> despite no health consensus changing or scientific advancement supporting this body form
There is a scientific consensus that being obese reduces your life expectancy.
There is a scientific consensus that being obese reduces your life expectancy.
This is obviously a very delicate issue. We surely don't want people to be shamed or ashamed for being overweight. Nothing good comes from shame.
But there is serious mortality and morbidity associated with obesity. And as a society, we don't seem to have much of a problem shaming people who fall into other risk categories such as smoking or drug use.
While this may seem harsh at a surface level, are you really sure nothing good comes from shame? Is shame always an unhealthy emotion to experience? It seems to me that it is effective in focusing attention on potential personal misjudgement or misbehavior, and can strengthen resolve to break bad habits or otherwise ensure a better outcome for oneself going forward.
But no emotion is inherently destructive. We should feel shame at certain things. If you tripped an old lady and didn’t feel shame, I’d say you were a psychopath, or if you simply threatened to kill anyone who you didn’t like.
It’s also notable that absence of shame is characteristic of psychopathy, and even Buddhist psychology states that an absence of shame is an impediment to enlightenment.
I completely support the idea that excessive or inappropriate shame is a major part of many if not most psychological disorders. Nothing supports the idea that all shame is destructive.
On the topic of obesity, I do agree that shame is unlikely to help. In fact I suspect that shame is more likely to be part of the cause.
For a behaviour trait to exist in species far from each other in the evolutionary tree suggests there is a real survival benefit to having it.
Doesn't mean it is beneficial in all cases, or that it doesn't feel shit though!
Do we? Society as a whole benefits from shaming alcoholics, smokers, people who beat their kids etc.
Many people call that shaming. This distinction isn't as clear as you suggest.
You're right, the science refutes being fat but the parent was wondering if any science supports being fat.