Me: Being fat doesn’t cause poor health
The internet: But heart disease…
Me: No, we’ve covered this already. Being fat has very little impact on your risk of heart disease. Being male, getting older and being a smoker are the biggest risks for heart disease
The internet: Yeah, but extra weight on your joints…
Me: Seriously? Who even came up with this ridiculous theory? Genetics and history of trauma/surgery are 2 of the biggest risk factors for osteoarthritis. There’s no evidence that extra weight really impacts your joints
The internet: So how come fat people are more likely to complain of joint pain?
Me: Because pain has a physiological, psychological AND social component. But no one really gives much thought to the latter two, and that’s why we’re failing our patients.
The internet: Fine. But cancer tho!
Me: Nope. There’s no evidence to suggest that being fat causes cancer. I did a whole podcast about this.
The internet: Diabetes?
Me: We know insulin resistance causes weight gain but nothing concrete suggests vice versa.
The internet: High cholesterol, high blood pressure…
Me: Again, there’s no evidence that being fat CAUSES any of these things. Causation does NOT = association. The link is there, but no one really investigates the cause of the link because it doesn’t serve a purpose.
The internet: …Fine, we’ll give. What purpose?
Me: think of all the organisations that want the world to believe that being fat is bad for your health. Drug companies, insurance companies, the diet and wellness industry. Who do you think funds the research?
The internet: So what you’re saying is it’s just one giant conspiracy?
Me: that is EXACTLY what I’m saying. And guess what? It’s working! These organisations have done such a great job of convincing the world, that we no longer question whether or not it is true.
The internet: So?
Me: SO, it’s BECAUSE of this false narrative that fat folks have become so oppressed that their health is actually impacted. SO it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, but not for the reasons everyone thinks. SO, the narrative itself is the problem.
The internet: So what you’re really saying is that being fat isn’t bad for your health, but living in an anti-fat world is? Seriously?
Me: Yup. That’s what I’m saying.
The internet: [pause] ….But heart disease, joint pain, diabetes, cancer….