WHY FAT IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH LAZINESS AND UNHEALTHINESS

There are certain occurrences in our present-day society that are very common. They have become a norm among many but are unsuitable and unbefitting.

One of such occurrences is the prevalence of fleshy people or people with excess flesh being generally referred to as fat, but most people do not understand what being fat really means.

Some people even go as far as calling these fleshy people lazy, unhealthy and sometimes, undeserving.

I would like to help us have a better understanding of what these words actually mean and how they have been inappropriately used because over time, our society has continuously looked down on people who have excess flesh.

This unfair and biased treatment makes it a big struggle for most plus-sized people to be their best on a daily basis and has led to a widespread inferiority complex amongst them.

Now, being fat in this context simply means having a reasonable amount of flesh, more than the regular size.

Laziness refers to a person’s unwillingness to work or use up energy; a person’s preference to remain idle. Meaning, a lazy person is not handicapped; such a person just chooses to be inactive for no reason and gradually slides into dormancy.

Having said this, we must note that many fat or plus-sized people are very hardworking, active and very willing to use up energy in their bodies regularly.

What this means is that an active person cannot be referred to as lazy, so being fat has nothing to do with inactivity or laziness.

A fat person can only be called unhealthy when it is confirmed that such a person has more body fat than is optimally healthy for the body. Unhealthy also means likely to cause illness or poor health. It is linked with words like harmful, unwholesome, detrimental, unfit or unwell.

Based on these explanations, a fat person is not automatically unhealthy and should not be referred to as such.

We have examined the meaning of these negative words, and it is evident that they have no relationship whatsoever with being fat.

With the way the world is fast evolving and the campaigns for equity and equal rights for all, it is imperative that everyone be treated equally irrespective of their gender, achievements, religion, complexion, body size, skin colour or body structure.

Nobody should be entitled to respect or deny another person the respect and treatment he or she deserves.

Let me also make it clear that being fat is neither a crime nor a sin. Like I always say, plus-sized people are bold and beautiful. Do not let anyone look down on you or make you feel less about yourself. What people think about you does not matter as much as what you think about yourself. People’s words can only get to you if you let them. Being fat does not make you less; neither does it make you lazy, unhealthy or undeserving.

Be at peace with yourself.

Photo Credit: Glamour