Here’s a big controversial topic to cover. Obesity and Cancer, are they related? Is this another form of fat shaming? Do I think the adverts from Cancer Research have to be taken down?
Now, read this fully before you judge me.
To get you up to date… Obesity and Cancer
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve likely seen the controversy that the new adverts have caused. There’s even a petition now to get the adverts taken down amid cries that it is discriminatory and fat shaming.
So, as a personal trainer and former “fat girl” where do I sit with this?
Obesity can cause Cancer?
It has now overtaken smoking as a preventable cause of cancer. This is a scientific fact, you don’t need to like it but it is the truth.
Is cancer research fat shaming you?
No.
There is no more fat shaming in this advert than there is in being unable to find clothes that fit you in major high street stores.
There’s no more fat shaming here than not being able to fit through turnstiles at train stations because they are too small.
There’s no more fat shaming here than buying anti-chafing gel.
I am not shaming you, I am being brutally honest about the actual day to day difficulties of living in a world that doesn’t cater for your size.
And trust me, I know. I have lived this.
Will it encourage fat shaming from other people?
Possibly.
In fact I would say probably because thin privilege is a thing and people seem to think it’s acceptable to comment on your size under the guise of telling you that want you to be “healthy”.
But fat shaming has always been a thing, anyone who looks different or stands out or is an easy target is shamed for something. The media and advertising have always fat shamed, the removal of this advert will not eradicate it.
And if you’re part of the “health police” who like to fat shame people I have a message for you too…
It is true, obesity can cause cancer – but only if you are obese. You can’t catch cancer from knowing someone who happens to be a bigger size, so if you decide to fat shame someone based on this advert, shame on you.
It’s none of your damn business.
^^^ Really, even if they risk getting cancer – shut up – it’s not your business, it’s not your problem. Just be quiet.
After all do you go down the street commenting negatively on every single person smoking? If so, stop being a dick.
Does this mean you should lose weight?
If you want to? Sure.
If you don’t want to lose weight, you don’t have to.
I might be a fitpro but I’m not here to tell you what to do.
Weight loss, like everything else in life, is a CHOICE.
Despite what diet companies will tell you
YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR BODY AND YOUR LIFE.
^^^ Yes, you are.
If you were not then no-one would be capable of long lasting weight loss and I sit here at 5 dress sizes down to tell you that it’s possible.
You have complete control over your body. Do not misunderstand me, that doesn’t make it easy. In fact using that control is hard sometimes.
But the difficult truth is that you have control over what you eat, when you eat, how much you eat, how fast you eat, who you eat with, whether you eat or not.
You have control over how much you move, what you do when you move, do you exercise, do you go to the gym, do you workout at home, or whether you watch netflix instead.
Ainzlie, are you telling people it’s ok to be obese?
Kinda.
I’m telling you that it’s your choice to be whatever size you want to be.
Obesity is a major cause of cancer, but much like people who continue to smoke, if this increased risk isn’t something that bothers you then why is it my business?
However it is important that we know that obesity is a cause of cancer and we can’t ignore it cos – science.
In Summary
Science does not fat shame you.
Other people might fat shame you but you can (and should) tell them to piss off.
If you’re happy with your weight and the way that you look – fantastic, continue to be happy.
If you’re not happy then know that you are fully in control and can choose to change.
Ainzlie
p.s – I will get a fair amount of flack for this I’m sure, but as a former smoker and someone who has lost a lot of weight, changing both can be hard, but it’s doable and don’t allow anyone to tell you otherwise.
