Can we stop fat shaming politicians we don't like?

[athena]

147. Just because you were able to lose weight doesn't mean everyone can.

Our society's obsession with what it considers a "healthy" weight is arbitrary. Read "The Obesity Myth". There is no scientific evidence that being "overweight" or "obese" is unhealthy. Indeed, being "underweight" is much more dangerous than being "overweight" or "obese". It is also much more dangerous to have a fluctuating weight than to have a stable weight that is "overweight" or "obese". What counts much more than weight in terms of health is exercise. And yet you don't see anyone shaming anyone for being underweight or not exercising enough.

Moreover, as a psychologist on DU has posted previously, shaming a person is not an effective way to get them to change. If you want someone to change, you treat them with kindness and compassion. You don't attack and shame them.

Fat-shaming others is old-fashioned bigotry, just like racism and sexism. It's a way for "normal"-weight people to feel superior to others by virtue of their weight. I say that as someone who is lucky enough to have been born with genes that put me naturally in what is considered the "normal" range of weight.

Finally, I find it very offensive that you call being overweight "ugly" and suggest that a person who is fat is fat because s/he is "stuffing his/her face". That should not be allowed on DU. Unfortunately, though, alerting your post wouldn't get it hidden because bigotry against the overweight and obese is still something that is considered acceptable, as this thread demonstrates.