5 Embarrassing Things You Should Never Say to an Overweight Person

5 Embarrassing Things You Should Never Say to an Overweight Person

 

Most overweight people are probably not happy with their size when they see their slim and gorgeous friends so being fat on its own is like a burden. However, there are some things that we say to fat people that make things worse for them. Some of them are shared below;

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START DIETING?

This question implies that you do not accept the person at the weight and shape they are currently, which can be shaming to the individual and perpetuates weight stigma. This question may do more harm than good because research published in American Psychologist indicates that dieting itself seems to not be an effective method to decrease body mass over the long term. Plus, dieting can be a risk factor for eating disorders, according to a Psychological Bulletin review.

IF YOU WOULD JUST QUIT BEING SO LAZY MAYBE YOU WOULDN’T BE OVERWEIGHT.

This personally blames the individual for carrying more weight. Even close family members do not know what an individual’s life looks like day in and day out. There are an endless number of reasons this individual could be carrying more weight than you deem necessary, including medical conditions beyond their control.

HAVE YOU TRIED EXERCISING? MY GYM HAS THIS GREAT SPECIAL.

This is another judgmental question, assuming that you know the individual’s exercise routine (or lack thereof). The best exercise is the kind that a person does because he enjoys it and it feels great, not one done out of obligation and shame. If he chooses it out of his own enjoyment and desire, he is more likely to stay motivated to continue doing it.

YOU’LL NEVER FIND A PARTNER UNLESS YOU LOSE THAT WEIGHT.

While it can seem as though physical attractiveness is related to weight, not everyone prefers someone who is thin as a partner. We all have much more to offer than what the numbers on a scale tells us. Reducing someone to their physical appearance is going to do nothing positive for their health. If anything, it could hinder it due to feelings of failure that can be perceived as discrimination and prejudice, which can then lead to other negative health behaviors, according to American Journal of Public Health.

I COULDN’T EAT THAT, IT WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO MY HIPS.

Comparing your body’s needs and another individual’s food choices is unhelpful. It places rightness and wrongness on food choices when they are not that black and white. What might be right for one person might not be for another. Additionally, stating that the food will go straight to your hips is a reductionist view of nutrition.