*Editor’s Note: Elephant Journal articles represent the personal views of the authors, and can not possibly reflect Elephant Journal as a whole. Disagree with an Op-Ed or opinion? We’re happy to share your experience here.
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Comedian Nicole Arbour is a bully.

She’s a bully who wants to be followed, and liked. Her fat shaming video does not add to an insightful or positive discussion about weight issues. It’s not even funny.

Let’s all just ignore her. Don’t like her pages. Don’t comment that it’s mean. Simply ignore her. (I won’t even post a link to the video or even show an image of her.)

Fat shaming won’t make a person jump on a treadmill.

It won’t change those who are already sensitive about the numbers when they stand on the scale, or the way they’re perceived by their peers. It’ll only make things worse.

Weight is, and should be, a personal experience. We are all individuals with unique genetic designs who have a life story to live.

I’ve recently gained some weight around my hips, and it’s good. I like it. I look better than being a super skinny girl. I hated it when people used to assume that I was anorexic or bulimic because my metabolism proved to be quicker than others.

My sons feel the same way, but they are on the heavier side of the scale. Their metabolism works differently than mine even though they came from my belly. At one time, I had a previous doctor “fat shame” them; we switched docs.

Yes, my sons understand their calorie intake needs to equal their physical output. Yes, they exercise and play. Yes, they might have bigger bones.

And, yes, their endocrine system might be off because we live in a world flooded with endocrine disrupters (and I grew up around vineyards that sprayed such disrupters to ensure a bountiful harvest).

My older son showed me Nicole’s video because it made him feel uncomfortable, so he wanted advice. He didn’t like the way she talked so condescendingly about an overweight boy in her video.

My son started thinking about his weight issues. I started thinking about environmental and genetically-modified food issues. My son and I discussed the video at length, and we came to the agreement that this was a slimy way for Nicole to up her popularity by degrading others as opposed to making a difference.

Her words are an abrasive and abusive way to make people feel less than, and we should all ignore the latest bully on the block.

Be comfortable in our skins because we will love them until they are no more, but it’s with love, not anger that we’ll find more pleasure in our bodies.

Author: Jes Wright

Editor: Khara-Jade Warren

Photo Credit: AlexVan/Pixabay