So while doing some research for a blog on what it means to beautiful I stumbled upon stories about cultural variations on the ideal body type. I found this really interesting and thought I would get your input.. here is an excerpt from the blog:
For example, in many African countries, being fat is considered desirable and beautiful as it is a sign of wealth and power. In an recent article I read about the obesity problem in Africa, many African men and women were asked their opinion, and the overwhelming consensus was that being large was not a problem, it was a blessing. According to one man, the larger a man’s wife and children appear, the more wealth he exudes to others. Another man pointed out that with a large percentage of the population infected with HIV/AIDS, losing weight or being thin is an indicator of illness. Both men and women feel more comfortable dating a fat person because they are seen as clean. This emphasis on fatness is so pervasive that many women go to what is called a “fat house” before they are to be married to become larger since larger women are more desirable. (Note: fat houses have recently been outlawed in many areas because the practice went hand-in-hand with genital mutilation). In the United States, however, being thin is a sign of wealth and power because thin people posses the money and free time to get fit and the will power and strength to resist tempting high-calorie foods.
So where does our focus on weight loss and fitness come from? Do you pursue fitness because of the medical research behind the benefits of fitness? Is it cultural pressure? Do you think you would view your body differently if you lived in another country/culture?
Weight in!
No day but today,
Dana