You either wanted to hurt me or help me, but every person who fat-shamed me only managed to hurt me. You all stole a piece of who I once was because of your selfish, rude, and ignorant comments. You were guys I liked, doctors I trusted, and family who's support I needed. In the end, though, you were the ones who made me cripplingly self-conscious.
Fat-shaming does not create strong emotions and feelings!
I should not need to make the above statement. However, many people are so insanely infatuated with other’s weight, being healthy, and working out that they feel the need to extend their beliefs onto others in the least tactful way. Fat-shaming has never once made me feel the immediate need to head to the gym or eat a salad. It hurts so much that I want to eat my feelings away and hide under my covers forever. It does not matter if it seemed like your comment did not affect me; I was faking it. Sure, I may not have started bawling my eyes out in front of you, but as some point, after those words came out of your mouth I did. As with 13 Reasons Why, if you have fat-shamed me you are responsible for me feeling terrible about myself. I’ve had it happen on more than one occasion, but it is something you never get used to. No matter who says something, or how many times I’ve heard a person’s terrible thoughts about me I am still affected by them. These hateful words come out of your mouths, and my heart sinks to my ankles. When you fat-shamed me you were not helpful; you made me incredibly vulnerable and ashamed.
Did you consider the lasting damage you could have caused? Fat shaming can lead to depression, eating disorders, and a negative body image. Did you think about any of those things happening? Or were you more concerned with making a person feel like complete and utter crap? I promise you, no matter what the initial reaction was, I was hurt when you threw your degrading words my way. No matter what your motive was, you were in the wrong. There is never a compelling reason to make a comment about a person’s weight.
If you would not blatantly point out a person’s disability then what makes it appropriate to mention someone’s weight? It is appalling that people feel joy from making other’s miserable about their body. Especially when the person making the comments is someone you thought you could trust. Maybe you thought you were helpful mentioning different dieting techniques or offering me access to your gym membership. YOU WERE NOT. In fact, you created more damage for my mental health than I could ever cause my physical health; no matter how many Twinkies and pints of Ben & Jerry’sthat I consume. It does not matter what my body type is or how I'm built. If you are going to make a comment, then you are the problem, not me.
