to think Cosmo threw these models under the bus?

[Hangingover]

AIBU to think this caption choice was deliberate to cause a Twitter-shit-storm (with the side effect of loads of horrible comments about the models)? Feels like they took something positive and deliberately twisted it to make people angry.

Well it’s just bullshit isn’t it? No way is that woman healthy - but I guess they think it’ll sell magazines (I am no waif btw!)

Don't know, but I do think that insisting that any size is healthy seems extremely tone-deaf right now. We are seeing far higher morbidity and mortality rates among overweight patients in terms of COVID19.

Well I'm hoping the article explains why the model is healthy?

I'd have more respect for them if they had put a '?' on the end and had a serious editorial on the balance of body positivity and the cost of obesity on ones health and healthcare in general. At least be honest with what your stirring.

Could they just be saying exercise is healthy at whatever size you are? It doesn’t say ‘This size is healthy’.

YANBU- I think it’s really damaging to blur the lines between fat shaming (which isn’t ever ok) and highlighting that carrying too much extra weight isn’t healthy.

I’m juuuuuust into the overweight category and I don’t need happy-clappy platitudes telling me that’s ok when actually I’ll be doing myself a huge favour in the long run to address the extra poundage now.

From looking at the cover I would assume it's an article about wellness and self-care talking to women of all shapes and sizes. Not saying that woman is healthy because of her size but highlighting healthy things that people do? There's a stereotype that fat people just sit around eating biscuits, this challenges that, I like it.

Could they just be saying exercise is healthy at whatever size you are

That is a generous interpretation but with my cynical head on it feels deliberate. They're highly skilled marketers they must have known the reaction they'd get.

Surely the point was that exercising is worthwhile and healthy at any size and for any shape.

Many studies show that shaming people does not work. So a positive, ‘ ok you may be overweight but you can be healthier and do healthy things and still love yourself/ be proud of the things your body can achieve
and that doing so is still worth it’ is surely a better approach

Also fat bodies aren’t just the only unhealthy bodies. This woman, who is exercising loads, may well be as healthy/have healthier lungs/heart whatever as a thinner person who is eating terribly/smoking/drinking/not exercising.

We see fat as bad
Thin as good

And it’s just not that simple

I would say they knew exactly the reaction they would get, but if they’re willing to be nice about bodies that aren’t a size 8, I’m happier with that, they’re still a company who want to make money at the end of the day

@GrimDamnFanjo

Well I'm hoping the article explains why the model is healthy?

60% of the audience looks like her so want to have their self delusion reaffirmed?

I just take it to mean that exercising at any weight is healthy. So often larger people feel self conscious about exercise so much so that it puts them off doing it. I see nothing wrong with normalising exercise at any size.

Why are they so terrified of size 12 or size 14 models? Why does the scale go waif, whippet, curvy? There's never any middle ground.

Being well does not necessarily mean being low weight. You can have more health issues as an underweight or "normal" (in BMI sense) weight person than as an overweight or obese person. There's more to wellness than weight. It's a provocative image which makes a nice change from their usual imagery.

Oh hold the phone I've been deceived by Twitter cherry picking (I've not seen the print copy) looks like it was part of a wider spread of different body sizes not just the two overweight models doing the rounds on Twitter.

@MorrisZapp

Why are they so terrified of size 12 or size 14 models? Why does the scale go waif, whippet, curvy? There's never any middle ground.

As far as I know they used a variety of women for this shoot of varying sizes. I follow one of them on Instagram and I'd say she is about a 14.

@OuiOuiKitty are you saying the model on that photo is about a size 14!!??

This is another of the women that participed. She has what I would think of as a fairly 'average' body size.

[quote Littlewhitedove2]@OuiOuiKitty are you saying the model on that photo is about a size 14!!??[/quote]
she can’t be

[quote Littlewhitedove2]@OuiOuiKitty are you saying the model on that photo is about a size 14!!??[/quote]
How can you read my post and think that?

They may absolutely be healthy. For now.... I want to see a follow up in 15 years.
And I say that as an kbese person who is still healthy. Probably could last another 2-4years🤔

In my opinion this is the same shit as when they used to promote super skinny underweight models. Both should be banned and midlle weights should feature.

@OuiOuiKitty

This is another of the women that participed. She has what I would think of as a fairly 'average' body size.

See this one is ok

@SchrodingersImmigrant

They may absolutely be healthy. For now.... I want to see a follow up in 15 years. And I say that as an kbese person who is still healthy. Probably could last another 2-4years🤔

In my opinion this is the same shit as when they used to promote super skinny underweight models. Both should be banned and midlle weights should feature.

I don't think the point of it is to 'promote' that body size. When you see photos of people exercising on Instagram or wherever they are almost exclusively slim and toned. I think the idea is to promote that everyone can exercise, you don't have to look like a gymshark model to stick on a pair of leggings and exercise. It's about people seeing people like them and thinking oh maybe people won't stare if I go to that yoga class, run in the park etc

My bad, I posted without knowing all the facts

I am a fat auld hoofer.

Apart from a 36 hour battering with some sort of stomach bug, I have never been off sick. Not in nearly 40 years of working. (Including school/school time jobs)

I shake most things off well - within a day or two.

People could look at me and think I’m a fat lazy lump but I walk everywhere, then walk dogs, work long days and nights and care for older family and neighbours. I have the odd lazy day but it isn’t that often.

Every test (blood pressure/blood sugar etc fall within the healthy range) - Im just a big lass.

Yes I could do with losing weight but compared to a lot of my colleagues who look ‘better’ than me, I’m healthier than a horse.

Just the size of one too.