Why do some people who are really thin think that they need to lose weight?

Question

I'm not talking about anorexic people; I'm talking about people who are at a healthy weight. I can't count how many times I've seen other women clothes shopping and I overhear something like, "I'm such a cow," or "I'm so fat...I think I need to lose about 30 pounds." They look fine the way they are. They look healthy, too. I've seen it on Yahoo Answers also. People will often post questions like, "I'm 5'4'' and I weigh 110 pounds...do I need to lose weight?" Why would the thought even enter their minds? I've been an overweight person all my life, and I just don't understand how a thin person could think these things when they look so good. Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

I know exactly what you mean. I have a few answers.

one, they don't see them self like that, they have images of models in there head, how they look, even if they say there not, and they think that is good. Models get there pic. taken and posted all over the world. They are famous, we see that all the time and think that is good.

Or we hear other girls weights or are very judgmental and think we still need to be perfect. Because we judge in our minds very hard, and are scared to become like that. (this one would be me)

and last of We want to fit in, right now the 'in' thing to do is be thin, years ago it was to be fat. Fat meant you were rich and it was the 'thing' to be. We, no matter who u are, want to fit it. We don't want to be lonely, we are social animals. Its who we are. To fit in and not be the odd ball out, we need to be thin.

I'm in high school, and i know we have so many thin girls, girls that are so thin they have no as*. Those are the girls that get the guys, and are popular, and seem just so cool. And its like this in the real world. But thin or fat, u can be cool in ur own group of people, because no group of people are better then others. It just seems that way. I know I judge girls, in my head, that ones to fat, ewww look at her face. Of course I would never say it out loud, but i take that in my head and deeply never want to become that, and think i'm to fat, when at the same time i'm not really all that bad. But its how i feel. Weight is a very hard thing for guys or girls, it just is. To be fat is not cool. And we have fallen into the thinking that we have to be cool to get anything, even though life. Its the way it is today. Isn't that just sad and sickening?

Answer 2

I agree with you a 100%. I actually did the same thing when I was younger. I was a lot slimmer in high school and I felt that I was fat, looking back at my pictures 6 years later I wish I was that weight. I think it is the media that makes people self concious about their weight. Peer pressure is another thing that made me self concious about my weight.

People who are fat are made fun of all the time and this develops some type of self conciousness about being thin at an early age.

It doesn't help to see someone who is obese either because a lot of people develop fears of being obese. They see shows on t.v. where people are trying to lose weight or they see someone who is obese walking around shopping malls and they think that they might become like that also.

All of this adds up to an obsession about weight gain. People just need to be stronger and love their bodies as it is. No one gives people encouragement on their current state of physical appearance.

If a hot girl or a pretty girl had told me back then that I had a good body then I would have never been so concerned about losing weight.


I feel so stupid to think that I was fat when I had such a great body.

Weight loss is an obsession in this world because of so many health isssues, physically and psychologically.

But no matter what, I think people will always be obsessed over their weight.

Answer 3

Society says stick thin is in. Healthy weight = borderline fat.

I have a friend who is a healthy weight. She knows she is a healthy weight. Her family told her that she was heavier than she should be. She asked her boyfriend if she needed to lose weight. He said that she could probably lose 5 pounds and be okay. She is now taking diet pills.

I am 5' 4", and weigh less than 110 pounds. I have had a lot of people make comments on my weight. They will tell me I should eat more, eat less, gain weight, not gain weight. I have never been told to lose weight. I have had a number of complete STRANGERS come up to me in public and start lecturing me on my eating habits. Sometimes they tell me I should eat more, but there have been several times I have been told NOT to eat whatever I am eating.

It doesn't matter what you weigh, if people keep making it an issue, it is easy to start obsessing about it. Especially if you are a teenage girl.

Answer 4

I am a 6' 2" male who weighs around 175 lbs. I've been the exact same weight since high school. I have low blood pressure, low cholesterol, and a low pulse rate. I exercise and do not eat meat or junk food. Aside from accidental injuries, I have not been to the doctor for a health related issue since I was a kid.

For 25 years, at least 2 or 3 times a month, someone will say I am too skinny. Do you know how damn annoying this is? It's the same harassment given to overweight people, but reversed. I AM HEALTHY, and people are CRITICIZING ME!!!

Most people are stupid idiots, and most should probably just shut up and mind their own business if they can't say something nice.

Answer 5

I'm 5'3", and I weigh about 150. I don't look fat though. It's just the way my body frame is made. The doctor has even told me I don't need to lose weight. I guess I have a lot of muscle too. I've been told that anyway.

You have to remember that our society puts a heavy emphasis on being supermodel skinny. Look at the women celebs in the media. Most of them aren't a big help. Young girls and even some older women look at them and want their bodies to be the same way. They airbrush those photos to look perfect and do whatever they have to do. That is the society we are living in. We should not let the ways of the world have an effect on us.

I also do not believe you are fat at 110 pounds.

Answer 6

People are often never happy with who they are no matter how fat or skinny they are. They probably do think there fat, because there comparing themselves to cosmo or victoria secret models and feel since they do not look like that then there must be something wrong with them, thus bringing them to the fact that they should lose weight. Some people say things like that to catch attention, they'll wait to hear there friend or someone around them to say oh no you look good, boosting there self esteem.

Answer 7

Some women are just never comfortable with their weight! I happen to be one of them when I was anorexic skinny I would say...I'm too fat! And my family would say you look sick...Now that I have gained about 20 some pounds they say Oh you've gained weight which makes me feel even worse some people have weight issues stemming from family friends etc..and even mental issues beyond their control try to be sensitive and not think they are just saying that to get a compliment, maybe they are just unhappy with what they see and hear from others!

Answer 8

Although they are not anorexic, they have a distorted body image. I'll bet up to a quarter of women under age 50 have this problem.
Luckily, I'm not one of them. I have a normal weight (not thin, not fat) and I'm just fine with it.

Answer 9

becuase the media sets up standards for young women. It also sets the standards for dressing slutishly and make this appear "beautiful". It makes them think, the only way to look good is if you are as skinny as possible. It doensn't matter how healthy they may be. Skinny is good in their eyes. And that's it. It's really sad. They think that theres a certain way they should look and they have to adhere to this. It really ticks me off.

Answer 10

I've lost 5 kilos in my first week. It's my 10th day and I have included salad with some protein (eg. egg/ lean chicken) as you suggested. After 4 years of trying, the fat is finally coming off. It truly feels like magic!

Get started today!