Breaking bad body shaming!

Maybe you're skinny, maybe a bit overweight or a few inches shorter than your counterparts. Well, there are several ways you can use to minimise body imperfections. You'll find the strategies to be an inch taller or look a bit more muscular.

Body-shaming can be described as an inappropriate judgement, criticism or negative attitude for your own or someone's physical attributes (For example – ‘I want to look beautiful’, ‘with that bloated belly, you are never going to find a date’). It is everywhere; you can see it in the media or hear from pals that they want to look slimmer, smaller or tanner.  

Are you guilty of making inappropriate statements, direct comment or shaming someone or yourself in any way? Here is how you can resolve or avoid these bad habits. 

Avoid the ‘fat’ word

Using the word ‘fat’ is one way we body shame someone. ‘You’re not that fat’ or dancing around the word fat too often is an awful thing, even worse if you use the euphemisms such as big boned or fluffy. When you can’t stop yourself, say subtle things such as ‘he looks healthy or she looks like she is starving. Strike ‘fat’ from your vocabulary. 

Forget those body shapes

Don’t use words such as muffin top, apple shaped, pear shaped or apple butt to describe body features. After all, we are not food. 

Be careful when you acknowledge

Appreciate others for their successful weight loss efforts. If you come to know or someone tells you that they have lost weight, acknowledge their efforts. Something like ‘you’ve always been beautiful, you look terrific now’ will delight them as well as you. In case they don’t mention it first, you shouldn't mention it either. 

Don’t comment on someone's body or food intake

Think twice when you are about to use pretend compliments such as ‘you’re really brave to wear that shirt’ or ‘you can’t eat that, you already have those muscles’. You shouldn’t comment on someone's body or food intake, they might have an eating disorder. Likewise, suggesting someone that certain clothes don’t suit them is insulting.

Stop interfering in other’s exercise routine

Making assumptions or suggestions about someone’s exercise habits based on their physical appearance is a form of shaming. Don’t ask an overweight person that ‘have they tried cycling’ or a thin person that he/she needs to spend all day in the gym to put on weight. You may think that you are within your boundaries, but may be rude and inappropriate in their eyes.

When you designate one body type or weight as ideal or right, you can make some people feel ashamed or not good enough. You shouldn’t make any kind of judgement on someone’s physical features; even you think it is a positive one. The same can happen to you; such comments can make you feel that you don't conform to health standards or there's something wrong with you. So, do unto others what you want them to do unto you.

Image source: Getty