What is Fatphobia Meaning for? How Do We Treat Fatphobia in Our Life?

Fatphobia has turned into a spotted concept in recent years. One is because of the raising body concern among the people – the number of people who take much care about their body shape is dramatically increased. Another is now almost all people have been influenced by a negative impression. Ideas that think fat is bad, fat is ugly, and fat is guilty these days from public media are popular. Generally, these unnecessary fears derived from this fear of obesity, followed by discriminatory behaviors which target over-sized people because of their weight, can be considered the fatphobia definition.

Fatphobia Definition

Many people may have ignored the fact is that fatphobia can both external and internal. External fatphobia means that others hate fat people for a certain reason (physically & psychologically) and realistically poses discriminatory behavior towards fat people. 

On the other hand, inward fatphobia can be found in a degraded self-consideration and body anxiety of a person that looks down on themselves can be recognized as another form of fatphobia. It causes not only psychological phenomena like extremely low self-esteem, depression, and cognitive disorder, but it’s also possible to deal physical damage to fatphobic people. For instance, anorexia nervosa, self-harm, or even committing suicide.

The real worrying thing is, that the toxicity of fatphobia, or academically, the social stigma of obesity can span one’s entire life. As long as overweight is physically presented, the fatphobia could start from one’s young age and last into adulthood. The toxicity and bad influence could possibly affect one’s entire life. In some cases, fatphobia does influence your living by limiting your choice, like a job application that needs your physical condition and body weight, which could lead to a result that you’ll possibly lose this job opportunity. In a job environment, skinny is often considered to be a sign of self-discipline and hard work, while obesity is often associated with Christian original sin and considered guilty. The social stigma impact on overweight people’s life is immeasurable.

The Daily Presence of Fatphobia

Different from the ordinary stereotype, fatphobia & social stigma have to be present in a radical way, or it will always be ended up with extreme action toward fat people like verbal harassment, body harm, social isolation, etc. 

Fatphobia can be presented as minor, mild, and soft presence and less overtly means. Sometimes it is cloaked in concern for the fat people. For instance, a person claims that he/she is concerned about your body health because you look fat. Or your mom clipping articles about how being at a higher weight causes worse pandemic complications. Or receive subtle weight-loss suggestions, like while having dinner with your friends and she/he put down folk dramatically and say “Oh, I’m so full, can you believe the portions here?” that attempt to imply you’ve eaten too much. Or fatphobia can come out as the classic microaggression, “You have such a pretty face.” The unspoken part is the rest of you, especially your body isn’t attractive.

What Can We Do About Fatphobia?

The bad effect of fatphobia on fat people can be catastrophic. Mentally, fatphobia can weaken your self-esteem, destroy your confidence, and cause mental illness and unpredictable results. Physically, fatphobia can result in anorexia and bulimia and permanently damage your digestive system. Fatphobia also leads to fewer job opportunities, fewer clothing options, and fewer dating opportunities by social stigma. Fatphobia is bad, so bad so we must do something to prevent it from destroying our life.Let others know more about fatphobia and weight stigma

1. Let others know more about fatphobia and weight stigma

Some people’s lack of concern for the fat people group is not because they are prejudiced against them or intentionally bully fat people, was because of their lack of necessary understanding and knowledge about what is fatphobia and how weight stigma influences over-sized people both privately and publicly. You should let them know why fatphobia is dangerous and share this post with them. Also, a perfect plus-sized people community, PlusCupid is open to discussing fatphobia topics openly and publicly, you might want to invite them to join to hear the voice of fat people and fat acceptance. 

2. Change weight stigmatizing and fatphobic thoughts yourself having.

As we understand that fatphobia is both external and internal, there are many things we could do to ourselves. The first thing to conquer fatphobia is not being fatphobic.

For example, if you see a fat person walking by and find yourself thinking something like “wow, that would be too much”. And you should halt a second and think about what that means, and understand that we are possibly the victim of fat-shame brainwashing. The first step to getting rid of the fatphobia influence is not to be fatphobic. 

Also, we need to go of obsessions. The form of beauty should be diversified and not to determined by any single individual. Understand that thinner can be attractive, the big can be beautiful too. 

3. Understand what you need and say no to anxiety makers 

You can easily find that we are surrounded by so-called “media”, both public, and private, social networks are trying to sell us a figure, which in their definition, is “the good” and “the beauty”. Thinner body graphics are everywhere; There are millions of types of diet food, supplyments, courses, and service… not to be a conspiracy but the diet business-driven capital is the real anxiety makers. They take advantage of fatphobia and people’s scary to be fat, sell their products and make money from us. To say no to anxiety makers is a steady step to counter fatphobia. 

4. Get talking to some (other) fat people.  

It is important to talk to other fat people, maybe the most important part to fight back fatphobia. Fat people can better understand the problem of obesity both physically and psychologically. Also, fat people are much more willing to hear your voice that to say no to fatphobia because they are about to face the same problems. While fat people can be reinforced into a unified, strong community, they could fight fatphobia much better. To participate in a plus-sized people-oriented social network service – PlusCupid can be a good chance to meet, date, and communicate with fat people online.

What PlusCupid Could Do to Fatphobia

PlusCupid – a social network platform & APP that dedicate to plus-sized people. 

It might not resolve all problems we have in our daily life since the obesity discrimination is deep. But at least we could find some people who share the same value as you. The PlusCupid offers a great place where you talk to fat people, act with fat people, and fight fatphobia against fat people. 

The significance of PlusCupid products is included but not limited to:

• Easy to use – one clicks quick matching 

• Meet Quality Singles – multiple qualifications 

• Advanced Matching Algorithm – find better matches 

• Message & SNS – For better communication 

• Plus size Community – A better forum for plus-sized people

Conclusion

The fatphobia is surely a serious problem, and it has a long history of development and could not be resolved in one day. Things we could do is to enforce ourself, make us strong, is the best weapon we fight back the fatphobia.