@sharirinia / sharirinia.tumblr.com
Fat and beauty can coexist. “You would be beautiful if you lost a bit of weight” and “you still have a pretty face” are not compliments. You are beautiful now and your whole being is pretty. Your soul is alight. You are radiant.
Lizzo for Teen Vogue
Real talk.
It’s extremely important to realize that you were beautiful before someone noticed and you’ll remain beautiful in their absence.
Your beauty is not subjected to who values you for it.
As a body positive activist, and as a medical student, I think a lot about how to encourage people to celebrate and nurture their bodies. I think this is especially important for individuals with overweight and obesity, who are so often told that they should be ashamed of their bodies.
It’s so common for people to say very cruel things about fat bodies, and to then use their supposed concern about fat people’s health as an excuse for their cruelty. Fat-shaming is a terrible way to motivate healthy living, and is actually incredibly counter-productive, both in my opinion, and in the medical literature.
So, this post is for all the people who say they’re concerned about fat people’s health. Since making derisive and stigmatizing comments about fat people only contributes to mental and physical health problems, and because it’s just plain mean, here are some alternative ways you can actually help foster health for fat people.
1. Create inclusive spaces for physical activity
Smile and be friendly to everyone at the gym, especially people who appear to be new or unsure how to use the equipment. Don’t ever laugh at someone for trying to work on their fitness.
Encourage your local fitness apparel stores to carry plus size fitness clothing. It’s hard to be physically active when you can’t find a sports bra that fits.
Advocate for improved representation of fat athletes in media. It’s hard to believe you can run a marathon if you never get to see someone your size achieving that goal.
2. Decrease barriers to non-stigmatizing health care
Support your friends and family members who are overweight or obese to find a health care provider who respects them and provides non-stigmatizing health care.
Ask your doctor if they have appropriately sized blood pressure cuffs for overweight and obese patients. Encourage them to have chairs in the waiting room without arms, so their fat patients can feel comfortable in their doctor’s office.
If you work in health care, advocate for your hospital to have appropriate imaging machines and other equipment for fat patients. Ensure that appropriate dosing protocols for medications are in place for fat patients.
3. Support self-love and body confidence
Get on board with body positivity!
When we love our bodies, it’s easier to treat them with kindness and nourish them with healthy foods.
When we’re confident in our bodies, it’s easier to celebrate them through physical activity.
4. Share your passion for healthy living (when it’s appropriate)
If you love living a healthy lifestyle, and you’re knowledgable about physical activity and healthy eating, that’s awesome!
If you have a friend or family member trying to make lifestyle changes, and they want your advice, feel free to share it.
That said, if someone doesn’t want to talk to you about those things, or if they’re a stranger on the internet, remember that unsolicited health care advice is not cool, and not helpful.
In summary, fat-shaming doesn’t help anyone’s mental or physical health. So if you’re actually looking to support healthy living for fat people, try some of the great ways listed above!
instagram.com/beautybeyondsize
Fat girls are beautiful Fat girls are sexy Fat girls are soft Fat girls are magical Fat girls are talented Fat girls are strong Fat girls are smart Fat girls are loving Fat girls are cute Fat girls are funny Fat girls are flexible Fat girls are amazing Fat girls can be vulnerable Fat girls can be confident Fat girls can be shy Fat girls have feelings Fat girls cry Fat girls laugh Fat girls dance Fat girls do amazing things Fat girls can do anything and be anything Don’t let anybody ever tell you different.
IKEA bringing the SÅLT
that guys comment says so much about the american nationalism and attitudes towards other countries
if you’re reading this right now.. i truly hope something good happens to you soon
Christian Soriano is bae
I stanned him so hard back on project runway! Great to see this
Same, I’ve been on the Siriano train since Project Runway.
SAME!!!!!
I never saw him in PR but his line at Payless was always practical and comfortable and actually came in larger sizes than like an 8 so I could actually fit them without having to wear ugly grandma shoes.
I really don’t get why the fashion industry doesn’t understand this. You would literally make more money by making clothes for everyone. What the fuck is the problem? Same for the beauty industry and providing shit for dark people. It’s more profit for you.
this is where I grew up. please help them if you can.
this is 4 months old and still hasn’t reached its goal
This is now from July of last year and they’ve only raised $31 of their $50 thousand goal
🙋🏽♀️
Hello, world! I’m fat. I look good. That’s all, thank you.
Greetings, friends. If you are fat, you also look good. Okay, good bye.
Cant wait to spend coins at @savagexfenty 💰
Them: So you’re just gonna love yourself? Like all of you? The flaws too?
Me:
