How Does Skinny Affect Society

Superior Essays
“You’re so tiny!” “I wish I could fit into clothes that small!” “Do you even eat? I’m sure you 're the only person to photosynthesize!” Though weight jokes have never been popular or acceptable on the heavier end of comedy, the surge body-positive attitudes in our society have managed to still leave out two percent of Americans that are the underweight population. ‘Skinny’ has been a compliment and social trend for years now. With media broadcasting diets, models, fit celebrities, and the market that’s revolved around body insecurity, the imagery that makes up the average idea of ‘skinny’ is frequently exposed to us on a daily basis in magazines, on our smart-devices, and in our entertainment. The next size down is the next best thing, and …show more content…
As times have changed, society has come to believe that the smaller we are, the happier we are. Diet fads fall in and out like fashion trends, magazines hook readers with healthy recipes and revealed weight loss secrets. The twisted dream that a slimmer waist magically grants you popularity, beauty, appreciation, and fulfillment is a tragic facade. Though curvy, plus-sized, and simply overweight individuals have their social challenges due to their unintended size, let’s not forget that the struggles work both ways. In light of recent, confident anthems like Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass”, we neglect to remember that skinny people may also be insecure too. Especially with lines like “You know I won’t be no stick figure, silicone Barbie doll,” it’s hard to deny that social occurrences like skinny-shaming (the disrespect or shaming of a person who is thin/skinny) is just as real as fat-shaming (the disrespect or shaming of a person who is heavier/fat). There are just as many social disadvantages to being skinny; from being told to “go eat a cheeseburger” (which is more hurtful that it sounds), to your weight being the pun of every joke, and being expected to laugh along with it. Two people looking in the mirror feel the same defeat when one’s jeans stretch and tug around thick legs, and the other’s wrinkle and pool around stalks that somehow manage to be too big for the next size down. “She’s nothing but skin and bones!” is not anywhere …show more content…
The average BMI of an assumed ‘skinny’ individual is at nineteen BMI (about 115 pounds)— the underweight category is right as eighteen and a half (roughly 105-95 pounds). If you go out of your way and actually look at the weight of VS models compared to their heights, their BMI’s are all under eighteen, which is considered unhealthy and malnourished. There are differences between slim and skinny, which is important to understand when you’re talking about weight. Slim is a much more graceful, toned, and realistic figure, while skinny is closer to a malnourished state. It’s universally known that being plus-sized is usually a cause of a range of health issues. Heart and liver problems, progressing joint issues, loss of mobility, and the list goes on. But being skinny has it’s own set of issues individuals have to constantly conquer to stay healthy. Fat does help our bodies, and you don’t get its natural benefits when you don’t have proper amounts of fat stored inside you There’s poor circulation in the hands and feet, anemia, susceptibility to cold, weakened and compromised immune system, lasting fatigue, even exposure to psychological illnesses like body dysmorphia, anorexia, and bulimia. Looking at these last few conditions, they can often develop as coping mechanisms to handle fluctuating weight and body insecurity. Though people of all body types have the potential of developing these crippling mental

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