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Fat
Stereotypes: Fact or Fiction?
Personal
submission
by Dana
M. Waddell
 t's pretty obvious that society paints a less-than-attractive picture of
people of size. We often fall prey to notions of laziness, being
uneducated, lacking motivation, and constantly over eating, among
other misconceptions. Without taking into consideration that genetics
or illness may cause extra weight, is it always fair that such biased
assumptions exist? I think not. Are we destined to be unwanted
misfits, even if we take pride in ourselves, have controlled eating
habits, and exercise regularly? Sure, we battle self-esteem issues, but
the perception from others surely does not make the fight any less
tolerable. Can we say media
overload?
I am currently a size 26 and have been managing with my weight
since childhood. Accepting myself for who I am, and what I will
become, has been a slow but triumphant process. Years of health
care professionals, friends, family, and even strangers, saying what
they thought I needed to hear was not always helpful. Their remedies
and solutions seemed far less realistic, because they never really
determined my body shape, physical structure, or hereditary makeup.
To be truthful, exercise has not always been my favorite past time, but
I am starting to become less sedentary. It's not because of achieving
weight loss but maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Nonetheless, I still
catch passersby casting uncomfortable glares my way, probably
wondering how I can live with all that fat? Evidently, their views and
beliefs molded into looks of pity or annoyance. If they realize who I
am, and not what they only see as far as my appearance, perhaps the
stereotypes would fade. This might be wishful thinking but at least a
small step.
Should we always assume that large folks are couch potatoes who
continually devour Big Macs and nachos? Should we always assume
that large folks are not intelligent? Should we always assume that
large folks customarily fall into bouts of depression and self-hatred?
It depends on the individual, regardless of the masses (no pun
intended). There are plenty of above-average-size men and women who participate in all sorts of events! They belong to health clubs, are as bubbly as champagne, love themselves tremendously, have college degrees, and would rather have a grilled chicken salad with Tahini dressing over super-sized French fries! Keep in mind that
even thin people also deal with improper habits that become their own
worst nightmare. In closing, let's do away with stereotypes once and
for all; they are simply fiction based on untruths. It's important for the
public to ascertain how we live our lives, person by person, and let
the facts speak for themselves. Do not believe everything that the media portrays; after all, they thrive on displaying just how "unhappy" and "unfit" we are.
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