IT’S VERY LIKELY you’ve noticed a specific shift in a certain narrative this month.
Contrary to Januaries gone by, there has been a concerted effort made by many to counter any online dialogue which seeks to promote weight loss in the new year.
Whether it’s targeted advertisements, weight-related articles or social media declarations, backlash has been swift at every turn, spurred on in no small part by Jameela Jamil’s iWeigh community – a movement which seeks to give social media users a platform to share the qualities, attributes and triumphs that have helped shape them as human beings, irrespective of their appearance.
The sentiment at the heart of this movement counters the January narrative to which we have been exposed for decades, and it’s this abrupt 180 which has left many feeling somewhat ashamed of their intention to shed weight in 2019.
While there is no doubt that those opposing the image-obsessed industry are seeking to empower women and remind them that their worth is based on so much more than their dress size, it’s worth remembering that years of ingrained messaging can’t be dispelled overnight.
In other words, if you’ve spent a huge part of your life internalising a message that says you will feel better if you simply drop a few lbs, you may need equally as long to truly unlearn that message.
In fact, it can feel shameful, isolating and, indeed, confusing to be expected to shift your perception at the drop of a hat, and it’s naive to believe that those encouraging you to do so won’t have struggled with the shift themselves.
Indeed, a quick scan of Kristen Bell’s Instagram page – a co-star of Jameela Jamil, incidentally – acts as a reminder that just weeks go, the actress was as much a victim of an image-obsessed society as the rest of us.
In September, Kristen made reference to the restrictions she placed on her diet in the run-up to the Emmys, explaining that while she may have wanted pizza, indulging that desire wasn’t an option in order to be ‘Emmy-ready’.
1 makeup artist + 1 hairstylist + 1 stylist + 2 assistants + 1 pair of gloves to touch the white dress + all the spanx + 3 hours – the pizza I wanted = me, Emmy ready. (Pictured here doing this math)
Just over 12 weeks on, the actress posted another photo with a caption which contradicts the above.
Indeed, Kristen made reference to the lack of restriction she placed on her diet in the run-up to last night’s Golden Globes.
I can’t remember exactly, but I’m pretty sure the rule is to eat as much as humanly possible before squeezing into a formal dress. Right? #goldenglobes
She followed this up with an image of her cramming a forkful of food into her mouth, in a move which amassed her almost 700,000 likes in just 17 hours.
To be clear; I count Kristen among many female stars who make a concerted effort to encourage, inspire and buoy the female community, and neither upload sways that belief in any way.
It is, however, just one illustration of how quickly the narrative has shifted.
The intention behind the effort to silence a weight-obsessed industry – one thriving on society’s sense of insecurity – is undoubtedly a worthy one, but it’s important to remember the women at the centre of this pursuit.
It’s understandable that society wants to rail against something that has made millions from the notion the individual in their truest form will never be enough, and it’s certainly an indignation which should be encouraged, but the way in which this is done needs to be addressed.
There’s no denying that the vitriol leveled at the industry has leaked – however subtly – into standard discourse in recent weeks, resulting in an implication that a desire to finish the year lighter than you started it is worthy of contempt.
There are myriad reasons women may want to lose weight in the new year; for health reasons, for fertility reasons, and yes, for aesthetic reasons.
Condemning an individual for sharing and celebrating their weight-loss journey or criticising someone for using social media to hold themselves accountable when it comes to their fitness plan is shortsighted.
Lose weight or don’t lose weight, but remember that society as a whole has been the victim of a particular message, and highlighting this fact requires kindness, not contempt.
We have spent a lifetime internalising a particular message, and it’s simply not conceivable to believe that everyone can adjust their perspective at the same rate.
