Indeed, of late there has been an increase in calls for “body positivity”, a concept that advocates loving yourself and others regardless of physical appearances.
In September, Kirath and five of her friends co-founded My Fat Squad, a community that supports the rights and wellbeing of fat people.
“We met in an online forum for fat people in April 2019 and have since leaned on one another for support,” she says.
“This was especially crucial during the pandemic as the media was pushing the narrative that obese people were more likely to die from the virus.
“If one of us had Covid, I’m not surprised that some would say it’s because we are fat.”
Anti-fat bias
Kirath says plus-size people find it very stressful to access the healthcare system as many doctors exhibit anti-fat bias, directly or indirectly.
“A fat friend of mine told me a doctor expressed his surprise when her blood pressure reading turned out to be normal,” she tells FMT.
This sort of discrimination stops many fat people from going to the doctor, which can often result in worsening health conditions.
She and her fellow My Fat Squad co-founders have had terrible experiences with doctors in Malaysia, where it is not uncommon for overweight patients to remain undiagnosed as their symptoms are not taken seriously.
“We’re often told to just lose weight, when statistics clearly show that the number of obese people who successfully do so are very small.
“I also know of those who have been denied healthcare because of their body mass index (BMI),” she says, adding that bariatric surgeries are often recommended without a thorough explanation on the complications that could arise.
Misconceptions
According to Kirath, it’s a common misconception that fat people want to be thin.
“Some fat people are extremely comfortable in their bodies; it’s society’s obsession with thinness that pressures them to lose weight,” she opines.
In addition, there’s often misunderstanding of the term “body positivity”.
“It’s not so much about you needing to accept my body or think I’m beautiful. Rather, it’s about fighting for our rights as fat people, from access to healthcare to equal pay.”
She points out, as an example, that a leading local rubber glove manufacturer does not hire those above a certain BMI.
“There’s also the assumption that fat people are lazy and slow. One of my lecturers even called me names behind my back,” she reveals.
Furthermore, Kirath believes there shouldn’t be a negative connotation to the word “fat”.
“It’s just a descriptor, like the word ‘thin’,” she states.
Body shaming
She reveals there are a number of people who leave body-shaming comments on My Fat Squad’s Instagram account.
In fact, FMT’s recent article on My Fat Squad’s plus-size clothing donation drive similarly attracted unwarranted comments from the public.
“It’s really difficult to accept the anger and hatred some people have towards fat people,” she says, pointing out that fat phobia is among the last remaining socially acceptable forms of prejudice.
“Society places so much value on how someone looks as opposed to who they actually are. This is why it’s important for us to talk about these things.
“All change starts with awareness.”
Kirath, who is in her early 20s, recalls being inspired by a woman online who embraced her body the way it was.
“She looked great, and I thought if she could do it, why can’t I? It made me love and accept my body.”
At the end of the day, people are different and unique in their own ways, and ultimately, treating one another with empathy and kindness goes a long way in creating a better world for everyone.
Follow My Fat Squad on Instagram.