Okay so. Some people may REALLY dislike this topic, but it's been on my mind for awhile.

It seems like the media's perspective on beauty has gone from one extreme to another. First, it was the skinny-blonde thing. Now, it seems like you aren't normal unless you're a size 14.

I'm not saying I'm like super thin or pretty or anything, but some commericals make it seem like you're doing something wrong if you are naturally thing or you like to put on makeup. They make it seem like those type of girls are pathetic and you can't be inspiring.

Thoughts ?

quote:

Originally posted by Meagan87:
So what you are saying...is that you can't stand when people accuse you of being unnaturally underweight (as in the case of anorexia and bulimia), would that be fair to say? By that same standard, why are you allowed to accuse others of being unnaturally overweight? When you point fingers at all people who are overweight, some of whom are on medications, or are genetically predisposed to being heavier...you are doing the very thing you claim you will not tolerate! There are people who are an unhealthy underweight, there are people who are an unhealthy overweight...but there are the exceptions, as you claim to be with the underweights.

I'm not accusing anyone of being unnaturally overweight. I know and understand that there are plenty of people who are just naturally overweight. I don't think it's fair to accuse them of being lazy or anything like that. So I don't point fingers at them.

quote:

On another note:
Just because a person is a healthy weight doesn't mean he or she is actually eating healthy either. Americans consume more cholesterol...it is absolutely ridiculous. If it were up to me, cholesterol checks would be commonplace among people of all ages, garbage like french fries wouldn't be served in school to kids who can't make good decisions for themselves and parents would be sent to jail for feeding their children fast food several times a week.

The American public, in general, are impressionable idiots. You want to know why there's insane obesity rates? Parents can' be bothered to make good decisions for themselves, let alone their children...but we've got those civil liberties to worry about...

I know that just because someone is at a healthy weight doesn't always mean they are healthy. I a few people like me who can literally eat whatever they want and not gain a pound, so they eat fast food and junk food all the time, and their arteries are probably in bad shape as well as their cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.

And about what to do about obesity, I personally think we need to take after other countries. My dad lives in Brazil with his wife and people are so much healthier there. Not only are they thinner, but they are living a heck of a lot longer too. Many countries around the world are in much better health than we are, so that definitely says something. In think there are many, (not just one or two) factors in American culture that is what's causing our weight problem.

The 13 year old I babysit for buys a cookie and either cheese sticks or french fries (and usually another little something) for lunch everyday. Her parents don't really have the control over what she chooses to buy for lunch, but supposedly don't have the time to make her a lunch everyday. She's a dancer, and is still tiny, but with a diet like that, exercise alone isn't going to keep her cholesterol from skyrocketing.

A primary concern with obese individuals is heart disease...but by no means do you have to be overweight to have high cholesterol (the factor that actually causes a lot of heart attacks).

Picaresque: Without tighter restrictions in schools on the food that is sold...how would YOU propose we take proactive steps towards ending the childhood obesity epidemic?

quote:

garbage like french fries wouldn't be served in school to kids who can't make good decisions for themselves

They have a "healthy" eating policy in my school district. At my old high school, they took all the pop machines out, so now all the kids skip class, walk to the PDQ, and buy 2 liters.

So much for healthy eating...

"If it were up to me, cholesterol checks would be commonplace among people of all ages, garbage like french fries wouldn't be served in school to kids who can't make good decisions for themselves and parents would be sent to jail for feeding their children fast food several times a week."

Sounds like you want a controlling government. Next thing you know, there will be laws on how many children you can have; when you can have them; what clothes you put on your children.

Don't start controlling people. Free life.

I'm just sick and tired of anyone feeling the need to go on "acceptance rants" about weight.

quote:

And no, I will absolutely not just sit still while people accuse me of being anorexic! If people can have their Dove ads, "fat acceptance" campaigns, and 'fat rants' (ie. Joy Nash) then I can have my thin acceptance campaigns and thin rants. I just will not take the abuse.

So what you are saying...is that you can't stand when people accuse you of being unnaturally underweight (as in the case of anorexia and bulimia), would that be fair to say? By that same standard, why are you allowed to accuse others of being unnaturally overweight? When you point fingers at all people who are overweight, some of whom are on medications, or are genetically predisposed to being heavier...you are doing the very thing you claim you will not tolerate! There are people who are an unhealthy underweight, there are people who are an unhealthy overweight...but there are the exceptions, as you claim to be with the underweights.



On another note:
Just because a person is a healthy weight doesn't mean he or she is actually eating healthy either. Americans consume more cholesterol...it is absolutely ridiculous. If it were up to me, cholesterol checks would be commonplace among people of all ages, garbage like french fries wouldn't be served in school to kids who can't make good decisions for themselves and parents would be sent to jail for feeding their children fast food several times a week.

The American public, in general, are impressionable idiots. You want to know why there's insane obesity rates? Parents can' be bothered to make good decisions for themselves, let alone their children...but we've got those civil liberties to worry about...

quote:

Originally posted by AshleyBrook:
Meagan, I never said or even implied that there's nothing pretty about larger women so please don't put those words in my mouth. That's another assumption I get from people... because I defend my thin stature that I'm some kind of hater of larger people, which is not true.

And no, I will absolutely not just sit still while people accuse me of being anorexic! If people can have their Dove ads, "fat acceptance" campaigns, and 'fat rants' (ie. Joy Nash) then I can have my thin acceptance campaigns and thin rants. I just will not take the abuse.

And yes, eating disorders is a real concern in society, there's no doubt about that. But don't forget about the obesity epidemic, with about 70% of Americans being overweight.

Now I'm all for showing models of all shapes and sizes in ads, as long as they are healthy in both extremes. Meaning, not only unhealthily skinny, but also unhealthily large.

Yep, I agree with Ashley. I don't put myself above larger people, and alot of bigger people think they are better and healthier than smaller people. How about there is no average and everyone is just who they are? That would be better.

Meagan, I never said or even implied that there's nothing pretty about larger women so please don't put those words in my mouth. That's another assumption I get from people... because I defend my thin stature that I'm some kind of hater of larger people, which is not true.

And no, I will absolutely not just sit still while people accuse me of being anorexic! If people can have their Dove ads, "fat acceptance" campaigns, and 'fat rants' (ie. Joy Nash) then I can have my thin acceptance campaigns and thin rants. I just will not take the abuse.

And yes, eating disorders is a real concern in society, there's no doubt about that. But don't forget about the obesity epidemic, with about 70% of Americans being overweight.

Now I'm all for showing models of all shapes and sizes in ads, as long as they are healthy in both extremes. Meaning, not only unhealthily skinny, but also unhealthily large.

Stop whining Ashley. Here is a translated version of what you said: "I'm so skinny...there's nothing pretty about larger women...I hate that they say real women have curves because by those standards I'm not a real woman!"

If you're thin, you will have to deal with people thinking you are anorexic or bulimic...get used to it. Unfortunately, we live in a society that is still so fixated on being thin, that the number of teens with eating disorders has skyrocketed, and it is a very real concern.


I think too, companies are better off using models of all different body types (like the Dove advertisements) because people who aren't a size zero are likely to notice it. It just makes sense that you sell to your audience, case closed. I'm shocked companies are just now thinking of it.

As a naturally thin person myself, I know exactly what you mean. More and more I find myself bombarded with criticism for being skinny. People assume I'm anorexic, bulimic, or some kind of a diet freak.

And I'm tired of people saying, "Real women have curves." I have not one, but three arguments for that very short statement.

1.You do not have to have meat on your bones to be curvy. Even though I'm really thin, I'm not straight up and down like a stick. I have a very hourglass figure.

2. If you're 5'4 and weigh 300 pounds, that's not being 'curvy'...but more or less, 'round'...am I wrong?

3. So, since 'real' women have curves, what are women that don't? Fake? No. Many women are curvy and many aren't. But it doesn't make them less real than anyone else. It's just as bad as someone else saying, "Real women are a size 2."

quote:

Now, it seems like you aren't normal unless you're a size 1.4

you missplace your period, fixed.

I still think the "thin" trend is with us, I have yet to see plus size modeling take off, or chicks eating hagendaaz to put on some extra pounds for prom and sadly makeup is still with us in the usual extremes, "not enough" or "way too much". So yes the media is making some noise for girls of a more average weight and waist size. and is perhaps mumbling slightly about being more "natural" but I sincerly think that's just the media putting out hot air to avoid catching more law suits/accusations about influencing anorexia and bulemia amongst teenage girls.