Summary

The author, who once identified as fat and advocated against fatphobia, became more fatphobic after losing 30 pounds, adopting problematic behaviors similar to those seen on the TV show "The Biggest Loser," and struggled with balancing concern for family health and respect for personal choices.

Abstract

The author shares a personal journey of transformation that unexpectedly led to internalized fatphobia. Initially, they were an advocate against fatphobia, but after personally losing weight, they found themselves pressuring family members to follow suit, using harsh methods reminiscent of reality TV weight loss regimes. The author reflects on the toxic culture of weight loss and the entitlement felt in sharing their weight loss plan with others, despite the lack of interest from family. They acknowledge the harmful rhetoric they adopted and the superiority complex that came with losing weight, which they now recognize as a problem. The article concludes with the author's commitment to correct their fatphobic behavior and the understanding that while they want to help loved ones avoid health issues related to obesity, ultimately, the choice to change is personal and cannot be forced.

Opinions

The author initially believed they were against fatphobia but recognized their perspective changed after their own weight loss.
Losing weight gave the author a sense of superiority and the misguided belief that they could and should dictate others' health choices.
The author's approach to encouraging family members to lose weight was influenced by the extreme and potentially harmful methods portrayed on "The Biggest Loser."
Despite a genuine concern for their family's health, the author admits to crossing boundaries and making insensitive jokes at the expense of others' weight.
The author realizes that everyone's body and health journey is unique and that pushing someone into a weight loss plan without their consent is not acceptable.
There is an acknowledgment that while one should not ignore the health risks associated with obesity, it is also important to respect individual autonomy and the right to make personal health decisions.

As Soon as I Lost 30 Pounds, I Became More Fatphobic

Weight loss moves you up into the top 1% of society.

I’m against fatphobia — or so I thought.

I had no problem championing against fatphobia when I considered myself “fat” seven months ago. Now, I’m an avid fatphobic person. Why?

I lost weight myself.

Sometimes We Feel Entitled to Show Everyone Our Weight Loss Plan

Losing weight made me feel on top of the world.

I’ve had obesity problems ever since I was a preteen. I’d gain ten more pounds every time I saw the doctor. Heck, he’d get tired of preaching to me over and over again, “you could get diabetes from this.”

This year, something clicked. I began to work out for an hour per day at the gym and I ate a cleaner diet. Seven months later, I’m thirty pounds lighter.

As soon as this happened, I ran to tell my family my weight-loss plan. We have a history of obesity. I didn’t want my loved ones to experience hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and all of the other preventable diseases that run in the family tree. So I’d make entire announcements to the family proclaiming that “we’re going on a diet!”

Come to find out, they’re not interested.

But I couldn’t stop pressing. They gained weight rapidly as I did. So I got more adamant about it.

I Turned Into One of The “Biggest Loser” Coaches

Remember that show?

I’ll never forget how hard they pushed those trainees into weight loss. They barked orders at them until those people worked themselves into a coma. Heck, they’d throw up on the floor more than once.

I don’t know why I was inspired by that show. It’s pretty toxic when you think about it now.

But I used the harmful rhetoric in that show to “motivate” my family to get in shape. I thought the more I made fun of their weight, the more inclined they’ll be to use my weight loss plan.

I found myself making terrible jokes. Jokes that would make even me cry if I was still obese. But I felt okay to say them because I lost all of that weight — and that’s a problem.

Losing thirty measly pounds made me feel like I reached the top 1% of society.

We Shouldn’t Let Our Loved Ones Die

I don’t agree with the whole “live and let die” narrative when it comes to family members.

I want to take care of them, but sometimes I can go overboard. I don’t want to dictate their lives, but I also don’t want to see my family members die because of obesity.

That’s where people like me are coming from in regards to fatphobia. We know “healthy” is different for everyone. We know everyone is built differently. Everyone has specific diets that work for them.

However, how long will we brush it off as “everyone is different” before we help these people?

I understand that some people don’t want to be helped. But is that the solution for your loved ones too?

Final Thought

I’m more fat-phobic than I used to be since I lost weight.

I’m correcting that. I used to have a huge disdain for the “biggest loser” coaches when I was obese. They made their trainees lose weight, but those people might’ve had huge mental health issues after they lost it.

We shouldn’t let our loved ones die, but all we can do is steer them in the right direction. It’s their choice if they want to walk in it.

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