Body shaming affects your entire body image and some people don’t understand this. Because when you comment about other people’s bodies it makes them feel a certain way. Depending on your comment you could make them feel good, bad, or even unhappy about their bodies.

Especially more if you’re stranger. It’s weird I know but haven’t you ever noticed that if a person you’ve never met compliments you, it just makes you feel 100times better like that comment was geninue because one, they have no reason to comliment you as they don’t know you and two, it was spontaneous. These 2 factors makes the compliment last longer in your memory. Now just think of what an insult would do and the lasting effect it would have.

7 ways you body shame people without knowing.

1. ‘You’re so lucky you’re skinny, you can eat whatever you want.’

You never really know what a person is going through. Eating disorders are real and you can affect someone’s entire week with just that comment. What if they’re sick or going through some hard times. As a slim girl, this comment makes me so uncomfortable because I never know what to say and just awkwardly smile or look away.

2. ‘Are you sure you will be able to eat all that food.’

This is a rude remark to make whether it’s to a plus size person or a slim person. If any one chooses to eat a big portion of food then by all means let them. Rather than pick apart other’s dinner focus on your own serving.  And I know you might not have meant this to be insulting but guess what? It still is. Every time someone has told me this, I literally lose my apetite or just pack up my meal and wait till I can get home and eat away from the judgemental eyes of people.

3. Commenting on women postpartum bodies.

This is a No No. Like you don’t have the right to say anything about someone’s postpartum body. And if we are being honest why is the whole world so obessed with postpartum bodies? Why does everyone want to know how fast a woman can lose pregnancy weight? It’s like you become so interesting and society is waiting for when you will regain your figure back if not you’ve let yourself go. Instead of asking this triggering questions try asking how she’s coping and how the baby is.  

4. ‘Did you lose weight? You look so much better.’

When I say there is no pleasant way you can ask this question or make this comment. The genesis of the question is insulting beyond words. Because what you’re saying is you looked worse when you had more weight on you. You can just say they look great rather than adding the beginning bit if you truly care about being polite and kind.

5. ‘You’re pretty for a plus size girl’ Another variation for this is the, ‘Stop saying you’re big, you’re very pretty.’

Well they didn’t say they were ugly but isn’t it amusing how you assumed that or that was what you heard. For broader perspective, what you’re saying is ‘Plus size people aren’t beautiful.

6.  ‘You’re really tall for a girl.’ 

Why you gotta bring gender into this. If I had a penny everytime someone has said this to, I would be rich, like sailing away in the Bahamas kind of rich. And what baffles me is when people I’m taller than then follow it up with ‘You’re not that tall you know.’ Yeah mate but I’m taller than you. For those who are wondering I’m like a 5’11 so I get this a lot however rather that pointing that out you can just say I’m tall, if you think so. Because at the end of the day, I can’t do anything about my height, I didn’t create myself.

7. ‘You look pretty today.’

The nerve of the people that say this. And it gets used quite often in conversations but the subtext behind this is you didn’t look pretty yesterday or you looked worse when I last saw you which is just a hurtful thing to say. Luckily this can be easily remedied, just remove the today part and put a full stop at you’re pretty.

Closing Remarks

In general just keep weight comments to yourself. Next time you think you’ll comment on any one’s body, here’s an advice, Don’t. Just keep walking, drinking water and minding your business.

You won’t die if you chose not to body shame.