Obesity is a serious issue. However, humor can offer a unique perspective on the challenges and absurdities surrounding weight loss. While cartoons may sometimes poke fun at those who deviate from body norms, they can also provide insightful commentary and even inspire healthier habits.
Humor and Body Image
The truth is, humor is not kind to any deviation from body norms - or one’s mind. Whether you are fat or skinny, dumb or too smart for your own good, you are grist for the cartoon mill.
Illustrated Diet Tips from a Cartoonist
As recompense, let me offer some illustrated diet tips (by the cartoonist Ben Schwartz) that I use to maintain my own svelte silhouette. I guarantee that if you’re a person of size, you’ll lose at least a size if you follow them.
The Reverse-Meal Diet
Meals, especially at restaurants, are engineered to keep us eating. They start you off with the least appetizing course and end with the most appetizing (dessert). So, just reverse the sequence and you’re bound to eat less.
The Tiny-Utensils Diet
This, of course, requires you to bring your own tiny utensils to the restaurant. It’s a bit of a pain, to be sure, but they’re easy to carry along because, well, they’re tiny. This diet is about forcing you to eat more slowly. When you eat too fast, the body’s natural satiation mechanisms don’t have time to tell you that you’re full.
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The Zeno’s-Paradox Diet
One version of Zeno’s paradox says that to get to any stationary object, you first have to go half the distance. Then half of that. Then half of that, and so on, ad infinitum, with the result being that, theoretically, you would never get there. The meal version would look like this:
One final word: before embarking on any of these diets, it might be advisable to consult a physician or a psychiatrist.
The New Yorker's Cartoon Legacy
Bob Mankoff was the cartoon editor of The New Yorker from 1997 to 2017. The Daily Cartoon, Shouts, and other funny stuff from our Dept. of Hoopla.
Humor as a Coping Mechanism
Cartoons can also serve as a coping mechanism for individuals struggling with weight-related issues. By finding humor in their experiences, people may feel less isolated and more empowered to make positive changes.
A Word of Caution
It's important to remember that cartoons are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine, consult with a qualified healthcare provider.
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