If The Body Positivity Movement Had To Select Its Unofficial

If The Body Positivity Movement Had To Select Its Unofficial Mvp It W

If the body positivity movement had to select its unofficial MVP, it would definitely be Lizzo. Known for her catchy songs and her unapologetic celebration of her body, Lizzo encourages her fans to accept themselves regardless of shape, size, color, gender, or sexuality. Recently, celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels drew controversy by expressing concern about Lizzo’s health on social media, sparking a debate at the intersection of body acceptance and health. Michaels questioned why Lizzo’s body was being celebrated, suggesting her weight might lead to health issues like diabetes. However, her comments raise questions about justification and authority in health discourse.

Jillian Michaels's authority as a fitness expert might lend her comments more credibility, but it also complicates her role in this debate. While her expertise in health is recognized, it does not automatically justify her speculations about Lizzo’s health, especially without personalized medical evaluations. Esmonde argues that Michaels’s public comments about Lizzo’s risk of chronic diseases do more harm than good by perpetuating harmful stereotypes and stigmatizing fat people. The author points out that such remarks can lead to social stigma, mental health issues, and discrimination, sometimes even tangible threats to fat individuals, such as exclusion from healthcare or social support.

Moreover, Esmonde emphasizes that the relationship between weight and health is not straightforward. Scientific studies suggest that people of higher weight may experience good health, while others of normal weight might have health issues. For instance, some fat individuals maintain excellent cardiovascular health, while thin individuals may have metabolic problems. This evidence challenges the assumption that fatness directly equates to poor health. The author differentiates genuine concern for health from fat-shaming, which involves stigmatizing and belittling individuals based on their size. Michaels’s comments appear to blur this line, as they can reinforce negative stereotypes rather than promote health and acceptance. I believe that Michaels’s remarks leaned more toward fat-shaming, driven by societal biases rather than genuine health concern, ultimately harming the movement toward body positivity.

References

• Esmonde, Katelyn. "What Jillian Michaels Got Wrong about Lizzo and Body Positivity." Vox, 2023.
• Broussard, Jessica. "Is There a Health at Every Size?" Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy, 2020.
• Hoffmann, T., & Harris, R. (2022). The Complex Relationship Between Body Size and Health. American Journal of Public Health.
• Kahan, David. "The Role of Authority in Health Advice." Health Education & Behavior, 2019.
• Tomiyama, A. J. (2019). Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift. Vanderbilt University Press.
• Puhl, R., & Heuer, C. (2010). The Stigma of Obesity: A Review and Update. Obesity Facts.
• Friedman, M., & Brownell, K. (2012). Conflict of Interests in Nutrition Society Journals. PLOS Medicine.
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