Is Weight Loss Worth The Trouble? Some Say Just Be FAT (And Happy)!

The weight loss industry makes billions of dollars every year, while many of the men and women who turn to these companies for help often fail to meet their goals.

How is this possible?

Some blame America’s weight loss obsession on a fixation with youth, beauty and thinness (especially in women). Others blame our ridiculous portion sizes.

But then, maybe it isn’t about blame at all: What if we simply live in a world where thinness is the exception and NOT the rule?

What if, instead of yearly demands that everyone sweat, suffer and shame each other into losing as much weight as possible….we simply accept each other as we are?

No more walking up to the obese woman at the supermarket to inform her you don’t approve of the items she’s putting in her shopping cart.

No more leaning out of the car to yell “FATTIE!” at a total stranger walking down the street.

No more using body weight as the last acceptable prejudice in America.

Instead of spending so much time and energy on weight loss, why accept yourself physically as you are (and those around you) and be happy?

There have been arguments for years as to the wisdom of embracing the weight loss industry. Now a study has emerged that suggests it has all been a serious waste of time.

Researchers revealed the results of a study that demonstrated weight regain following successful weight loss as mostly INEVITABLE.

Whether the weight was lost slowly or rapidly didn’t seem to matter; the majority of the test subjects failed to successfully keep off pounds they shed in the long-term.

This result only seems to echo the long-held belief about weight loss held by members of the “fat acceptance” (or size acceptance) movement.

These individuals are adamantly against dieting and active attempts to lose weight. Their justification is that dieting never works, and the weight loss industry is filled with liars and scam artists waiting to take your money.

One of the most infamous and controversial statements on the matter came from Kate Harding, who wrote a blog post titled Diets Don’t Work, But:

“The thing that causes so much confusion (to put it charitably) here is that diets do work, actually–in the short term. All diets, from cabbage soup to Weight Watchers, will cause people to lose weight. At first

[…]

This is what people mean when they say, “Diets don’t work,” without adding a “but…” Diets do not lead to permanent weight loss for the vast majority of people.

Harding also claimed that weight loss results MIGHT be permanent if the results stick beyond five years, an idea that led to a great deal of backlash and heated discussions.

Other fat acceptance writers and advocates echo her thinking, feeling that it’s better for all people to love themselves as they are and let go of concerns about weight.

Fat acceptance advocates want you to believe that being a better person doesn’t mean you have to be a thinner person.

What would it mean if Americans were to suddenly stop caring about weight loss?

Perhaps all the energy that is put into obsessing over weight could instead be channeled into proving America’s overall food quality.

Do you think we should accept people as they are or that weight loss promotion is absolutely necessary? Is weight loss always unsuccessful or is failure brought on by not working hard enough?

[Image Credit: MeghanTrainorVEVO]