I have to admit that I'm mildly "fatphobic" myself, even though I know very well that a person's weight is often beyond their control because of medicines they're taking, or their genetics, or a hormonal aberration, or addictive food.
I like to think that all you need do to stay thin is to have a bit of self-control and not to eat too much, but of course it's not that simple.
Philippa Perry scolds the woman in question for being fatphobic and lacking compassion and empathy. She points out that 64% of the population are classed as overweight and that 64% is full of wonderful, funny, intelligent and kind people. She rejects the out-of-date idea that they're weak-willed gluttons.
Nevertheless I confess that as a thin person I sometimes find it hard to see past someone's size and focus on their personality. Very prejudiced of me I know but it's hard to shake off such an engrained habit.
I guess my mother had something to do with it, as she was herself rather fatphobic and would always make whispered remarks to me about someone's size.
I like to think that when I was growing up most people were thin, which proves that people can be thin if they really want to be. But my erratic memory is probably deceiving me once again.
Okay, I plead guilty, I'm not as right-on as I think I am.
Pic: Beth Ditto
