What Is Body Shaming?

Our body is a gold mine. Seriously, it hustles hard, clocking in extra time with such fierce strength and usually doesn’t ask for much in return.

Unfortunately, we are predisposed to listen to our thoughts than consider what our body needs. It is easy to focus on what you hear and listen to what society tells you is the norm. With criticisms coming at you from external sources and your own thoughts entertaining the idea that you are not worthy, your mind sets up impossible goals. These goals are demanding so much more than what the body is already providing.

What is Body Shaming?

Self-esteem pertains to the positive or negative feelings that we bestow upon ourselves. Our self-esteem is rooted in many factors, such as how we perceive our skills and appearance, as well as our ability to get on with others seamlessly (1). It has been observed that self-esteem improves during childhood, but decreases during adolescence. Unfortunately, the emergence of social media and its prominence on one’s daily life seem to affect self-esteem (2).

Body shame has been widely researched during the last few years. It has been associated with different forms of psychopathology, including but not limited to eating disorders (3). Sadly, body shaming has been the norm. We see it every day on different social media platforms. One blogger even had to retort to a commenter who told her that it is a mistake that she had her breast implants improved. The commenter said that it made her look like a boy. This blogger embraced her natural body, and the journey for her to get there was long and painful. She got sick from the implants and had to get rid of them. We live in a superficial world that tells you to endure the pain, so long as you look good doing it. While what the blogger received is a blatant body-shaming comment, there are numerous ways body-shaming have been displayed without people noticing it:

1. Pushing for Fad Diets Instead of Highlighting the Importance of Nutrition 

Specific diets guarantee fast and effective weight loss (4). Obesity is a growing public concern. Most people turn to diet programs shown to get rid of excess weight fast. Add to that the increasing popularity of certain eating regimen endorsed by peers and the media. Unfortunately, these diet programs are difficult, if not impossible, to maintain. In the long run, these are likely to lead to numerous health issues.

2. Shying Away from Treating Yourself

Indulging in tasty food or drinking good wine has been considered extravagant. When overweight people do so, they receive hurtful comments or are given some reprimand. When thin people do so, they are met with questions like, “Are you sure you can finish that?” You never win. There are healthy ways to indulge. Also, according to a particular study, indulging first, you can eat less overall (5).

3. The Media is Glorifying Certain Body Types

There are only 5% of people in North America who have the same body types that the media deem ideal. Bodies are created differently so that you can see various shapes and sizes.

4. Being Judgmental of Other People Succumbing to the Societal Pressures of Improving Themselves

When you work out a lot or take good care of your eating behavior, some people will refer to you as vain or brainwashed by the cultural norm. The truth is, the pressure to look good is evident in our lives, and they are everywhere in simple and subtle ways. Some people resort to surgery to achieve their goals. But guess what? It is up to them. If you are not the kind of person to wear heels all the time or if liposuction scares you, then there is no need to judge people who have the guts to get what they want.

The world tells us to change and not be happy with who we are. Body-shaming is apparent in three ways:

• Being critical of your own appearance by comparing yourself to another individual.
• Being critical of others and saying it to their face.
• Being critical of others and saying it behind their backs.

Whichever way it manifests, the end result is lowered esteem. Most people think that making other people feel guilty about their weight can help them make healthier lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, according to one study, fat-shaming only makes people feel bad about themselves, which increases the inclination to eat more, leading to more weight gain (6). Body shaming does not only extend to fat people. Some people are also shamed for being too thin. The sad fact is that this is often overlooked. Thin people are often being called too obsessed or getting asked if they have anorexia or some eating disorder. And when someone is diagnosed with an eating disorder, people judge at how vanity has gotten the best of that individual. There are 70 million people all over the world that have eating disorders (7). Would you believe that 81% of 10-year-olds fear getting fat and half of 9 to 10-year-old girls become more confident if they are on some kind of diet (7)? Dieting is the number one trigger in the development of eating disorders.

So, why do people shame others? Why is body-shaming experienced every day? How can people be harsh? Sadly, it is a default attitude. It seems a lot easier to go for something that will hurt or annoy the person and going for one’s appearance seems to be easier than entertaining how you feel. Instead of allowing oneself to feel feelings and express sentiments, people usually go for aggressiveness. Sadly, people who struggle to lose weight often experience derogatory comments from their loved ones (8).

Technology has zoomed in on appearance and made it the star of our lives. Our culture favors thin people, and so everywhere we look, we see fit models all the time in movies, music videos, magazines, and online. In the olden days, it was not like that. This was considered unhealthy. The more weight you have, the more attractive you are. In fact, it shows that you can afford to eat well and is sort of a status symbol. Now, that food is a commodity almost everyone can afford, having money to buy superfoods and signing up at the gym has become the new basis of wealth.

Harmful Effects of Body-Shaming

Body-shaming goes far more than increased or decreased weight. While these results have repercussions on our overall health, the following effects are also caused by body-shaming:

Depression

People who are discriminated against for their weight, experience poor mental health outcomes (9).  They are more susceptible to mental problems and are likely to suffer from depression.  

Eating Disorders

Fat shaming is associated with eating disorders. Binge-eating seems to be a stress reliever for some people leading to further weight gain (10).

Suicide

Perhaps the worst effect of body-shaming is the psychological stress that leads people to commit suicide. People who suffer from loneliness and lack of support are prone to commit suicide (11).

Body-Shaming and Suicide

Depression stems out from weight discrimination. We have already cited it as a harmful effect, but to give you a clearer picture: People who are always criticized for their weight are 2.7 times more at risk to become depressed (12). This depression is the leading cause of suicide. One study observed 2,436 obese individuals and noted that severe obesity makes an individual 21 times at risk of having suicidal behavior and 12-times greater chances of attempting suicide (13).

Is it not a scary thought of how powerful words can be? How can body-shaming drive an individual to end his or her own life? How can we change it?

How to End Body Shaming

If you are an individual prone to resorting into body-shaming when or frustrated, try the following methods:

1. Try Learning How to Pinpoint the Source of Your Frustration

Understand how you really feel, instead of making snide comments about someone’s physical appearance. If you felt rejected or left out, do not attack someone with an unrelated issue. Instead, assess your emotions, entertain it, and eventually try to talk to the person involved in it.

2. Associate Yourself with Body-Positive Images and People

Look for people who love their bodies. Be with people who appreciate what their bodies can do. Learn from people who do not make comments on how other people look like. If you are aware that you are body-shaming yourself and others, then you should capture the essence of self-love. With other people’s influence, you can start viewing yourself and others in a more positive light.

3. Talk to People Who Body-Shames

If you have become conscious of your body-shaming attitude, you will begin to notice more people who are doing it. You realize that your funny co-workers are actually making humorous jokes on someone else’s expense. Talk to these people and let them know how it makes you feel uncomfortable. You do not have to sound all preachy, but try to explain it to them based on your experience.

4. Focus on What You Like About Your Body

We have seen infomercials and ads that promote skin whitening or surgery-free nose lifts. Instead of letting these bring you down (or getting in line to get the procedures done), highlight what you like most in your body. Enjoy what you like most. We struggle a lot with body image. But, once you begin to learn how to celebrate and love yourself every day, you will never think less of other people’s physique.

For parents, you should learn how to strengthen your child’s self-worth regardless of gender, without focusing on the physical aspect:

• Teach your children to eat healthy on the basis of good nutrition. Refrain from pointing out physical appearance and weight.
• Monitor the social media usage of your child. Interfere if you notice body-shaming and bullying is being done by or to your child.
• Use inspiring role models regardless of appearance.
• Teach the concept of empathy to your kids. Let them understand certain differences related to weight, race, or gender. For instance, explain to them why some people struggle to keep off weight. Some people have conditions that make it difficult to maintain a normal weight. Instead of judging people regarding their appearance, empathize, and relate to them.

For victims of body-shaming, the following steps will prevent you from reacting differently. You are not alone. It is normal to get hurt when someone says negative things about you. But, by building up your confidence, these things will no longer matter:

• Do what you love and be with the people you love. Spend time with the people who celebrate who you are as a person. Dance in the rain or sing in the shower. Go on a date with yourself and rent your favorite movie.
• Do what makes you feel amazing. Treat yourself to a spa treatment and get a haircut. Wear your favorite clothes.  Disregard what people think and do things if they make you beautiful and amazing.
• Accomplish new things. Aside from doing things to pamper yourself, learn, and triumph new feats. Take on a new challenge. Learn how to bake. Attend a culinary class. Challenge yourself and rediscover your talents.
• Help other people. You have heard it several times – the secret to happiness is helping others. If you have the time, go and volunteer, but there are other ways to do something nice in the service of others. Pay it forward and elicit a chain of good deeds.

Key Takeaway

Body-shaming has been integrated into our culture. This toxic behavior has led to negative effects on mental, physical, and emotional aspects. It can be stopped, but it has to start within you. Say no to body shaming.

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