There has been a lot of drama on social media lately regarding ‘fat shaming’.

If you have spent even a second online over the past week or so, then you will know the story. I don’t want to get into how it started or what’s been said because I think it’s unnecessary for this post.

All you need to know is that some people are claiming that ‘fat shaming’ is a good thing because it let’s people know that they’re in bad health.

A lot of people are saying this kind of behaviour can actually ‘help’ fat people.

Now, I have to admit (because this is my blog and if I can’t be honest here then where can I be?) that I have participated in both ‘fat shaming’ and it’s lesser known cousin ‘skinny shaming’ in the past.

There are times when I have said mean things about the way someone looks or how their figure is. In most cases, these words have come from a place of jealousy – whether I was jealous of their looks or their confidence.

That doesn’t make it right, but I’m trying to level with you here.

I’m now making a conscious effort to be kinder to other human beings, so hopefully this kind of behaviour from me will stay where it belongs – in the past.

Now onto my main point:

There is something kind of funny about those that support ‘fat shaming’ because they think it will enlighten everyone who is overweight about how unhealthy they are.

I mean, as an overweight person myself, let me tell you – I know how my body looks and feels. I know exactly what I’m doing to it, how much weight I’m putting on and also (SHOCKER) how I could be treating it better.

You’re not telling us anything new here.

I wanted to write this post today because, in an effort to be kinder to myself and others, I have come up with something that I think it could seriously help a lot of people that spend their days mouthing off on Twitter.

It could even help end this whole ‘fat shaming’ debate that comes around every couple of years.

Are you ready? Here it is:

WHY ARE YOU BOTHERED?!

That’s it.

That’s the one question we should all ask ourselves when we find ourselves falling into this shaming behaviour.

Whenever we find the urge to mock someone who is fat, ask yourself – why are you bothered?

A lot of people claim that fat shaming ‘works’ because it essentially bullies people into losing weight and becoming ‘healthier’.

Now, let me take a minute here to tell you that you cannot tell how healthy someone is based on their size. Sure, there are some health risks to being obese or even overweight and these are things we can see, but you still don’t know what’s actually going on with that person in any other capacity.

If you are one of those people who like to shame others into becoming ‘healthy’, ask yourself – why are you bothered?

I don’t know if this makes me a horrible person, but I don’t really care about anyone else’s health but my own.

Sure, I want my family and friends to be safe and healthy. But how they choose to look after themselves is, quite frankly, none of my business.

If I feel like way about people I actually care about, why would I be bothered what the people on my Instagram feed are doing?

If I feel like someone I truly care about is going down a bad road, then it will be up to me or others close to them to have a frank conversation with them. This will be something that should be approached in a calm and gentle manner – it has nothing to do with strangers online.

So next time you see yourself getting caught up in the drama online about how fat or how skinny someone is, ask yourself – why are you bothered?

Then take yourself away from the screens and do something more beneficial.

Like eating, exercising or having a nap.

Just generally anything that concerns no one else but yourself.

Speak soon,

Rachael.