Weight Loss, Fat, and Body Positivity

Body Image Health Weight Loss

Just this week I had a Zoom meeting with Caroline Bernier, the executive producer of a new reality TV show called, “A New Kind of Beautiful.” After a 35-year career producing beauty pageants, talent searches, and runway shows, she felt compelled to contribute to the changing narrative about beauty standards.

“I was at a photo shoot with a model who starved herself before she came to set because she thought she looked too fat,” Caroline shared. “She was so weak and frail that she passed out in the photographer’s arms and died right there in front of us.” Caroline also revealed to me that she lost her son to suicide. A victim of societal pressure, he had a hard time accepting himself for how he was and the way he looked.

I think about how far we’ve come to shatter unrealistic beauty standards and how liberating it is to see more real human representation across media. It was only a couple of decades ago when a friend of mine joked that ‘till death or fatness us do part’ was written into his wedding vows (he’s now divorced). Yet, with the skyrocketing usage of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, a new conversation has emerged about beauty standards vis-à-vis body weight. The latest breakthroughs have quickly reframed the fight against fat and flounced the likes of Weight Watchers for its old dieting and willpower-focused weight loss marketing. Combined, these drugs are expected to reach $100 billion by 2035. Clinical data proves that they do work (people lose 12-21% of body weight) but that they basically have to be taken forever. And of course, long-term side effects are still in question.

The appearance of a healthy physique may always be conflated with beauty. While the emphasis on embracing diverse body types and promoting self-acceptance is growing, healthiness is key. Perhaps that’s why there’s been such a backlash against body positivity – it encourages individuals to love and accept their bodies regardless of shape, size, or appearance. To some, this acceptance can downplay and even undermine the pursuit of physical health. That being said, there are definite psychological benefits to combating the detrimental impact of unrealistic beauty standards, media portrayals, and societal pressures that often lead to low self-esteem and body image dissatisfaction.

According to research, the percentage of individuals who are happy with their bodies varies but generally falls below 50%. Factors such as age, gender, and cultural background can influence these numbers. Younger generations and women tend to be less satisfied with their bodies compared to older individuals and men. A substantial portion of the population has attempted to lose weight at some point in their lives, with dieting and exercise being the most common methods.

Fat shaming, or the act of stigmatizing or discriminating against individuals based on their weight, adds complexity to the body positivity conversation. It not only reinforces negative body image but also perpetuates unrealistic beauty ideals and can have serious psychological and physical health consequences. Studies show that individuals who experience fat shaming are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Such experiences can also lead to disordered eating habits and avoidance of physical activities. Fat shaming can hinder healthy weight management efforts, often leading to emotional eating and a detrimental cycle of weight gain and loss.

How can we maintain the most positive outlook on our bodies? Here are a few tips…

Promote Health, Not Perfection: Emphasize health over unrealistic beauty standards. Focus on balanced nutrition, frequent (fun!) physical activity, and overall well-being.
Educate On the Impact of Fat Shaming: Encourage a compassionate and empathetic approach towards people of all body types. People are far more than their bodies!
Support Mental Health: Offer support to those struggling with body image and self-esteem issues. Be gentle with yourself and seek support if you’re the one struggling with loving your body.
Respect Diversity: Advocate to normalize diverse body shapes and sizes in the media and popular culture. By doing so, we can collectively challenge unrealistic beauty standards and reduce societal pressures.

Though more focus is being placed on holistic health and well-being, obesity rates continue to rise globally. As such, weight management solutions beyond diet, physical exercise, and surgical intervention have made way for advances in scientific discoveries and breakthroughs. For example, we now have differentiated human fat into white fat, brown fat, and beige fat, with a greater understanding of the role each plays in regulating metabolism, energy expenditure, and thermoregulation.

White Fat: White fat, also known as white adipose tissue (WAT), is the most common type of fat in the body. It primarily functions as an energy storage depot and is distributed throughout the body, accumulating in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, and under the skin. White fat stores excess energy in the form of triglycerides, which can be broken down and released as energy when needed. However, excessive white fat accumulation is associated with obesity and a higher risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
Brown Fat: Brown fat, or brown adipose tissue (BAT), is quite distinct from white fat in terms of both appearance and function. Unlike white fat, brown fat contains a higher concentration of mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouses responsible for energy production. This mitochondria-rich feature imparts brown fat with its brownish color and, more importantly, its ability to generate heat. Brown fat plays a significant role in thermoregulation and maintaining body temperature in cold environments. It accomplishes this by burning stored fat to produce heat, a process known as thermogenesis. Consequently, brown fat has gained attention as a potential target for promoting weight loss and metabolic health. Clinical data shows that the more BAT you have, the more likely you are to be protected against cardiometabolic disorders associated with obesity. Since obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, the theory is that brown adipocytes rebalance this formula by expending the excess energy (calories) as heat rather than storing it.
Beige Fat: Beige fat, sometimes referred to as “brite” (brown-in-white) fat, represents a fascinating intermediate between white and brown fat. Beige fat cells are found within white adipose tissue and can convert from white to beige fat in response to various stimuli, including cold exposure or hormonal signals. When activated, beige fat cells exhibit brown fat-like characteristics and increase thermogenesis, making them a promising player in weight management. The ability of beige fat to promote energy expenditure has spurred research into harnessing its potential to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders. Additionally, scientists have discovered that beige fat helps bring down the inflammation associated with dementia.

As the science of physical wellness becomes more refined, personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations are emerging. Health professionals may use imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans, to determine the amount and activity of brown and beige fat in an individual’s body. Someone with a higher proportion of beige fat may be advised to incorporate cold exposure or exercise into their routine to stimulate thermogenesis and energy expenditure. Individuals with an excess of white fat may be advised of dietary modifications to limit energy intake and promote weight loss. This personalized approach to weight management can result in more effective and sustainable outcomes.

So if you’ve read to the end of this article, my hope is that you’ve learned a little something about being positive about pursuing a healthy body. Loving your body despite its weight, shape, or size while taking steps to understand and care for it can go a long way when it comes to your overall well-being. If part of your wellness plan is to lose excess weight, the good news is that you now have more options than ever before to achieve your goals. I’ll remind you again that you’re beautiful, especially when you realize that you’re a wonderful work in progress that is an extraordinarily evolving masterpiece, each and every day.