Everywhere I go I hear about the obesity epidemic. People are fatter than ever, kids are unhealthy, too much junk food, it’s a disease, it’s choice, it’s a disease, it’s a choice, diet diet DIET.
Of course, because this problem has grown so much there are social rules about it. The biggest rule being: Don’t ever call someone fat!
And that makes sense, right? It’s not very nice to call someone fat.
But it makes me wonder: Why is it okay to call a thin person anorexic?
It would be socially unacceptable for me to tell an obese person that they’re too fat and need to eat less. But it’s perfectly okay to tell a thin person that they’re too skinny and need to eat more.
Why?
I think it’s sad that we live in a society where being thin makes you anorexic in the eyes of others. Thin does not equal anorexia.
It seems in todays society we’re demonized for being either. You’re a fat, Mcdonalds gobbling pig if you’re obese. You’re a skinny anorexic bitch if you’re thin.
The only difference is we’re not supposed to say anything about someone being obese.
What’s worse is thin people are not anorexic! NIMH says “In their lifetime, an estimated 0.5 percent to 3.7 percent of females suffer from anorexia.”
So thin people are being insulted for no reason. I’ve never insulted an obese person about their weight but there have been many times where I’ve been told I’m too skinny or been called anorexic. Which I’m not.
And what about real anorexics? They get the short end of the stick. Not only do they have an eating/mental disorder, but they’re also used as an insult. People with anorexia are sick, but today they’re seen as bad.
Obesity = Okay. Leave them alone, they’re sensitive and have feelings too. Never say anything about their weight! They’re happy!
Thin = Anorexic! It’s okay to call them names!
Anorexic = Spawn of the devil!? People who are anorexic are the worst of the worst!
Now you might be thinking: Why do you care so much?
After all, being called too thin isn’t as emotionally painful as being called fat, right?
I care because I’m sick of having to defend my weight. I’m sick of having to tell people that I do eat. I’m sick of having to list out everything I’ve eaten all day to prove that I do eat. I’m sick of people thinking I starve myself.
I’m sick of feeling like it’s a bad thing that I’m not carrying around at least a couple extra pounds.
Insulting people for being thin is almost like you’re trying to encourage them to be fat. Like there is something wrong with being thin.
How about you leave my weight alone and I’ll leave your weight alone.
(Oh, and stop giving me that garbage about how ‘real women have curves.’ I’m not fake just because I’m thin. Size does not make anyone more or less of a woman.)
