Natalie’s Comments (group member since Dec 28, 2011)

Natalie’s comments from the Perspective Plus group.

I have a really big problem with their new "Fat Chef" show for numerous reasons. One, because it depicts fat people as helpless in the face of food. Two, because it seems to assume that all fat people must have an eating disorder of some sort. If you're fat it's because you stuff your face all day and you just can't control yourself.

Now, that's not to say some fat people don't have ED's-- just like some skinny people have ED's. But if it's not so hard to believe that some people are just naturally skinny why is it hard to believe that some people's bodies are just naturally fat?

So to me this can either be one of two things: a show that blames fat on food consumption and implies that being fat is a result of an ED and really all you need to do is stop stuffing your face and magically you'll stop being fat, or it's about body policing and shaming people's bodies for not conforming to modern beauty standards (or perhaps even shaming people with ED's-- for anyone who's ever had one you know about how effective that is).

There's a reason diets don't work. There's a reason that the majority of the time people focus on weight loss/fitting into a size 2 they fail to meet their goals. You're focusing on the wrong thing, and you're trying to change something that doesn't need to be changed.

I hate shows that shame fat people. The Biggest Loser is a show that makes me cringe every time it comes on. When the title of the show itself shames you for being fat you know it's not actually going to be about health-- it's going to be about being pretty. Carrie Fisher lost me forever as a fan when she went on Jenny Craig and said she only felt like she had a life again when she was thin and pretty, because as a thin person she now had permission to wear colors.

I have no problem with someone wanting to become healthier. This isn't healthier. It's televised bullying.