Pseudo and Real Body Positivity

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Propaganda is a monologue that is not looking for an answer, but an echo

- W. H. Auden

Have you seen those videos on social media with catchy titles, which are like 4 minute long end crashing all your hopes? That's a clickbait. Those videos have one and only one purpose - to grab your attention. Body positivity is one such clickbait. It's meant to attract attention and get people wondering what's the deal. It's like the ending of Shutter Island where you're kept to wonder if Leonardo DiCaprio was a doctor or the patient. It's called an open ending where the ending has been left open to viewers' imagination. Such open ended situations are deliberately created by brands as well to get attention. It enables them to make a statement, not take a stand and still get liked by everyone.

One such topic is about body positivity. Encouraging people into accepting their flaws and coming out with confidence helps in improving self esteem. Low self esteem is like driving through life with your hand brake on. Today's world of editing, make-up, filters and fake fit bodies leads individuals, especially youngsters into getting tricked in believing what's true and what's an act of simply showing off and getting likes. While accepting the fact of having scars, amputations, stretch marks, and among women, the look of breasts and buttocks and among individuals with deformities, encouraging yourself into coming out to the world is a noble thought which helps with mental health, self esteem and challenges the construct of beauty in our society. But, some brands go above and beyond into telling the world how being overweight is healthy, and we should accept the fact that humans are naturally supposed to look like that. This kind of challenge is undesirable.

As misused as this idea is, it does have some good points. It teaches individuals to accept their flaws and imperfections and work on the one's which affect them negatively. Change starts from within. It starts when you start believing that something needs to change. Anyone who is emotionally low about their looks and how they feel end up accepting that they deserve it. In case of obesity, especially, many brands say it's okay to be overweight, when it's not. Certain definitions of beauty in the fashion industry may misinform people to only wear certain clothes which hide their stretch marks, looked as imperfections. Accepting who you are allows to shift your mentality and realizing that you are not supposed to be overweight. Acceptance about your stretch marks or scars gives you the freedom to dress as per your choice and not follow rules of the society. Anyone who has struggled with low self esteem and came out strong will tell you that confidence is a superpower. It all starts with acceptance and then carving out a way to become a better version of yourself. This is the body positivity we need.

Positives:

1. Change starts from accepting who you are

2. Teaches you not to compare yourself to others

3. Helps overcome low self esteem

However, in our digital world, the ideas, companies and products with with best marketing strategy and good SEOs win. And what I see around me is brands glorifying pseudo body positivity. They apply the acceptance logic and display morbidly obese models making claims of an overweight body being healthy. Which is not. They make open ended marketing campaigns leaving their viewers confused about what the brand is trying to convey. This helps them reach as many people as possible. For example, I have seen fitness brands and gyms advertising for products claiming it's high protein content while not educating the people on the ill effects of other ingredients in the product. Such brands don't stand for a cause, let alone science. The customers, having trust on the brand purchase the product and the prime agenda of sales is satisfied.

This is basic human psychology. People will prefer a product from one manufacturer over the other just because everyone likes one brand. Getting liked and having a mass appeal attracts more customers, increases sales and brings more profit. These are a few negatives of this pseudo body positivity movement.

Negatives:

1. Individuals getting incorrect message of being okay with unhealthy bodies

2. Brands using this to manipulate people to satisfy their agenda

3. Brands using human psychology to be liked by everyone and increase sales

Glorifying being medically overweight/obese only encourages more teenagers to keep following an unhealthy lifestyle. There's nothing positive about being unhealthy.

Imagine a brand asking you to be proud of chain smoking habit. And a huge majority of teenagers cheering to this wonderful idea. As ridiculous as it sounds, the analogy is quite similar. Ask people to continue their unhealthy lifestyle because, apparently, it's their choice and then sell them a product. Such marketing practices withhold the knowledge of adopting a healthier lifestyle, and tend to create a cult of loyal customers. It also influences young individuals into accepting their lack of health as normal and the glorification of unhealthy habits ensures that they continue these habits for a long time leading to an increase in sales.

Famous magazines will come up with "This is healthy" and "A look at real human bodies" (guess which magazine did that) articles with pictures of overweight and obese individuals claiming that's how humans are supposed to look 'in the real world'. Apparently, they know more about the human body over health and fitness professionals. Obesity brings a multitude of diseases which may make your life hell. They say being overweight is healthy and you don't need to worry about it. Its true. It is healthy, not for you, but for the brands that benefit from you being overweight.

Your body is a sacred place in which resides your pure soul. Don't let influential brands corrupt you into not becoming the healthiest version of yourself. Look beyond their social media posts and see if their intentions match their actions. They are not responsible for your health risks, but you are.

Accept how you are. Weather you call them flaws or not is up to you. They won't drop your significance in this world. Only you have the right to determine your self-worth. Don't let these brands make you feel less about yourself. If you have an unhealthy lifestyle which you don't like, change it. Don't fall prey to this pseudo body positivity movement. And if you are happy about being overweight, accept the ill effects that may follow and don't discourage the people who wish to change.

And if you wish to change, reach out to me directly by commenting on this blog, reaching out to me on Instagram or filling out the contact form. Until then -

Eat Good, Stay Strong, Live Free

Cheers,

Sushil Dhokne