The body positivity movement, celebrated for its strength, power, and love, champions bodies of all shapes and sizes. However, a complex dynamic emerges when influencers, who are promoting body positivity, embark on weight loss journeys. This article explores the nuances of this phenomenon, focusing on the experiences of figures like Gabriella Lascano and the broader implications for the body positivity movement.
The Shifting Landscape of Body Positivity
The core tenet of body positivity is the encouragement of people with bigger body types to be proud of their shape. Simultaneously, it should also celebrate those who recognize the impact that size can have on health and wellbeing and who want to improve their health by taking control of their weight. This perspective acknowledges individual autonomy, the ability to self-rule and determine what is best at a particular time in life. For individuals needing to lose a significant amount of weight to prevent or reverse life-limiting health implications, the weight loss journey can be extensive.
The Role of Weight Loss Interventions
Weight loss drugs, such as Mysimba tablets, can be life-changing for people with high BMIs or those at risk of life-limiting health conditions because of their weight. For some, surgical interventions like duodenal switch surgery can also be a viable option. Just take a look at Kelly Clarkson who has lost a significant amount of weight recently following a difficult divorce and a diagnosis of pre-diabetes. However, there can be stigma around weight loss interventions, from bariatric surgery to taking weight loss drugs. Losing weight is not easy, even with a little extra help.
The Influencer's Dilemma
Body positive influencers who choose to lose weight are often met with criticism or accusations of hypocrisy or conflicts of interest. Some plus-sized influencers are proudly sharing their weight loss successes, others are furious, calling out the weight loss industry for targeting plus-sized models and influencers to promote their drugs. Some body positivity influencers expressed anger at creators of weight loss drugs and diet plans for approaching them to endorse their products, others are claiming that they are merely trying to find the balance between body positivity and being healthy.
Influencers who lose weight acknowledge that people have a right to look how they want to, but many also now call out the plus-sized movement for encouraging women to achieve sizes that may be seen as attractive to some, but which undoubtedly impact health. It is ironic, then, that followers express such anger and disappointment when popular plus-sized figures choose to lose weight.
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Gabriella Lascano: A Case Study
Gabriella Lascano, a body positivity pioneer, shares how a personal loss sparked a candid conversation about balancing self-love with health and well-being. In partnership with Novo Nordisk at TED Salon: Inflection, she explores the intersection of body acceptance, obesity, and self-care. Gabriella's insights on the delicate balance between self-love and health resonate deeply, reminding us that every journey is unique and worthy of understanding.
The Broader Implications
Body positive influencers and celebrities who have lost weight healthily have a significant role to play in demonstrating that it is possible to lose weight healthily, and sharing their weight loss goals, challenges and successes. Influencers have the public visibility to demonstrate what healthy weight loss really looks like, and to show that there is no shame in asking for help along the way. Not all weight loss approaches suit all people; for the best results, it is vital that individuals seek medical advice on what will suit them, that they set achievable goals, and that they recognise their new lifestyle as just that: the first step to long-term and permanent transformation.
Navigating the Noise: A Call for Understanding
It’s a caution to self help communities. Aggressive pursuit of goals of the group at the expense of physical health. These groups refuse to look at/ be curious/ inform about common activities within the group that may be undermining physical health. Nowadays, with the advancement of the pharmaceutical industry, it is possible to lose weight, and if physical exercise is included, the process becomes even faster. Social media is setting different unrealistic standards. The earlier we accept what life is the better.
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