Obesity: All the Cool Kids Are Doing It!

You’ve probably heard the sad news that Leonard Nimoy passed away on Friday. It’s a big loss for a lot of people, whether they knew and loved him for his work as an actor, a poet, a director, or a singer. You may also have recently heard about – and seen – some of Nimoy’s photography work, specifically his Full Body Project (photos at link are definitely NSFW), in which he photographed nude fat women. Not “plus-size” model fat women. Not “curvy” women. Truly fat women. Here’s a pretty safe for work shot from the project:

Photo by Leonard Nimoy.
Photo by Leonard Nimoy.

Now that these photos are getting so much attention, we’re hearing a lot of comments about how these photographs “promote obesity.” This is a refrain that comes up whenever a fat person is in the news for something other than trying to lose weight (or for having succeeded at losing weight, at least for the time being).

It’s a fascinating – and honestly pretty hilarious – concept: That showing fat people not actively hating themselves and their bodies, but instead living their lives and being successful and happy, is going to make non-fat people throw up their hands say, “Well, I’m convinced! Bring on the lard and burn my gym membership!” Exposing children to happy, successful fat people is not going to make them run out and start mainlining Nutella. (Of course I’m being super sarcastic; there are thin people who eat lard, don’t go to the gym, and mainline Nutella, just as there are fat people who do not.) There isn’t a campaign that sets out to talk people into become fat. There aren’t slogans and commercials touting the wonderful things that will happen to you if you get fatter.

What people really mean when they say something is “promoting obesity” is that they believe fat bodies are wrong, and we should not give fat people any exposure (unless, of course, they are actively trying to become smaller). They believe that fat people do not deserve the spotlight, they do not deserve attention (unless, of course, they are adequately ashamed of themselves and promise to change). If you ever hear someone use the phrase “promoting obesity,” you now know this is code for “I have just revealed my hatred of fat people for nothing more than the size of the bodies. Do you want to keep talking to me about this?” At this point, you can choose to A) educate the person, B) walk away quickly, or C) call me if you need bail money.

Seriously, though: It’s wonderful that the sad passing of Leonard Nimoy is exposing (heh) a wider audience to these photographs. Maybe you look like these bodies. Maybe you know someone who does. Maybe you have never seen bodies like this in your life! You might find them difficult to look at, and that’s totally okay. You have spent a lifetime being told – and shown – that only bodies that look very different than these are acceptable, and healthy, and lovable. Challenge yourself to confront your feelings, your fears, and your preconceived notions.

You too, Mr. Spock. You too.
You too, Mr. Spock. You too.

I think Leonard Nimoy would agree with me when I say that I hope for a world where we can all wish the same for each other, no matter what we look like:  Live long and prosper.

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