Body positivity movement: fat is the new normal

IThis summer you could see it in the outdoor pool and on the beaches: Germans are not thin. This in itself is not a problem. However, according to medical recommendations, many people no longer even have a normal weight. About sixty percent of men and almost half of women in this country are overweight. In fact, a fifth of adults are obese and, according to the World Health Organization, suffer from “abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that poses a health risk.”

In Europe, overweight and obesity are so common that the WHO says they are at “epidemic levels.” Every year, about 1.2 million, or 13 percent, of all deaths in Europe can be attributed to overweight or obesity. By comparison, the WHO counted two million coronavirus deaths in Europe a year ago, when the pandemic was at its peak. There has been no improvement in obesity. No European country is currently able to stop their growth.

This problem is even more acute in children and adolescents than in adults. By 2035, there could be two million overweight and obese boys worldwide, a 100% increase. It’s even worse for girls. After the Corona pandemic, many more young people are overweight. That’s why people get fatter.

The body positivity movement is making the problem worse

However, at the same time, something paradoxical happens: they estimate their weight lower and lower. A study from the University of Luxembourg found that many more young people than ever before estimate their weight to be lower than what the scale indicates. Researchers warn against such distorted perceptions. Young people may believe that they don’t even need to lose weight. So they continue to live as before, drink cola, eat sweets and chips and gain even more weight. Even adults underestimate the size of their bodies. An analysis of health data from 23,000 women and men in England found that those surveyed became more overweight between 1997 and 2015. However, in 2015, many of them incorrectly estimated their weight.

This is what the situation looks like. There’s something else that’s making things worse: the body positivity movement. Her followers consider it excessive and outrageous to even demand that someone lose weight. They want fat people to no longer be stigmatized and for everyone to be able to be as fat as they want. It’s about self-love, acceptance and the principle: Everyone is beautiful just the way they are. Obesity should be something completely normal. Some researchers warn against this. If excessive obesity is perceived this way, they say, then awareness of the problem decreases. After all, we are talking about your own health. The body positivity movement is a trap. She wants fat people to stop being discriminated against, but this puts their health at risk.

Melody Michelberger is part of the movement. On her Instagram page she posts pictures in lingerie. In one of them, she smiles at the camera in a red bikini. She insultingly presents bacon rolls. She pairs this with a plea: “Let’s all fill these hashtags with raw photos of our bodies and send a message to everyone who views the photos that they are completely valid and wonderful just the way they are.”