Health Beyond the Scale: Rethinking the Narrative Around Weight and Wellness
There’s a powerful shift happening around us. People are waking up, taking their health more seriously, and unlearning decades of misinformation. As adults, we’re diving into the things we should have been taught all along—how to truly understand food, where it comes from, and the agendas behind the industries that profit off keeping us sick. It’s no secret anymore. We’re analyzing labels, growing our own vegetables, and kicking artificial dyes, flavorings, and processed junk to the curb.
And it’s not just food. We’re moving more—whether it’s hitting the gym, walking in nature, or dancing around the kitchen. Beyond that, we’ve started prioritizing mental health. Self-care, once dismissed as indulgent, is now widely recognized as essential. We’re realizing that health isn’t just about what we put in our bodies or how much we sweat; it’s about our minds, our peace, our whole selves.
But while so much progress is being made, there’s one disturbing thing that keeps rearing its ugly head: body shaming. And more often than not, it’s aimed at women—those of us who have curves, thicker thighs, a softer belly, or bodies that simply don’t fit society’s narrow definition of “acceptable.” The labels come fast and loose: obese, overweight, fat, fluffy. And suddenly, we’re fair game for critics and so-called “health experts.”
Here’s the question that needs asking:
Why is skinny automatically equated with healthy, and why is being plus-sized automatically deemed unhealthy?
The Flawed Logic of “Skinny Equals Healthy”
I had an uncle who was disciplined to a fault. He walked daily, worked out, ate all the right foods, avoided smoking and drinking, and stayed slim his entire life. By all accounts, he was the picture of health. But one morning, after his usual walk, he came home and suffered a fatal heart attack. He did everything “right,” and still, he left us too soon.
His story isn’t unique. Time and time again, I hear of people who’ve followed the “rules”—who’ve exercised, eaten well, avoided all the bad habits—and yet they still fall victim to heart disease, strokes, or other illnesses. On the other hand, I’ve known plus-sized people who have lived vibrant, active lives well into their 70s and 80s. So, where does that leave the assumption that weight alone determines health?
The Bigger Picture of Wellness
Health is nuanced. It’s layered. It’s personal. Judging someone’s wellness based solely on their weight is not only lazy but harmful. A person’s size doesn’t reveal their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, stress, happiness, or how well they sleep at night. It doesn’t show whether they’re kind, resilient, or fulfilled. Weight tells you next to nothing about a person’s overall health.
To focus solely on weight is to ignore other critical factors:
• Genetics. Some people are predisposed to heart disease or diabetes, no matter their lifestyle choices.
• Mental health. Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression take a toll on the body, often more than a few extra pounds ever could.
• Access and equity. Not everyone has the resources for gym memberships, organic produce, or the time to prepare balanced meals.
• Lifestyle habits. You can be a size 2 and still smoke, drink excessively, or neglect your physical and mental health.
The truth is, a person in a larger body who eats nourishing foods, moves in ways they enjoy, and takes care of their mind and spirit can be far healthier than someone who meets society’s thin ideal but lives on energy drinks, fast food, and constant stress.
Changing the Conversation
This obsession with weight needs to stop. When we equate thinness with health, we perpetuate harmful stereotypes and put unnecessary pressure on ourselves and others. Worse, we distract from the real goal: living a life that feels good, sustainable, and whole.
Instead of judging health based on a scale, what if we measured it by how we feel in our bodies? By how well we sleep, how often we laugh, and how much energy we have? What if health wasn’t about shrinking ourselves but about expanding our lives—nurturing our relationships, pursuing our passions, and showing up for ourselves?
Yes, maintaining a healthy weight is important, but it’s not the whole story. Health is complex and multifaceted, and it looks different for everyone. So, let’s stop with the judgment and instead encourage each other to prioritize wellness in ways that truly matter—physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Because at the end of the day, what’s the point of looking “healthy” if we’re too stressed, sick, or miserable to live the lives we deserve? Let’s broaden the definition of health and celebrate bodies of all shapes and sizes for what they can do, not just how they look.
It’s time to embrace the bigger picture.
Comments
Post a Comment