‘Real women have curves’, ‘men like something to hold onto’, ‘thick, juicy and fabulous’. Body positivity is one of the hottest topics at the moment, and rightly so. Whether you want to change your body or you’re happy with the one you have, loving the skin you’re in is the first step to a happier, emotionally healthier life.
However, it seems that body positivity slogans and attitudes often favour those with weight to lose, rather than weight to gain. Which can sometimes see people veering away from fat shaming (a good thing) towards thin shaming instead (not a good thing at all)? If you’re on the slimmer side, have you been on the receiving end of any thin shaming, and if so, how have you dealt with it? We asked our readers to weigh in.
“Unfortunately the body shaming doesn’t end. I was fat-shamed when I was overweight, and now that I’m at my goal weight, I’m called vain and obsessed. I’ve been told to ‘eat a burger’, and my friends call me boring when I say no to parties because I have a race the next day. It’s sad.” – Bianca-Leigh, 33
“I was NOT liked after I lost weight. I was even accused of being narcissistic. Thin shaming is everywhere, all over social media. It’s disgusting and debilitating, and it needs to stop.” – Jayde, 36
“I’ve had cousins who’ve been thin shamed in the vilest manner. One was even told that the reason she wasn’t able to get pregnant is because she needed to eat more. I myself lost a lot of weight before meeting my husband, and he was accused of forcing me to lose weight, which wasn’t true. It was very upsetting.” – René, 38
“My daughter was cast in an ad, and then instantly rejected for being too thin. She’s 19, weighs 55kg, and is toned and healthy from being a freediver. You just can’t win!” – Nicky, 42
“’You need to eat more fat’, ‘you look like a starving person from Ethiopia’ – people haven’t been shy about the things they’ve said to me. I’ve always been considered skinny, and clothes have always hung on me. It hasn’t bothered me because I’ve always been happy being tall and slim. But I’ve never been considered attractive – more of a plank or a washboard.” – Jothie, 29
“I always had a large circle of girlfriends, and when I started eating healthier and training more, they were hugely supportive. But as I lost weight, I started to lose friends too. They made digs about me being boring and exercising all the time, they stopped inviting me to things, and when we did meet up, they were cold and aloof. I guess being fat makes you safe, and being thin makes you threatening. It was sad, but it definitely taught me who my friends were!” – Crystal, 40
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