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Normalizing plus size body types could increase the chance of underestimating one’s own weight. According to British research, it could undermine efforts to solve the growing problem of obesity.
Not messing with plus size
Perhaps I should leave this topic to someone else. I don’t have a very good track record when it comes to articles about
plus size and
plus size models. In a rather criticized article, I wondered if it wasn’t dangerous to praise plus size models as role models. Apparently, not exactly a politically correct question.
However, British researchers dared to ask the same question and even had the courage to publish a positive conclusion [1]. They refer to attempts to combat the stigmatization of ‘larger body types,’ for example, by introducing
plus size clothing lines. These can lead to a more positive self-image. However, the research would show an unintended negative side effect of this, making the risks of overweight not recognized.
While I like to prove my point, I must place some caveats on this conclusion. In fact, I’m even starting to doubt the accuracy of my previous article about
plus size models and their potential influence.
Education level, socio-economic status, and overweight
First of all, it’s important to emphasize that the effect of
plus size models and clothing was not looked at all. The researchers from the University of East Anglia mainly looked at the influence of education and socio-economic status on the likelihood of misestimating weight.
The researchers used data from about 23,460 people with overweight or obesity in England. It showed that underestimating weight is increasingly common. Especially people with a lower education level are more inclined to do so, according to the research. Thus, they are less likely to try to do something about their weight. People who underestimate their weight would be 85% less likely to try to lose weight compared with people who (correctly assess) the status of their weight.
The results of the study were published last month in
Obesity. The number of overweight people who underestimate their weight increased between 1997 and 2015. From 48.4% to 57.9% in men and from 24.5% to 30.6% in women. In obese men, this number almost doubled from 6.6% to 12%.
The plus size scapegoat
What is wrong, however, is the link made with the supposed influence of the
plus size fashion industry. This seems to be merely an assumption.
Seeing the huge potential of the fuller-sized fashion market, retailers may have contributed to the normalization of being overweight and obese. While this type of body-positive movement helps reduce stigmatization of larger-sized bodies, it can potentially undermine the recognition of being overweight and its health consequences. The increase in weight misperception in England is alarming and possibly a result of this normalization.
Dr Muttarak, University of East Anglia
I cannot find anywhere in the research that there was an attempt to establish and quantify this influence. So it’s just a suspicion of the researchers. As a blogger, I think I can express such a suspicion as a question. As a researcher, I think you should investigate this.
A thicker streetscape
Another suspicion is that the increase in the number of overweight people you encounter daily could lead to ‘visual normalization.’ Because you see overweight people more often, you might start to consider this more normal. This would especially apply to people in socio-economic circles where overweight is more common.
Likewise, the higher prevalence of being overweight and obesity among individuals with lower levels of education and income may contribute to visual normalization, that is, more regular visual exposure to people with excess weight than their counterparts with higher socioeconomic status have.
Fat acceptance
These results are not really surprising. I wrote earlier this year about studies that already showed that more and more people have overweight, but fewer and fewer people recognize this. Accepting overweight as the norm, or
fat acceptance, as a way to have a positive, yet false self-image. In this, some go so far as to consider the whole concept of ‘losing weight’ as an insult. That is, after all, drawing a negative conclusion about your current weight.
So, you can also go too far in politically correct nonsense and completely ignore reality. Your body doesn’t care much whether you find those extra 20 kilos beautiful or not.
Pointing the fat finger
Normalizing overweight has, I think, been sufficiently demonstrated, as well as the negative consequences it can have. However, I find it too simplistic to blame, for example, the
plus size fashion industry. Whether that industry is cause, effect, or both, can hardly be proven.
The researchers themselves also mention the increase in the number of overweight people we see around us. Thereby correctly providing an example that shows there are obviously many more influences on weight than the fashion industry,
plus size or not. Moreover, an example of an influence that is usually unavoidable.
Nowadays, we are no longer dependent on what mainstream media pushes in front of us. There are no longer just a few TV channels and a couple of major magazines that determine the beauty standard. People increasingly choose their own inspiration. For example, there are popular vloggers who, in my opinion, should be immediately treated for anorexia nervosa, but because of their appearance, have thousands of followers.
We increasingly choose our own examples. That some
plus size models now enjoy worldwide fame may not mean so much. If you’ve never heard of Ashley Graham or Iskra Lawrence, that’s not so strange. If you didn’t know who Naomi Campbell was 20 years ago, then you were apparently living on Mars. The influence of the supermodels at that time was hard to escape. Whether you search online for photos of thin or heavier models, you decide for yourself.
Reference
- Raya Muttarak. Normalization of Plus Size and the Danger of Unseen Overweight and Obesity in England. Obesity, 2018; 26 (7): 1125 DOI: 10.1002/oby.22204
