Fat Acceptance Has Degraded Society
We must embrace a Proactive Approach to Health and Well-being
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When deciding what to write next I had a few options, but decided to focus on fitness because it is such an important topic for peoples health and well-being. More importantly, the issue of fitness is a widely popular topic from those who take fitness and working out being labelled right-wing to ‘body positivity’ going far beyond what anyone could imagine disagreeing with science and promoting obesity.
Body positivity is ‘radical’ self-acceptance regardless of whether you’re healthy or don’t look how you want to, but instead depends on ‘feelings’. Body image and self-image have often been conflated how we look to others, and not how we feel.
Lets look at the data and facts, something these activist don’t want to consider. 40% of American adults are obese, in Canada it’s a bit better with 29% of adults obese and 36% being overweight.
What about the issues that come from obesity. I mean how bad can it be if these instagram influencers are encouraging obesity in teens? Type 2 diabetes: Obesity is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Excess weight can make it more difficult for the body to properly utilize insulin, leading to insulin resistance and elevated blood sugar levels. Cardiovascular diseases: Obesity is strongly linked to various cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and stroke. The excessive weight puts additional strain on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of these conditions. Respiratory problems: Obesity can contribute to respiratory issues such as sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. It can also lead to asthma, shortness of breath, and reduced lung function. Joint problems: The excess weight places increased stress on the joints, particularly in the knees, hips, and ankles. This can lead to conditions like osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Certain cancers: Obesity has been associated with an increased risk of various cancers, including breast, colon, uterine, ovarian, kidney, and pancreatic cancer, among others. Gastrointestinal disorders: Morbid obesity can increase the likelihood of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes chronic acid reflux and heartburn. Gallbladder disease, including gallstones, is also more common in individuals who are obese. Liver disease: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are conditions characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver. Obesity is a significant risk factor for these conditions, which can lead to liver inflammation, fibrosis, and potentially progress to cirrhosis and liver failure.
What I like to do for these pieces is to draw on the knowledge of ancient philosophers. There can be great knowledge in the ancients and as the saying goes, those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. Socrates emphasized the importance of balance and moderation in all aspects of life, including physical well-being. He believed that maintaining a healthy body was essential for the pursuit of wisdom and virtue. Socrates himself was known for his physical endurance, as he often engaged in long walks and was reported to have served in the military. According to Plato, a student of Socrates, discussed the relationship between the body and the mind. He viewed the body as a vessel for the soul and believed that physical training should be incorporated into education. Plato argued that physical exercise, along with intellectual and moral education, was necessary to cultivate a well-rounded individual. For Aristotle, another student of Plato, had a more systematic approach to physical activity. He recognized the importance of exercise for health and well-being. Aristotle believed that physical exercise helped in the development of moral virtues, self-control, and discipline. He also emphasized the concept of balance, suggesting that exercise should be pursued in moderation and not to excess.
Now it is dangerous to espouse support for fitness. The problem with fat acceptance is that it has leaned away from encouraging healthy living and has instead embraced unhealthy living massacred as accepting. The problem with society writ-large, that I hope to write more about is that we have leaned more towards doing what feels good, rather than what is morally good for us. I should not that there are people who deal with addictions to eating, sugars, fast food, junk food, etc. These foods often bring immediate satisfaction, yet are very problematic for our ingestion. We must approach issues with addictions with kindness and help those who suffer forge a path forward that helps them heal, not one that worsens their addictions.