is this a doubble standard?

Question

why is it if someone sees some1 skiny they say "ohh, she is too skiny" but if you see a heaveier person they dont say anything. Being heavier is more unhealthy than being too skinny, especailly if that person is naturaly skiny. I mean some people cant lose weight no matter how hard they try, and some people just cant gain it.

so my question is, whay do people say that? I mean, I am not tyring to sound rude but I mostly hear heavy people say it, and I think it just makes them feel better.

Answer 1

I think when people say that to thin people there is just a touch of "I wish I could be thinner too" involved. I used to be underweight due to stressful marriage and struggled to gain weight. When you tell anyone you are trying to gain they just can't imagine that and think you are just being vain, it is much easier for most people to understand the idea of trying to lose weight vs. gaining it. No one says anything to a heavier person because it is really rude to tell someone they're fat - but yes, it is just as rude to tell someone they're too skinny as well. It's just not seen as rude, but as complimentary in a way. Wrong and stupid, but the way our society is.

Answer 2

I'm a medium sized person, so I might be able to answer this question properly. The reason people are so critical of people who look too skinny is because they fear that they might have an eating disorder. There's nothing wrong with being skinny, but not eating enough is dangerous too. If you want to be skinny like a super model, that's fine, but if you go too far with it like in the picture below, that's not okay because if you keep up those unhealthy eating habits, you will not last long. I think when people see big or obese people, they are reluctant to say what they want to say because they are afraid of what that person(s) will say or do to them. Though I do feel that obesity is one of the major problems plaguing this country. I think everyone is conscious of what they eat and how much they should eat, but some don't stop themselves until it's too late and they don't want to exercise or do anything that would help them lose the weight.

http://www.aragoninvestiga.org/files/anorexia%20modelo.gif

Answer 3

Heavier people get ridiculed just as much as very skinny people. In my opinion there really is no "double standard", the reason for this is that when it is noticed that a woman is either skinny or large (using women as a specific example) it is usually triggered by personal preference. If someone is too skinny it seems that they have a disorder of some sort (anorexia, bulimia), if a person is too fat it seems like they also have issues (lack of self control, low self esteem).

There is such a large area for those who are neither too large nor too small, (being within normal weight, or athletic weight) that is it easy to ridicule those who are the extreme. Really there is no double standard, I also don't think that skinny people, especially those who are fashion models are thought of a "healthy". Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Answer 4

Because maybe its true? The truth often hurts if its not favorable to you. Look, you can call fat person pleasantly plump all you want, the reality of the situation is that they are obese. Obviously if you cant dont anything about it then you shouldnt be may fun of, but the majority of over wieght people can do something about it. If your skinny a cant gain fat, build muslce.

Being too skinny is just as unhealthy as being too fat.

Answer 5

Years ago I was really skinny and I, too, hated it when people used to say that. I think people consider being skinny a choice and not a health fact. I used to eat a ton and still stay skinny. I also don't see why it is okay to hurt a skinny person's feelings but it is not okay to hurt a fat person's feelings. Double standard for sure!

Answer 6

I think it is because most people are more prone to gaining too much weight than loosing too much weight. When they see a fat person it, therefore, scares them much more. They tell themselves "there but for the grace of dieting, go I".

Also, since most people are on a perpetual diet they probably resent people who allow themselves to indulge. The only thing that makes them more resentful is someone who eats a lot of fattening foods and still stays thin. Maybe resent is not the right word. Hate, they hate people who can eat fattening foods and still stay thin!

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Answer 7

Yes, some people have to worry about being too thin and we have to keep our calories up instead of down. And we cannot help it and don't want to look bony. Our feelings get hurt also when we are tired and thin. Don't comment unless we ASK!

Answer 8

fat people are just jealous. they could be skinny themselves (with a few exceptions) but they don't want to actually work out or put the big mac down long enough to lose the weight.

Answer 9

I agree. We as a whole are too afraid to say things like they are because we're afraid of "offending" someone even when its not to be mean but to tell the truth!

Answer 10

i think you hit the nail on the head , its also jealousy that causes people to make negative remarks about others body shape.either they are insecure or just flat out jealous.