And my answer is no, it is not unhealthy.
Obesity is unhealthy. Diabetes and heart disease are unhealthy.
But that doesn't mean it's unhealthy or wrong to be body positive if you're overweight.
Being body positive doesn't encourage others to be overweight; it encourages others to love themselves and love their image. It does not serve an endorsement for obesity.
Lizzo's being happy with herself in her body does not encourage others to similarly gain weight. It encourages others to be happy with themselves. Find the beauty in what they bring to the table in all shapes and forms.
It does not affect me if Lizzo is overweight or poses a health risk to herself. It is her own concern.
It does have potential to effect me if Lizzo (or any other body positive individual) is unhappy with themselves and the outcomes that could come of it. Depression, sadness, insecurities--negative feelings travel and have staying power. These negative thoughts expressed can effect me and make me agree that I'm not good enough, beautiful enough, skinny enough. But her being plus sized doesn't make me think I'm fat.
Jillian Michaels asked on BuzzFeed "Why are we celebrating her (Lizzo's) body?" Celebrating your body doesn't mean you're imposing your health on others. It's a mental toughness of loving yourself.
No one is pretending that her health is good and her obesity doesn't exist or shouldn't be her concern. But it is her decision to be obese. And unless I'm her doctor or her loved one, it's her business.
Loving yourself, your image and your looks is very different from loving your health, and they don't even mean the same thing. She could easily be very dissatisfied with her health and still love her body. She can still be a role model to others in that sense as well.
So I heartily encourage her and all others--get out there and work it! Love yourself! The opposite is negativity and don't we have enough of that in the world?
One Life; Live It!
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