Do you think fat shaming really helps people lose weight?

[TheOldNorth]

no, all it does is make them more depressed and make them eat for comfort

[Red Pill]

Most fat people already know they're fat. They don't need someone to tell them that. I think it's just people want to control others. So they feel out of control. If you can belittle someone it makes you feel better. Being against fat shaming doesn't mean I advocate "fat acceptance", however. They are both tail ends of the extreme.

I agree. Certainly sometimes you need that your friends or comrades tell you the truth, even if it's unpleasant, like "Hey, you are messing with your life. If you don't wake up and change your behavior you will [whatever consequences it will have]". But shaming and bullying is another thing. Bullying is tormenting or humiliating somebody because putting you down gives pleasure to the tormentor, whether he/she is doing it casually or he/she is a 'professional' bully (often a person with issues himself). Unfortunately that seems part of human nature, and kids or teenagers do it openly, while adults may do it in more subtle ways.

[BakersfieldChimp]

Too many people claim they are planning to lose weight but they never seem to. Others lose a few pounds and then blow up even bigger than ever before. If people are planning to lose weight, they are better off saying nothing, and letting people notice after they have lost the weight. Of course, they actually have to lose the weight for this to happen. The same advice goes to those who talk about quitting drinking or stopping smoking. Don't tell people what you are planning to do. Show people what you have done.

[Richmondbread]

Too many people claim they are planning to lose weight but they never seem to. Others lose a few pounds and then blow up even bigger than ever before. If people are planning to lose weight, they are better off saying nothing, and letting people notice after they have lost the weight. Of course, they actually have to lose the weight for this to happen. The same advice goes to those who talk about quitting drinking or stopping smoking. Don't tell people what you are planning to do. Show people what you have done.

People often say it out of pressure to do so. When it comes down to it, it's largely a psychological issue.

[Oneeye]

Fat shame them if they tell you, "you're too skinny."


Which happens a lot. Fatties be getting uppity. Put them in their place when they try to insult you out of insecurity, they need the help to break the unhealthy coping mechanism.

[PaleoEuropean]

I think that negative reinforcement can work for the healthy minded person and if it's structured. When my grandpa was a drill instructor in the Marines he said a lot of mean things to a lot of people but it turned them from boys into men.

[BakersfieldChimp]

People often say it out of pressure to do so. When it comes down to it, it's largely a psychological issue.

People are stubborn. Trying to get some to admit they need psychologic help can be difficult. I do know those who have had success with 12-step programs for drinking, drugging and weight problems. My sister-in-law is a 'guru' in Overeaters Anonymous. She has been regular-sized for as long as I have known her. It confused me that she needed OA. Until it was pointed out she lost 100 pounds through that program and that is why she is now a guru.

[Kamal900]

No, it doesn't. In fact, it makes things even worse. Pointing the dangers of being fat actually really helps the individual to be much more motivated in losing weight. Being fat is NOT okay, and people should understand that. There's a British TV program called "Supersize vs Superskinny" which shows the dangers of being fat and skinny to unhealthy individuals, and helping them in losing/gaining weight by swapping meals between the two people that are trying to lose/gain weight which what motivated me to lose weight.

[farke1]

Yes, but it can completely damage their self-esteem and give them body dysmorphia issues that are much harder to get rid of in the long-term. It's better to be kind yet firm in my opinion, reinforcing the idea that it's better to slim down for your own personal health reasons rather than to try and chase society's seemingly ever-changing physical standards for what constitutes ideal beauty.

[Richmondbread]

Fat shame them if they tell you, "you're too skinny."


Which happens a lot. Fatties be getting uppity. Put them in their place when they try to insult you out of insecurity, they need the help to break the unhealthy coping mechanism.

That's because being skinny doesn't mean healthy, yet people mistakenly believe it does.