“Moti larkion ko koi pasand nahin kerta” is the age-old taunt many of us have heard. The funny part is, whether we are overweight or not, we are always pressurised to lose weight. Be it our songs or our dramas all endorse the perfect barbie like shape every girl needs to fit into.
More often than not girls are subjected to harassment because of their body shapes and sizes. This by no means, mean that boys are not judged on the way they look. The focus here is “on the way they look”. Despite the progress in every field, humans have failed to progress mentally. The first and sometimes the only criteria of judgment is the way one looks.
Somehow weight has always been associated with aesthetics only. Little do people know that being overweight or underweight has benefits and harms beyond that. Our society puts so much pressure on people with even a slight tummy, that such people drift into their own cocoon instead of focusing on getting healthy.
Fat people are always, made to think that they can not fit in and should lose weight to be part of society. People often justify their biases by saying we are just motivating them to lose weight. Well, you are not. If they are fat, they are more than likely to know it.
The Psychological Stress
The continuous taunting comes with psychological stress and this can be more harmful than the weight itself. Little do we realize that our harmless remarks can take a toll on someone’s health. Also, the people subjected to such snide remarks are not always fat. Gaining a few pounds does not make you fat. Obesity is a medical condition and should not be trivialized.
You should realize that not everyone can fit into a single mold. When the prints on our fingers are unique how can our whole bodies not be? Everybody has their own body shape, size, and type. Not everybody can look like their favorite model. Some people fail to achieve the figure they dream of, even after years of effort. This shows that your body defines its own “healthy”.
Our Pakistani society is, unfortunately, one that is currently swarming with cultures and traditions that are not only inconsiderate but also two-faced. Our social media has been a big factor in promoting slim models as the most desirable women or the ones who deserve to have a stress-free, happy, and blessed life. Does it really come down to this?
Excess of everything is bad
Overweight and obesity refer to the excessive fat accumulation in our body and leads to the build-up of diseases that we would ideally want to steer clear of. However, genetically many people are programmed to gain weight even if all they do is look at chocolate. So really, how do we disentangle the myths our life is riddled with? The answer is simple; live simply and modestly.
Research shows that being overweight, and not morbidly obese (BMI>40), carries health benefits unknown to most of us.
Benefits of being Overweight
Overweight or fat people are associated with having a stronger immune system. The fat (adipose tissue, for the biological minds) produces a calming effect on the body’s immune system when it is fighting off infections and hence causes the prevention of overreactions and damage to the neighboring organs. The adipose tissue present in the abdomen (omentum) also has magical powers, similar to those of stem cells, to repair the tissue that has been ruptured.
Furthermore, people with greater BMI also have low chances of developing chronic arthritis (present from a low of 14.8% in Pakistan to a high of 27.4%), especially males. Research conducted by the professor of the Lund University in Sweden was able to show a 63% less probability of developing chronic arthritis in overweight males. An excessive amount of visceral fat in the abdomen is able to induce the production of hormones that are able to create a protective bubble and prevent the onset of disease.
Did you expect to be protected against dementia through your personal fat reserves? I didn’t think so either. Being overweight is considered one of the ways in which the brain is protected against the onset of dementia. And even when that isn’t enough, fat reserves help to boost the body for fighting off infections and diseases, against all odds.
So for all those, who like me, have to face the brunt of their mothers worried whether we would be lucky enough to secure a respectable marriage proposal, or better, have a long happy life and see our own kids married off, need to remember something.
Keep In Mind
This article does not endorse overeating and celebrating being obese. The extra fat comes with serious health implications. Trying to keep a balance between keeping your mind sane, canceling out the noise, and still working to lose weight (only if you are overweight) is your way to go.
Happiness comes from within.
The little good things we choose to do in our lives always come around in the form of a happier and satisfied inner self. And blubber only helps your potential of absorbing all the gloom anyone has for throwing at you. Did you know that overweight people fight off depression better than their slimmer counterparts (Aha!)? Did you know that winter is never a problem for us and that counts for a lot, okay? Most importantly, as Master Olaf said, warm hugs are the best hugs! So, live happy for as long as you live, a bit of food passion hurt nobody!
If you really need to lose weight. Not because someone told you to do so, but you want to do it for yourself, you should consult a nutritionist and pamper yourself with a great diet plan and a healthier body.
Book an appointment now, to answer all your queries. You can book an appointment with top nutritionists in Pakistan through Marham by calling at Marham helpline: 0311-1222398 or by online appointment booking facility through the website or Marham mobile app.
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