We've all heard of body shaming, but I think the newest issue is what the media is calling "skinny shaming." Personally, I take this to heart because I am a very petite girl and I find being called "too skinny" just as offensive as someone calling me "too fat." What I'm getting at here is that everyone has a story, everyone has a past, and you never know what someone is going through.
I suffer from an intestinal disorder that attacks my small intestine and it's called Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome. The results of this disorder cause weight loss, abdominal pain, malnutrition, and a plethora of other symptoms. To better explain the U.S. National Library of Medicine states that:
"Small bowel bacterial overgrowth is a condition in which very large numbers of bacteria grow in the small intestine. Unlike the large intestine, the small intestine does not have a high number of bacteria.
When there are too many bacteria in the small intestine, these organisms use up the nutrients that would otherwise be absorbed into the body. A person with small bowel bacterial overgrowth may become malnourished as a result.
The breakdown of nutrients in the small intestine by the excess bacteria can also damage the intestinal lining. This can make it even harder for the body to absorb nutrients."
Many don't know anything about this disorder, let alone that I and many others suffer from it. I'm just saying that pointing out someone's unnatural skinniness is just as offensive as pointing out someone's obesity. Body-shaming is body-shaming, regardless of the size or shape. I remember when I was first suffering from symptoms of this, I was down to a low of 95 pounds within a 4-month span, my normal weight being 110 lbs. I used to be called petite at a constant even at 110 lbs, but when I was down to 95 lbs I felt like it was all that I heard and it started making me so insecure. I started eating a lot of junk to try to gain my weight back, but the bacteria was just eating up all the nutrients--I was getting scared for my health. I started drying all of my clothes so they would shrink because I figured that as long as my clothes weren't too big on me that I was okay. Leggings started getting loose around the knees and the butt, yoga pants suddenly felt stretched-out even coming straight out of the dryer, and jeans just weren't really an option. I'll never forget the day that the line was crossed with someone's comment," "You're going to eat a double cheeseburger? Maybe start with one and see if you can eat another." I was in line in my school's dining hall when that was said. I got angry, "I asked for a double cheeseburger, I wouldn't ask if I couldn't finish it." When he laughed in my face and said "Alright" doubtfully, I wanted to cry.
How can you look at someone and tell them what they can and can't eat? How would you feel if you were overweight and they said the same thing, "Oh maybe you should just stick with one, you're sure you need two?" You'd find that awful if it was said to someone who was overweight, right? Probably stick up for them? Well, no one stuck up for me. In fact, I heard a few chuckles from the guys behind me in line as well. I can say confidently that I ate that double cheeseburger and a whole plate of fries and ice cream--I can say that proudly and I shouldn't be looked down upon because of that. Body-shaming is body-shaming whether you're fat, skinny, short, tall it's still degrading either way, so just don't do it. I'm back up to 108 lbs now and I feel great, just 2 more pounds to go and I'm back to normal. It was a long struggle, but I made it through and that double cheeseburger added to that progress, so a huge shout-out to that guy that doubted me--you only motivated me more. I went from curvy to bony but I'm happy to say that I'm gaining those curves back.
You never know what someone is going through; you never know if their body is a result of an illness. I'll go old-school with the world-known cliché, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." But seriously, just shut your mouths. Don't be the ignorant person to cause someone's insecurities because I can guarantee that the reason you're targeting them comes from one of your own--so just worry about yourself.
