Is It Healthy To Promote Big As Beautiful?
A increasing number of large women promote the slogan “big is beautiful” and at least some men seem to agree. But should being overweight be supported, if it means having health problems and shortening life span?
From Extreme To Extreme
The other day I wrote an article about the image of overly thin women that is being fed to us by the media. As I was writing it, I realized that the other extreme and the idea of ” Big Is Beautiful” seem to be just as wildly popular.
Before I start to analyze that concept, I would like to say that being too skinny is also very unhealthy and I am definitely a supporter of meat and muscle. On the magazines and runways we see women who are in a big need of a good meal. But we also see plenty of programs on TV that tell us to embrace being big.
When Plus Size Models Argue
The scenario that got under my skin was two plus size models. One of them was a size 10, looking healthy and very proportionate to her body. The other was a size 14 and she definitely looked very overweight and not so healthy. The healthy looking model was telling her story and her struggles with weight. She also said she lost about 50 lbs and now is finally happy with how she feels about her self.
Then the two models started arguing who should take the job. The size 14 model said that she deserved the job because she was a truly plus size model and she doesn’t think it’s right to give the job to the other model because she wasn’t “embracing” being big and that she herself loves being big, that this was her natural size, she didn’t want to lose weight because “big is beautiful”. She also added that she works out on a regular basis and eats healthy foods in small portions throughout the day.
You see, this is where I had a hard time believing her words, because her waistline was the biggest part of her body and, in my opinion, she looked extremely unhealthy. To be honest, I don’t think it’s possible to workout on a regular basis and eat small portions of healthy foods and be a size 14 – I simply don’t believe it can physically be done.
I also don’t believe it’s healthy for younger generations to think that it’s ok to be so overweight and embrace it. In my opinion, people who say that “big is beautiful” don’t truly believe in their own words. I’ve seen the expressions on those women’s faces, they don’t look as happy as they say they are. What I don’t understand is why there is such a need to lie to our selves as well as others. I guess it’s easier to say, “embrace being big ” instead of saying: “Yes I am overweight, and I struggle and it’s not healthy “.
What Do You Think?
It may be beautiful in some people’s eyes, but it’s definitely not healthy. I would like to remind you that being overweight causes high blood pressure, elevation of bad cholesterol, elevated blood glucose, heart disease that could lead to heart attack or heart failure, different forms of cancer, reduced immune function, etc, and these are just few of the symptoms. So why in the world would some people promote the beauty of being overweight? Is this the example that we should show to our children? Should we just tell them it’s in their genetics and let them accept that?
I personally stand for creating a healthy future for upcoming generations, because from what I’m seeing so far it’s not looking very good. People seem to run from one extreme to the other. I think instead of promoting “big is beautiful” or “skinny is beautiful” we should focus on a healthy life style in general, such as choosing the right foods, learning more variations of physical activity and keeping active overall.
Do you think it’s OK to accept being overweight and proclaim that it’s beautiful?
Pictures courtesy of Tony Alter and Emilio Labrador.
26 Comments
No.
I think people should be slim, to some degree, and muscular. Anything over 20% bodyfat for men I think is somewhat overweight, and personally I wouldn’t reach that. For women I suppose it’s a bit higher, but generally I don’t support the big is beautiful. There’s a difference between healthy and big. Everyone should be healthy-looking, but nobody needs to be big.
I am so glad that there are others that share my opinion, cause normally when I would bring this subject up in public I get called a bad person. As you said, everyone should be healthy and being overweight is definitely not.
Yeah, I always considered myself a bad person for thinking that all the “Embrace your fat self!” stuff is crap, since obesity gives you nothing but health problems, and, unless being a consequence of a pathological condition, can be managed without invasive procedures.
There are things that one should really accept about his/hers physical appearance and be happy, such as, for example, one being short, or having a weird looking nose, or something similar. But obesity isn’t something that should be encouraged and deemed acceptable or, even worse, desirable. Just my take on it. 🙂
+1 rep
Hey Wolf :), very glad to see like minded individuals!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
While I don’t think that we as a society should celebrate or encourage an unhealthy lifestyle (regardless of size – there’s plenty of visually acceptable “slender” people who drink, smoke, do drugs, neglect to eat properly and do other things that aren’t so outwardly apparent), I do think that we need to respect EVERYONE, regardless of size.
I do think that in order to make any positive changes that stick, an overweight or obese person needs to accept and LIKE who they are. If they hate themselves and that is the track they use to try to lose. . . well. . . they’ll lose. In a number of ways. So self-acceptance (not necessarily obesity-acceptance) is important. You can’t make positive changes without a positive attitude.
I think perhaps people who are bigger are pushing this “fat is beautiful” movement because they are sick of being told they are less than others, not as worthy, and criticized – they’re tired of all the hate focused on their bodies. It would be hard not to let that invade your brain and infiltrate your life.
I think that by coming down hard on women who are on the high side of overweight (but not necessarily obese – off topic, but somehow obese and overweight get interchanged frequently in these debates, and it’s irritating. There is a difference, both medically and physically, between overweight and obese. For a lot (not all, but a lot) of women, a size 14 toes the overweight/obese line – not necessarily obese, depending on their muscle mass and body composition. But I digress. . . ) can make those who are truly obese want to throw in the towel. After all, how encouraging is it for people who are a size 20 to hear that they are STILL fat and unhealthy at a size 14? Why bother trying at all? After all, they’ll still be considered fat and overweight by people like you.
I’m not trying to be mean or slam you. I’m just trying to put some perspective on it. Hopefully it helps. I do appreciate that you weren’t condescending in this, which is a positive step towards helping people who need to get healthy realize they need to do something.
Emy,
“While I don’t think that we as a society should celebrate or encourage an unhealthy lifestyle (regardless of size – there’s plenty of visually acceptable “slender” people who drink, smoke, do drugs, neglect to eat properly and do other things that aren’t so outwardly apparent), I do think that we need to respect EVERYONE, regardless of size. ”
In this article the thought was not about people who drink, smoke or do drugs ( that is definitely very unhealthy ).
I personally respect everyone as you said regardless of their size. I never judge people, I disagree with some ideas that are circulating in the media, and that is what the article was about.
As I was reading your comment, which I really enjoyed because you expressed your opinion, I didn’t for a second think you meant any harm or as you said trying to be mean.
All I was trying to do is express my opinion on ” Big Is Beautiful ” idea, not because of peoples size but the message that it carries and can get mixed up. I personally agree that we should except our selves for who we are, as long as we educate our future generation.
When you take up the entire space between aisles in a store, like the people I regularly see do, you aren’t beautiful. Tiny chubby girls are a different store entirely though. Thems a national treasure
Comon moon, we know fetishes don’t count in this argument 🙂
LMAO 😀
Not funny
Interesting post! To be contrary (because that’s my nature) I don’t think there’s any shortage of “you must be thin to be beautiful” messages people see on TV etc. So the fact that there are some exceptions out there that celebrate the beauty of women no matter what their size doesn’t bother me. Most WANT to lose weight and feel badly enough about it, and if they’re working on living a healthier lifestyle, I’m thinking a self-esteem boost could actually be helpful in that process.
I know what you mean, but I did mention we shouldn’t promote ” thin is beautiful ” either, to be in between and just promote healthy life style, that’s what I think is important.
I like your nick name by the way ” Crabby McSlacker “, I think it’s adorable.
Yes, a good number of people use eating as a self-soothing mechanism. Which of course leads to being overweight, which may increase frustration, which then is again compensated with food – a vicious circle.
I think when people refer to big and beautiful they don’t mean it the same way you do, for example, Christina Hendricks, is ‘big’ and beautiful, that’s what people refer to when they say it.
I like how you twisted the theme throughout the thread and used a morbid obese gut as the main picture.
I rest my case with the following picture:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2qla4ih.jpg
I love that pic, I used it in my article last week where I talked about women being too thin these days. This is what actually inspired this article. People seem to run from one extreme to another, either too skinny or big and beautiful. I personally prefer the Bottom Row of women in that picture, back in those times women did look good. Ahh those beautiful times!
“I personally prefer the Bottom Row of women in that picture”
Who doesn’t?^.^
My uncle probably does’t, he likes the upper row.
Around here in Germany we have black immigrants from Africa for whom “beautiful” are women that we consider overweight. To us Germans this usually seems peculiar: a rather large woman hand in hand with a slim African man, sometimes one that actually is rather athletic.
From the African man’s point of view it makes sense: back in his country of origin, a woman that is overweight is thought of to be prosperous and having the bodily reserves to successfully bear children. Which makes sense, when you consider the number of malnourished African women and infants.
As a former fat (and unhealthy person), I can attest that embracing this “big is beautiful attitude” is harmful. In fact, I used to embrace it. It wasn’t until after I ditched this perspective did I see positive changes in my body. People who subscribe to this attitude are deluding themselves and will remain fat and unhealthy until the day comes when they stop telling themselves that it’s OK.
We don’t need to look like supermodels, nor do we need to be perfect, but there are no benefits to being overweight.
Finally someone who agrees with me, I know many girls who are 30, 50, even 100lbs overweight who always use that as a excuse, or else imply the fault is with guys or more fit girls, and not with them. Ive talked to many girls who were maybe you could say borderline, and none of them payed a single second of attention to their health yet at the same time demanded guys all walk around with 6 packs and bench 350.
Yes some girls do have genuine image issues, but a lot really need to realize that big is not usually considered beautiful before they ever will consider putting down the fork. Obviously my mindset is not really popular, but look at the general health of america, dispite all the fear about anorexia, I have probably seen one truly anorexic girl in my entire life, and one that is very skinny but does it not out of fear of being fat, but wanting to have the most attractive body she can, and she is not unhealthy overweight either. But Ive seen hundreds of seriously obese girls.
I’m not saying someone would be judged on stuff they cannot change, like as wolf said, how tall you are and so forth, and neither does everyone need to be fitness models, but some measure of fitness should be maintained.
I completely agree! I just wish more people would understand that, but unfortunately they get angry before they have a chance to open their mind and think.
Size 14 is not overweight by any means! Of course a person can be a size 14 and still eat well and work out! My sister, a size 14, was the star of her basketball team 2 years in a row, until her back problems got worse, which was a result of growing too fast. Big can be beautiful, and being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean health problems. An overweight person can be in better shape than a slim person.
Well, and overweight person can definitely be in a better shape then the slim person, but that slim person would have to be drinking and smoking. But according to American doctors, size 14 is overweight by at least 8 sizes.
This is where you’re absolutely wrong: I eat healthy small portions every day. Mainly consisting of fruit, veggies, chicken, shrimp, or eggs. I count calories, fats, carbs, and sugars. I also take multivitamins. I work out basically every day, ranging from squats, push ups, cruches, biking, swiming, and running. I’m still a large size. I live a healthy life, but I’m big. So what? It’s possible. You need to get off your sexist high horse and accept that not everyone has a high metabolism and can lose weight quickly or easily. The world isn’t perfect, and it’s scum like you that make people hate themselves.
If you do all that and don’t lose weight then you are eating as many calories as you burn.
I also ask you to not insult my contributors.