I’ve written about how a lot of the overt fat-bashing has given way in recent years to concern trolling. You know, the people who say, “It’s ok you’re fat as long as you’re healthy” or “healthy and happy”. I’m sure that not everyone who uses these phrases is trolling. Some people say these things, trying to be kind and supportive and wanting what’s best for their friend or loved one. What they’re missing, though, is that these phrases are extremely problematic.

Problems With As Long As You’re Healthy

1. Health is a sliding scale. It moves throughout our lives, and what one person considers to be healthy may not match someone else’s definition. For example, someone who has a history of high blood pressure might be termed unhealthy. However, if it is well controlled either by lifestyle or medication, then at that moment, they are healthy.
2. It is not possible for everyone to be healthy. There are so many chronic illnesses, many of which you can’t even see. Lymphoedema is a condition where the body’s lymphatic system no longer works correctly. It causes swelling throughout the body, which, under clothes, you could mistake for fat. However, this is a common side effect of certain types of cancer. Imagine that, you could be judging someone for being fat when they’re battling cancer.
3. People don’t owe you healthy. Just as other’s people’s weight is none of your business, neither is their health. 
4. You can’t judge a person’s health based on their size. A person may be thin and still have a whole host of health issues. Another person might be overweight or even fat and still be healthy.
5. Health is not always weight-related. While some illnesses can be exacerbated by being heavier, there are plenty of others that have nothing to do with weight. Extra weight will not necessarily be the cause of a person’s illness, and losing weight will not fix it.
6. Mental health is as important as physical health. This is why “as long as you’re happy” is BS too. We need to get away from believing we’re meant to be happy all the time. I don’t believe anyone is. I know I’m not, and even if my life were perfect, the illness would not just vanish. I could win the lottery, get surgery to transform my face and body to that of a supermodel and live a life of luxury, and I know the sadness would still strike. Having the right body does not fix your mental health but constantly striving for the “right” body that you can never achieve is a one-way ticket to misery. 
7. Why do you say “as long as you’re healthy” to fat people but don’t say it to thin people who you know are equally unhealthy? I was at university with a girl who lived on Pot Noodles, pizza, crisps, alcohol and cigarettes. No one ever mentioned health to her. I’ve had people make comments to me since I was 15, even when eating a salad.
8. Believe it or not, healthy ≠ worthy! People love to feel morally superior to fat people when, in reality, the two things are completely unrelated. It’s the same with health. You do not get to set the benchmark for either weight or health and judge others if they don’t meet it. Let’s all worry about our own bodies and leave worth out of it, ok? 

Let’s Start A New Narrative

How about we all agree to spread love and acceptance wherever we go rather than tearing down or judging others to make ourselves feel superior. Please believe you are enough and you are worthy no matter your body size, health status, social class, or how much money you bring in. Let’s all live our lives and value ourselves because that is what will make society happier and healthier in the end. So let’s ditch “as long as you’re healthy” forever. Deal?