7 Surprising Fat Shaming Terms That You Don't Realize Are Hurtful
byMeg Kehoe
Fat shaming is everywhere. It’s in Reddit threads, comment sections, Instagram posts, it’s on television, in the news, it’s in shopping malls, and grocery stores, and elementary schools. Although some fat shaming is obvious (not to mention unoriginal and laugh-worthy), there are some surprising fat shaming terms and phrases that can be extremely hurtful and harmful to those they are said to, as well as young ears that may be listening.
And guess what? Fat-shaming doesn’t get anyone anywhere. The Atlantic reported that studies found fat-shaming doesn’t motivate people to lose weight. In fact, people who are fat-shamed are more likely to gain weight when they’ve been discriminated over their weight. It’s important to learn how to be an ally to people who are fat-shamed (whether it’s you, your friend, or a complete stranger), and it’s important to remember that even the most body-positive people don’t always get it right. Whether you’re educating yourself or a friend, remember that not all weight discrimination is obvious — and what you think might be a compliment, might not be a compliment at all.