Shrinking Natalie

We are all familiar with the scrutiny celebrities receive when they gain and lose weight. We are all probably guilty of reading these tabloid stories, and dissecting the accompanying photos. But is this obsession with celebrity weight a symptom of a larger social phenomenon known as weight discrimination - or weightism?

We are all (hopefully) familiar with the terms racism, sexism, and ageism and their accompanying social ills. There is debate, though, whether weightism is a form of discrimination, or justified. Those who are against acknowledging weightism as discrimination say its because personal choices lead to obesity, and you can't choose your race, age or sex. They also defend their stance by pointing out those who are obese cost society more in terms of medical expenses. In the words of columnist John Ridley:

"if they choose to get big...why in the world would we choose to mollycoddle with [anti-discrimination] laws which encourage the obese to continue to both live an unhealthy lifestyle and stick us with the bill?"

Those who support the idea of making weight a protected characteristic in anti-discrimination laws say that the practice of weightism prevents victims from getting jobs, raises, promotions, and more. They believe that discriminating based on weight is just like discriminating based on skin color.  Weightism advocates also believe that the discrimination swings both ways, with those who are underweight being treated differently, as well. And a recent Yale study suggests weightism is more widespread than racism.

I am not sure how I feel about weightism.  I am more apt to think about weight - whether you are over or under - as a mental health issue.  I have likened being overweight to struggling with the disease of alocholism.  In that sense, if having weight problems is a mental health issue, then I guess in a round-about way, weightism is discrimination and should be protected since mental health disabilities are protected in the ADA Act as long as they do not interfere with your job performance.

On an anecdotal note, I have become increasingly more aware of being treated differently by people I meet now because I am no longer severely obese. There have been hot debates on the boards whether this has to do more with how you carry yourself versus the weight BUT I have to say I felt like people (store clerks, waiters, random men) ignored me when I was overweight.  Now, I am always astonished when someone offers to help me with my luggage on a plane, or carry my groceries, or give me a random compliment (I am looking at you toll both guy).  These things NEVER happened when I was 200+ lbs, and now they happen on a weekly basis. I am sure part of it is confidence, but I believe its because I have lost the equivalent of a Tori Spelling in weight.

Wait - scratch that last comment; that was entirely weightist of me to talk about Ms. Spelling that way!

What do you think? What have your personal experiences been?