[guacamole]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/op...n-are-fat.html

I wonder, for women of color, if this article rings true? Basically, the author (Alice Randall) stipulates that "fat" is a desirable quality for a woman to have in the black community. That it is almost a form of rebellion against western culture to be curvy. However, the rate of diabetes and other obesity related illnesses has grown so much among black women, that she feels this cultural ideal must change.

I think that it would be so much harder to stick with my weight loss program if I were being told by my husband that I looked great with the weight on and that I would be less desirable if I lost anything. I don't need to many excuses to go off my plan as it is! It does make the weight loss success of African American women more impressive in light of opposing cultural weight preferences.

[nelie]

Black culture is not the only one that promotes 'thickness' or at least accepting of overweight/obese individuals. Personally, I think emotionally is it healthier than the generic american culture of fat is ugly, disgusting, etc. I do like the approach to say that a change needs to occur for health reasons.

At some point, it is a cultural pride thing in that certain aspects such as wide hips/curvacious booty seemed to be traditonally associated with black women. So to embrace ones culture, you may say we embrace 'this aspect'. For the black women that don't fit into these cultural 'ideals' though, it can be difficult.

I think overall, for a healthy emotional acceptance, that we should accept women of all shapes and sizes, regardless of culture. We should also encourage a healthy diet, regular exercise and weight loss for health reasons. I think the right approach is to have those that are part of the culture be involved in promoting the change.

Anyway, those are my ramblings on the subject.

[pixelllate]

I think that when there is too much pressure to adhere to any rigid standard of beauty-weight or otherwise-there's going to be problems for those who don't fit in, or those who fit in "too well" (only getting focus on their looks might get old, even if its positive).