on my body, I needed any satisfaction I could get, and the easiest was food. For years, my body had to wait; in 2023, I topped out at 299 pounds. This was when I decided to focus on body positivity.
Body Positivity Encourages Self Compassion
I remember after that appointment, I stared at myself in a full-length mirror. I realized it had been years since I had stood in front of one. I was so disgusted with myself. But that mentality is what helped push me to this size, so I needed a different mindset.
The body positivity movement aims to overshadow all that lowers our self-esteem. Especially, how our body compares to society’s standard. It encourages us to accept all bodies regardless of size, shape, color, appearance, and ability. We are motivated to focus on self-compassion, breaking through a vicious cycle of dependency and instant gratification (like emotional eating).
Love=Nurture
When we love something, we take better care of it. It’s true for relationships, clothes, pets, and even our own bodies. Do a simple Google search to see countless medical articles talking about how self-love leads to healthier minds and bodies. I would go so far as to say it’s essential.
The next time I stood in front of my full-length mirror, I told my body that I loved it. I thanked it for carrying the extra load and staying strong through the pain. I apologized for not giving it the nutrition and support it needed. I promised to do my best to take better care.
It’s a Journey, Not a Solution
With help from my medical team, I began to lose the weight, all the while loving myself. Not for the change, for how it is at that moment, unconditionally. When I fall back into some unhealthy habits, it is easier to forgive myself and move on. It’s a long road to undo the damage; it’s not as simple as mind over matter.
With the body positivity movement, I have more success, and I’m not the only one. Social media is full of people who have embraced body positivity and have had success in improving their health. More importantly, maintaining it. Body positivity does not glorify obesity but rather emphasizes the importance of self-love and mental well-being. This is crucial for making sustainable, healthy lifestyle choices.
