Can the chatter around body positivity dangerously propagate obesity?

As ozempic and body positivity now co-exist, has extremism become the norm of living, especially among Gen-Z and millennials? 

As someone with an abysmal immune system, I’ve encountered a handful of auto-immune diseases in 23 years of my existence. From a neurologist to a gynaecologist, rheumatologist to a dermatologist, I’ve visited a host of doctors.Regardless of which doctor I was meeting and why, every consultation began and ended with the same advice:  “Lose some weight”. While weight was one of the possible causes to precipitate all the health issues I had to deal with, for a 13-year-old to perpetually hear “lose some weight” on a regular basis from professional health experts, after causally being bullied by classmates in the school and tyrannised by some relatives, was alarming and triggering in equal measure. 

Suggestions coming from everyone had paved the way for body-image issues in my head—mental health wasn’t as openly spoken about a decade ago. Recently, upon being diagnosed with mild PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), the doctor—you guessed it right—asked me to lose weight, which made me revisit the gym. As I worked out regularly, I observed consistency in my menstrual cycle. I was reminded of how signing up for yoga, aerobics and workouts in my late teens had proven to be of great benefit in maintaining my health, even though I never attained an ‘ideal’ body size. Perhaps, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not fit if you’re fat and vice versa.

Having said that, I do acknowledge the fact that obesity can invite a slew of problems; doctors aren’t intentionally fanning the flames of your body-image issues for nothing. From crashed stamina levels and lethargy to bodily complications, obesity can cause significant harm. However, what is bothersome is that most people still subscribe to a weight-loss programme in pursuit of an hourglass body. The ozempic fiasco is one of the testaments of the fetish for a skinny, slender figure. Soon after, berberine, dubbed ‘nature’s ozempic’, gained virality on TikTok, without fully taking into account its side-effects—wreaking havoc to your gut is just one of them. Moreover, crash diets, in-office procedures and treatments that keep surfacing largely come along with a set of dangerous ill-effects, that are, more often than not, brushed under the carpet.

Body positivity, therefore, becomes crucial, allowing for self-love and self-acceptance. The feeling of seeing someone like Paloma Elsesser or Ashley Graham on the cover of international magazines is definitely refreshing and empowering. And, that’s what the body positivity movement hopes to manifest. Obesity? Not so much. A 2018 study by The Obesity Society reveals that the body positivity movement has contributed to an augmentation in normalising obesity. 

In a world where ozempic and body positivity co-exist, extremism has become the norm of living, especially among Gen-Z and millennials who are extensively exposed to and influenced by social media.While some women are stuck in the loop of adhering to the body standards accepted (read: appreciated) by society, others are learning to come to grips with their bodies. Some have also become way too comfortable with being unhealthy. What is, then, right and what is wrong? We attempt to find out.

Fat and fit don’t need to be mutually exclusive

Although my mind had been trained to associate any major health hitch that I face with my weight, this theory never entirely sat well with me. Don’t thinner women experience PCOS? They do. Aren’t thinner women also susceptible to other hormonal complications such as acne or poor gut health? They are. The fact that a majority of women experiencing such concerns are obese, makes obesity the prime focus to address. However, nobody can guarantee you a life free of health hurdles if you cop a skinny waist—what actually works as a corrective as well as preventive measure is being fit inside-out. Unfortunately, the commonly perceived notion is that ‘fat’ and ‘fit’ cannot coalesce.

“This is a very big misconception fueled by the diet culture, beauty industry and media. Not all fat people are lazy, and not all thin people are active. It is a stereotype that has developed over the years thanks to the influential industries who benefit from these beliefs and people’s insecurities,” says content creator Sanjana Achar. Even Sobia Ameen, model and content creator, finds this narrative irrational. “I have often seen a lot of skinny people who suffer from various diseases but no one thinks they have any health issues [until they finally find out] because they aren’t fat. However, a lot of them haven’t exercised a day in their lives and are yet considered fit for not having love handles or a bigger physique. When someone of a bigger size has diseases, it is expected—no one bats an eye, as they were so unhealthy to begin with. Being fat does not equate to being unhealthy all the time, the same way being fit doesn’t necessarily mean the person has to be skinny,” she says. The binary of fit and fat is often based on the premise of the outer physical appearance, which is indicative of one’s shape and size, but not very much about inner health and well-being. Remember, looking fit doesn’t equal being fit.

For content creator Prableen Kaur Bhomrah, fitness is the medium to unlocking a healthier life, for she has been diagnosed with high cholesterol and PCOS. “I feel maintaining an optimum BMI (Body Mass Index) and working towards a healthy lifestyle, whether you’re a size XL or XS, is key. As long as your blood reports are normal and you aren’t compelled to restrain yourself from doing something because of your weight, that’s what matters,” she opines. Delhi-based gynaecologist Dr Amodita Ahuja agrees, “Fat can be fit. When we calculate the BMI, we are only considering height and weight; somebody who has high muscle mass can be falsely labelled as obese and vice versa. I’d say somebody who can brisk-walk for an hour without halting or somebody who can climb two flights of stairs without becoming winded could be considered fit.”

Body positivity versus the glorification of obesity 

Ever since body positivity became a mechanism of tokenism and performative activism in advertisements, the core of the movement seems to have been diluted. Not many are aware that body positivity isn’t a novel concept—it has its roots in the Fat Rights Movement that commenced in the 1960s. Ever since, the National Association to Aid Fat Americans (NAAFA) has propagandised for equal rights for all, without any prejudices based on one’s weight. Body positivity began to gain momentum on Instagram in 2012, and today, over 11.5 million posts feature the hashtag #bodypositivity on the platform.

An article on Oprah Winfrey’s blog defines body positivity as “a movement that aims to help people accept and celebrate bodies of all shapes, sizes, skin colour, ability and gender.” Medical institutions and universities are on board with this definition. And, if you go by this exegesis, body positivity can be transformative for those struggling with body-image issues, compromised mental health and a lack of confidence. When obesity is celebrated under the canopy of body positivity, it not only leads to contempt of the movement by misrepresenting it but also cajoles people into following fallacious information. 

Considering fitness classes to ensure your body is mobile and fit is body positivity, while thinking you don’t need to push yourself to work out because you’re comfortable in your skin is a celebration of obesity. The latter can be menacing. “Most of the hormonal issues in the body are due to physical inactivity and irregular eating habits,” says Ahuja. A BBCarticle from 2018 states that millennials are set to be the ‘fattest’ generation. “Obesity prevalence has been increasing in the UK, from 15 per cent in 1993 to 27 per cent in 2015,” stated the report. India, where famines and malnutrition is rife, is not behind. “According to the fifth round of the NFHS (National Family Health Survey) conducted between 2019 and 2021, about 6.4 per cent of women and 4 per cent of men aged 15-49 are obese,” mentions a study on The Print. In an interview with CNN, laparoscopic surgeon Dr Pradeep Chowbey, revealed that in 2001, India had four or five bariatric surgery cases, and that number rose to 30,000 in 2016. 

“Not getting enough physical activity can increase the risk of heart disease. Other risks include type 2 diabetes, liver diseases, hypercholesterolemia, chronic fatigue syndrome and osteoporosis,” mentions Ahuja. She also highlights that one’s mental health can be affected in the long run indirectly in the case of PCOS. “Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle are key for the treatment of PCOS. If that is not maintained then patients again get into the cycle of insulin resistance/a difficulty in shedding kilos which can be mentally and physically exhausting.”

Have body image issues triggered extremism?

A hundred per cent. Incessant dissatisfaction with the appearance of your own body combined with constant comparison with every supposedly perfect body on social media amounts to the  destruction of one’s body image. This then results in stress-eating or opting for perilous drugs and diets that aren’t nutrient-dense. While almost 70 per cent of therapist and mental health coach Ruchi Ruuh’s clients are dealing with body image issues, Mumbai-based nutritionist Rakhee Jain says that at least 80 per cent of her clients are fighting the same battle. 

A negative body image can lead to lower self-esteem and self-worth, as individuals may feel that their appearance defines their value as a person, says Ruuh. “These people can have depressive episodes or depression with a sense of hopelessness and sadness; anxiety is a major part of these challenges as they might have a fear of judgement/rejection from others based on their appearance. They might avoid social situations like parties, get-togethers or even making friends or shopping as it may trigger anxiety related to their body appearance. This could lead to social withdrawal. A sense of dissatisfaction is high among such people as they constantly chase something that probably is unachievable, leading them to ignore the real issues at hand, such as creating meaningful connections, work or self-care,” she explains. “The extreme ends of the spectrum have to do with the fact that millennials are having to unlearn years of their lives while Gen-Z was given more exposure from their early childhood,” believes Ameen.

Along the same lines, Mumbai-based nutritionist Samreedhi Goel has observed that this extremism has risen from the need to look your best on social media. “Since everything now is about how great you and your life look in photographs and Reels, there is this need to look your best and follow trends. I also feel there is a lot of peer pressure about eating out, socialising, partying, drinking and dressing a certain way. So when you want to do it all, it’s a little harder to discipline yourself.” 

A healthier approach 

Obesity is anything but healthy, so it mustn’t be normalised. While romanticising yourself and your body the way it is is a step in the right direction, failing to address your body’s health is irresponsible. Anything that’s unreasonable is unhealthy. The antidote to these movements that create body shaming, body-image issues and eating disorders is body neutrality, says Ruuh.

“Body neutrality encourages individuals to focus less on the appearance of their bodies and more on its functionality. It’s a mindset that promotes acceptance and appreciation of one’s body without placing excessive emphasis on its physical appearance, whether positive or negative.” Body neutrality motivates young people to engage in activities that support their overall well-being, such as exercise and a balanced diet, for their health rather than appearance.

Achar, Ameen and Kaur Bhomrah follow diverse fitness routines that work for them. However, none are doing so in the pursuit of a ‘thinner’ body—good health is the ultimate goal. Sakshi Kirpalani, fitness influencer and coach at The Tribe talks about how the body feels after physical training, an important factor in measuring its results. “Feeling motivated throughout the day, higher levels of energy after a workout, and overall balanced nutrition are key changes a person notices during their fitness journey.” As far as diets are concerned, a standard plan suggested to you online will not work—you have to consult a professional or educate yourself about the basics of nutrition, opines the fitness expert. “After educating yourself about nutrition, make changes to your diet for two weeks; check your energy levels and hunger pangs —a diet that works for you mentally and physically also serves the purpose of weight loss/gain.” 

“You need to have certain unbreakable health rules. Do not compromise on your sleep, eat your meals at the same time daily, make sure you do at least an hour of exercise daily, and treat indulgences as indulgences, not a way of life,” concludes Goel. 

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