My Body Is Not Made to Look ‘Good’

Photo by on

Like half of the world I, too, am brainwashed to think a specific look is beautiful, and beautiful is what you need to want to be. But after years and years of ruining both my body and my mind with diets, hunger, and eventually eating disorders I finally understand that my body is made to function. None of its functions are to look good. Or just a certain way. Because what does “good” mean?

I get it when we’re talking about looking healthy — you know, if you have a rash, for example, your skin is telling you there is a problem that might need your attention, you can see it and realize it doesn’t look healthy. What I'm failing to really get is that very tight association we have in our heads between the words “unhealthy” and “fat”. These two seem to be best friends.

It’s just too much.

Because this link between “unhealthy” and “fat” seems to be used as an excuse to disrespect people — oh I look unhealthy, so I guess, you should come to me and play doctor and/or insult me.

People have this idea that if they bully someone hard enough that someone will change the way they look in order to not be bullied anymore. Their reasoning is that they are very concerned about a fat person’s health. And definitely not because they want to bring someone down.