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I strongly oppose the notion that one can be healthy/fit at every size, and I don't view claims that overweight people should lose weight as intrinsically body-

I strongly oppose the notion that one can be healthy/fit at every size, and I don't view claims that overweight people should lose weight as intrinsically body-shaming, but I still think this is a good move. Those who are buying ads on Pinterest for weight loss aren't doing so out of good will and a desire for people to be healthier - they're doing so to generate profit. They have no interest in actually helping a person change their lifestyle so as to lose weight, keep it off, and become healthier, as those people do not make for repeat customers. Also it's harder to sell a "lifestyle change" (i.e. the information one could use to go from being overweight to a healthy weight) than it is to sell ineffective and sometimes dangerous alternatives such as diet pills and plans.

silicon2401 5y ago
> I strongly oppose the notion that one can be healthy/fit at every size, and I don't view claims that overweight people should lose weight as intrinsically body-shaming, I agree. Society lacks nuance. Health outcomes worsen as weight increases, that's just physics. Joints get more strained and the body literally gets slipper during surgery with more fat. There's a weight/body composition spectrum where most people would be healthiest. At the same time, one shouldn't be shamed for being overweight just like we don't shame people for not drinking enough water or drinking alcohol (even though you could argue these are worse than being fat). The modern approach to safeguarding short-term emotions above everything else will come at the cost of other things like physical health, long-term mental health, etc.