Though obesity is a serious health issue, and there is a need to educate people to eat a healthy balanced diet, ridiculing and fat shaming is offensive and a sign of bullying. In a recent interview to Filmfare, Bollywood Actress Vidya Balan shared,” Years ago, I stopped watching my shots on the monitor at shoots because I would look at the monitor and be thinking, am I looking fat? Even at my thinnest, I have always felt fat. When I was a teenager people would tell me, You have got such a pretty face,why don’t you lose some weight?“

As opposed to general assumption that “Overweight people = eat a lot” , obesity could be due to medical conditions like PCOS, hormonal imbalance etc.

Blame for fat shaming

Unfortunately, there are many sitcoms, movies and web series where fat-shaming is rampant. If you are still wondering whats wrong with fat shaming , then let me tell you something. Constant messages regarding why a slim body is a sign of perfection is drilled in our minds through advertisements and internet which unfortunately causes low self esteem. Insecurity leads to misconception that being skinny is beautiful and vice versa. Recently, Bollywood actress Neha Dhupia retorted, “Fitness is a priority and not ‘fitting into’ society’s standards regarding looks” to a fashion magazine for an article fat shaming her.

Being overweight during my teen years, I have always felt ugly, under confident and ended up with low self esteem. It took me a lot of time to love myself and accept the way I am . Self-acceptance is crucial. Instead of killing ourselves over looking slimmer or a shade fairer, we should learn to accept ourselves the way we are.

(Pic Credit – MsChanadlerBong/IndiaForums)