Healthy is always in fashion.
Unfortunately, trends care nothing for health and instead over the last decades have leaned into whatever is easiest, and purchasable. It is a big part of the reason that the trend away from being thin has happened, where "accepting yourself" the way you are has led to a lot of people struggling with their weight, and in places like the US, almost half the population is obese.
But skinny is back.
why?
Because it is purchasable.
Back in the eighties people were complaining about unrealistic body expectations based on representations in the media, where models who had been airbrushed (by hand) adorned magazine covers. And that was replaced by a movement of body positivity where being indulgent, being overweight, not caring what others think brought us to today. The problem is, a few years ago weight-loss drugs came out which made losing weight purchasable and suddenly, it was possible to be indulgent and be thin. And now, all those "happy fat" people have been uncovered as skinny cravers in a fat person's body. And inevitably, being skinny is back in trend.
Skinny - not healthy.
While in general being overweight is unhealthy for the vast majority of people, being thin doesn't automatically mean healthy either - otherwise drug addicts would be healthy. The attraction with these various weight-loss drugs isn't just the weight loss, because there are lots of things that can do that, like adjusting diet and exercise. It is that you don't need to do anything except pay for them. For the most part, people aren't forced to change their behaviours, so no control necessary.
I am not against these drugs.
I think it is ridiculous that we need them, but when culture and economy condition us to consume endlessly, not control our emotional wellbeing or health, and accept ourselves no matter how poorly we feel or are acting, it isn't entirely our fault. We have been raised to be fat consumers, just like children are being raised on screens today in ways that will make them mentally and emotionally stunted.
But now, the red carpets that were not too long ago filled with fuller figures being celebrated for their bravery at accepting their bodies, are being walked by gaunt, hollow people who all seem to have the same expression on their face, no matter their age, the occasion or how they are feeling.
Is this wellbeing?
I don't believe so.
No one has grown to actually accept themselves, they have just buried the feelings of wanting to be something other than what they are behind a curtain of trend. The trends over the last few decades has meant that they can be unhappy with themselves internally, but still fit in externally.
That trend is turning though.
But like all trends, it is driven by those who have the money to spend, and the weight loss drugs are not cheap. But that is okay, because governments are making them accessible by subsidising them, so everyone shares the cost of the people who are both indulging and wanting to lose weight - which is the same as before because the same set of people are more likely to cost more in health services due to various weight-related illnesses, including mental health.
I am not against people who are overweight, as I understand the many challenges and face them myself. However, what I dislike is the entire direction of society, where we keep on creating environments that make us ill in multiple ways, and then creating solutions to the problems we have created that make us ill in other ways. And instead of having the goal of improving our wellbeing, it is all done for money.
What is a healthy weight?
The question can't be answered at a group level, as it is very much individual. However, if a person is not moving their body enough, is eating poorly but with a suppressed appetite, and is feeling nauseous, are they likely to be healthy?
At this point, I don't need to take weight-loss medication, but I wonder if I will ever get to the point where I would, and what would I have to do to get there? How big would I need to be before I get to the point that I believe I can't do it with diet and exercise alone? I have no idea.
Perhaps if there was a pill I could take where I was the perfect weight, but also felt good, could think clearly, and was able to move freely without pain, I would take it. But alas, that pill doesn't exist yet.
So, people predictably choose their looks over all else.
Taraz
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