Thoughts on the plus size and how it is not just about our health

 

While browsing through my facebook feed recently, I came across a story from Humans of New York. For those who might not know, it is a highly popular facebook page, that has chronicled stories of New Yorkers for years now. In this particular multi-part story, the narrator described a particular lady as being so rich that she had never had pizza. “Not a single slice..”, says the story.

This particular sentence was the trigger for this post. Because it took me back to so much I had been thinking about healthy eating choices. A trip to the supermarket makes it quite clear that among the easy to consume options, the healthiest ones are among the most expensive. My favourite example is that which compares smoothies with frozen pizzas.

It is no wonder then, that there is a rise in the incidence of obesity among lower socio-economic classes. According to an NHS update from 2018, which quotes an academic study, children born in lower socio-economic classes had a lower average weight in 1946. But by 2001, the reverse was true. This update also goes on to say that “energy-rich, nutritionally poor meals tend to be cheaper and quicker to cook”. My short point is to highlight the link between an unhealthy diet and income levels.

And this is hardly just a UK based phenomenon, it is a global one. A few years ago while doing research for a non-profit client, I went over the Global Nutrition Report. Among other things, it talked about how malnutrition is manifested. It shows up both as the condition of being underweight as well as overweight.

Coming from India, I’m most familiar with undernourishment resulting in being underweight. Children with visible rib cages and distended bellies begging at Delhi’s traffic signals is a sight I grew up seeing. But the latter was an eye opener. Even more eye opening is the fact that the number of obese people globally is 600 million today, which beats the 462 million who are underweight according to WHO numbers.

I think these numbers gain particular significance, in the midst of a pandemic. According to the London based World Obesity Federation, there is likely to be a positive correlation between people vulnerable to coronavirus and a Body Mass Index of over 25.

In light of these facts, I’m also reminded of a Vogue magazine cover from a couple of years ago, which had a plus size model on its cover. This was clearly a departure from the norm, for a magazine which often has celebrities, but who are clearly in good shape. Full points for inclusivity, I mean, what is not to like? Except, that it may just be normalising obesity, is the one thought that crosses my mind. I think the approach is great, when we are talking about other conditions, like down-syndrome. Madeline Stuart, is an Australian model with the syndrome. And she got featured in Teen Vogue. The difference is, that obesity often, is reversible.

I have not read the article itself, so said model, Tess Holliday, might have been profiled for reasons very different from the size factor. And needless to say, she shouldn’t be judged at all. But inclusivity is a different ball-game, if that was the idea.In fact, it may just be the choice between equality and inclusivity.