Fat is Not a Dirty Word

What’s weighing me down the most is my weight—and not in an obvious way. All my life I have been fat. I know it’s taboo to use that word because people are afraid to use it, but it’s true. I am fat, and I don’t see it as a bad thing. I mean, there are much worse things a person can be than fat. But I know that people don’t like the word because it implies that you are unhealthy. My health is the same as any average college student: I walk everywhere, I exercise if I’m feeling up to it, I eat what is in the residence hall cafeteria and I am always in need of a nap. Am I the healthiest I could be? No, but I am a 19-year-old who has a lot to do and, consequently, puts my diet and exercise on the backburner. However, when people look at me I know they assume the worst. They assume that I don’t care about my body. They assume that I’ve chosen to be this way.

I’ve come to a point in my life where I have accepted my body and love the way I look, but there are still constant reminders that the world wants me to be smaller. I go to a clothing store and find that the largest size they sell is two sizes too small for me. I have to squeeze into a chair in a lecture hall because my hips are too wide. I then realize that the foldout desk can’t sit flat because my stomach is in the way. These are just a few of the problems fat people run into on a daily basis. It isn’t easy being fat and, personally, I would change it if I could.

What I want people to realize is that weight does not equal health. Fat people do not appreciate random strangers telling them that they need to lose weight and lead a better life. We are fully aware that we are fat and only we know what is best for our health.  And when someone has finally grown to love their weight and is unapologetically confident, encourage them. Realize that they have gone through hatred and ignorance to get to that point. In a world where we are taught that thin people are the standard of beauty, it is hard to get to the point where we realize that fat is not a bad word. I am fat, and that is not a bad thing.