Fat friends already know they are fat

Fat friends. We all have them. I am one.

Do I need to be told that I’m fat? No, I think I know. Thanks though!

The Daily Mail recently wrote about the survey of 3,000 women for Tanita, in conjunction with National Obesity Week, that found that every woman has two friends she thinks are overweight. One problem with this survey is are the woman’s friends actually overweight or does she just think that they are? I don’t think that putting your body issues on others is really a good idea. You could just be creating body issues for them. Aren’t friends supposed to be supportive?

The survey said that they would never tell their friends that they think they are fat. Again, why would you need to talk about it? Unless the woman gained a large amount of weight in a short amount of time (and is not pregnant) and you think there is something wrong (i.e. she is sick or has had something traumatic happen) should you ever discuss her weight. A good rule — unless she brings it up, don’t mention it.

Instead of pointing it out and suggesting she do something to shed the excess pounds, they simply continue to compliment and flatter their plump friends.

When did women feel the need to be their friends trainer? If it’s really a big deal, why are you even friends? I don’t need to be complimented and flattered. If you don’t believe it, don’t say it. False flattery is worse than no flattery at all. Fatties don’t need handouts.

A fourth of the women choose to tell their friends, with horrible results…

12 per cent said their friend was “devastated” and a further 10 per cent said they “burst into tears” on hearing the advice.

What did they expect to happen?

Maybe something more like this: “Oh, thanks Shelley. I really didn’t know I was fat. Now that you brought it up, I’ll get right on losing that extra weight. I really haven’t been trying to do anything about it. I really don’t have to battle with my fat all the time. Thanks for understanding.”

A spokesman for the company, which provides precision weighing equipment, said: “This shows girlfriends talk to each other about their bodies, weight issues and dress size on a daily basis. However, whilst girls are comfortable talking about their own weight and criticising themselves, in truth, most girls would not be able to cope with a friend telling them they needed to slim down.”

Again, I don’t think it’s really my friends business. It’s my fat. My friends can bring up my weight whenever they want and I’m generally an open book but when they do bring it up, it’s not to tell me to lose weight. It might be to find out where I shop or something. And if they did tell me to lose weight, I would tell them that I like my fat and that would be the end of the discussion.

It’s my body. If I love my fat body, then that’s on me.

My friends respect me and my wishes. And if your friends don’t, you may need to ask yourself if they really are your friends.