Vol. 58 No. 42 • May 16, 2017

A recent tweet by a socialite who fat-shamed a cop is testimony to the fact that body shaming is common in India. There are many people who have been victims of body shaming because they are underweight or overweight, the latter being more common. Obese people are most often at the receiving end of unpleasant remarks, because unlike other medical conditions, obesity is something that can be seen and thus, invites sarcastic comments and taunts.

Obesity is mostly genetic or due a medical condition. In fact, only 40 per cent of obesity cases are due to unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. What it means is that though weight loss is crucial for healthy life, not everyone can lose a desired amount of weight with exercise and diet. Some might need medical treatment. People who are ignorant of this fact end up fat shaming obese people either deliberately or sometimes even unknowingly.

I remember one of my female patients, who suffered from a medical condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that caused unexplained weight gain in her, once told me, “I deal with instances of fat shaming every day. It’s sometimes in the form of unpleasant comments, while some people give unsolicited advice on diet, not with any intention to hurt me but because they think that my weight gain is a result of over eating. However, I know that’s not the case. In either ways it is annoying. I feel like telling them leave me alone.”

If you cannot help, at least do not hurt. Stop body shaming. Whether you know someone or not, it is none of your business to scrutinize someone’s body. Your unpleasant remarks can destroy someone’s self-esteem. Dealing with constant negativity can take a toll on their quality of life. People who cannot handle it sometimes take extreme measures like starving or putting an end to their own life.

Remember, your words are powerful. They can either hurt or heal people, and you hold that power. Use it wisely.