19 year old, 18 stone Kelsey Arif has personal experience of the issues raised in Gok Wan’s latest show about obesity. Read her thoughts on the media’s treatment of obesity and her insight into concerns raised in the show.
I have been overweight for most of my life but more noticeably so during secondary school. I have been verbally bullied lots of times in my life.
During secondary school I was always the loud, confident, popular girl but this was always a front I put on as I didn’t want my friends to know how I really felt about myself – and that the insults really got to me. This was because I didn’t want people to think I was weak. I went through a phase of not wanting to go out with friends at night in fear of other people being nasty to me; I have had nights when I’ve cried myself to sleep, I have made myself sick and I even used to look at celebs, like Victoria Beckham and the Olsen twins, and think to myself ‘I want to be skinnier than them’.
Clothes shopping
I don’t find clothes shopping that bad as there are a lot more shops that stock a size 18 or 20 nowadays. There are times when I stress out shopping when things don’t look good on me or when the clothes around aren’t suitable for bigger people, i.e. short skirts and dresses etc. The only thing that I really wish I could change is that more high street designers and brands stock to even just a size 16 as many only have up to size 14. I do feel for those who are even larger than myself as I have no idea where they would go to shop for fashionable clothing.
I hate being overweight but I think I have lost the motivation to change. It’s like a vicious circle because I am depressed about how I look so I eat, which makes me feel worse. I keep most of the way I feel about myself to myself and get on with life as other people don’t need to hear problems I have bought on myself and I don’t think there is a point in sitting around moaning when there are ways to help you change. I think if you are already a healthy young person then it is easier for you to stay healthy as this is what you are used to. Most people associate good health with exercise and exercise with the gym, but for overweight teenagers I don’t think they would join a gym or any sort of classes as they may be embarrassed to exercise in front of other people.
I don’t think obesity is taken as seriously as it should be. It seems as though everybody knows about anorexia and bulimia and they all have their own opinions on it, but there is never anything on the opposite end of the skinny scale. I don’t think disorders like compulsive over-eating/binge eating are known and because of this ignorance, I believe a lot of people see obesity as a choice and not an actual problem sometimes.
The media
I do think the media encourage a healthy lifestyle but they make it seem so easy, when it’s really not. I also believe they help to promote the image that obesity is disgusting, by using celebrities as examples; this is why there are girls as young as 10 who are dieting or scared of becoming ‘fat’. All you see nowadays, in the newspapers or magazines, are stories about celebs and their weight and when they put on weight they are slaughtered – which is why society has a hatred for obesity. I think society judges obese people and thinks they are lazy and horrible. There are certain jobs where people won’t hire larger people, the top nightclub bouncers out there have certain rules to follow on who to let in and who not to let in and even relationships are harder as all you see in magazines are pretty skinny girls, so it makes you think ‘why would any man want to be with me?’.
To other young people out there who are sad and concerned with their weight and health I would say always try and stay positive and ignore what others may think of you. You are not alone with your problems and there’s help out there if you need it. Most importantly, if you are trying to improve your health and/or lose weight, make sure you are doing it for yourself and not anyone else.
Comments
Is this programme available for youth clubs or church groups?
All we now talk about is that we need to cut down the calorie intake, but this is NOT a solution to the problem. We simply cannot put children on a strict diet in the middle of their adolescent growth burst. Let them go outside, and have some fun. Let’s not steal the childhood from them.
I’ve been watching what I cook. Cutting salts, sugars, fats, etc. So I was watching a clip of Cook Yourself Thin on using Avacados instead of mayo, and yogurt instead of sour cream. I liked those ideas! Where can I find more of those tips?
Hi,
Great site!!!! Obesity is the cause of many diseases. There are a lot of American’s that are over weight. We have to stop eating FAST FOODS it is killing us. Good health is our greatest asset without good health we are doomed to die. We need to eat right, exercise and drink plenty of water to help maintain good health and well-being
Hi Jenn
You can find plenty more Cook Yourself Thin tips and recipes here: http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/cook-yourself-thin/
hi,
i agree with that vicious circle it’s so true you become depressed about your waight but are scared about dieting becoming out of control so then you eat but then you feel fat so you feel depressed again. i agree with raising awareness as some people i know become trapped in feeling low about there weight. thank you for making me feel less alone XD
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