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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To call out friend on 'body positivity' delusion?

954 replies

treesandflowers95 · 29/08/2024 09:59

My bestie (i'll call her 'J') and I have been friends since primary school. She's godmother to my DD and we almost see each other as sisters as friends.

J has always been a curvier girl but as we've gone through our 20s, she's steadily put on more and more weight. She's 5ft 2 and now a size 30. Over the last couple of years its been noticeable how much into the 'body positivity' movement shes got. Her socials are full of shared posts about it, and she'll often bring it up in conversation.

Its not something i've ever really made an issue of with her before as though it worries me for her, i've always been of the view that everybody's body is their own business.

However we were on a hen do a few weeks ago, and honestly it was a real eye opener to just how big she's got and the impact that's starting to have on her health. The first one for me was that she needed a seatbelt extender on the flight and she seemed to think it was hilarious. We stayed in a villa on the edge of a little area with a strip of bars and restaurants. It was 350yds (i put it into Google maps) and slightly downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back, but nothing major. J was struggling to keep up with us on the way there, and on the way back was having to stop at least once because she was so out of breath. Bear in mind this was a group of girls quite a few in heels etc so its not like we were sprinting, and shes sweating and bright red. Aside from that, even basic stuff round the villa like walking upstairs (it was over 3 floors) and she struggled climbing up and down the ladders in and out of the pool. I didnt say anything to her at the time but its played on my mind.

This weekend there were four of us (all close friends) who'd been on the hen do out for drinks in the pub. We were talking about the hen do and i can't remember how it came up, but she started talking about the walk back to the villa and how steep the hill was etc. I said to her something along the lines of 'Oh it wasn't that bad' to which she replied 'Are you joking, it was so steep!' and was basically trying to get the other girls to agree and I just left it.

A bit later in the conversation she was talking about some body positivity stuff and how its about how you look after yourself and not how much you weigh. I've bit my tongue at stuff like this loads of times, but this time i said 'I think that's true to an extent but there's a point where you can't argue that you're healthy'. She didn't look happy and said 'what are you saying?'. I basically said that the fact she thought that walk on holiday was so difficult that she should have struggled with it so much was worrying, and might suggest her health wasn't as good as she seems to think it is. The reality is (and I didn't say this to her) that she eats really badly and drinks quite a lot. She spends loads on hair, make up, nails, etc which she considers as looking after herself.

She got really frosty with me, and has been funny in texts since, not her usual self, so i know i've annoyed her.

Fully accept it may not have been the best way to bring it up especially in front of others (but it wasnt like it was strangers, we're all mates back to primary school) but i just felt like it wasn't a time where i could just say nothing in the moment.

So i guess question is AIBU to have brought this up with her, and any advice on how to handle things next.

OP posts:
xsquared · 06/09/2024 19:14

Tulipsareredvioletsarebue · 06/09/2024 14:50

I think you may find she will often be busy or otherwise unavailable in the future.

J's loss if that's the case.

whyNotaNice · 07/09/2024 20:15

Abitofalark · 29/08/2024 16:27

The general context in which fat people have to live is one in which they and their personal appearance are treated as public property. They are intruded upon, looked upon, pointed at and commented upon all the time, so they feel awkward and embarrassed, doubly so, since the fact of being fat alone already makes them stand out, feel self conscious etc.

The comments have an edge of disapproval, moral superiority and correction. 'Calling out' is like some public official address system yelling "Oi you there, you're out of order." The town crier, the night watchman, the traffic warden, the public guardian, the beadle, the clerk of works and the constable are all out and about, scrutinising and busying themselves with the fatness and the personal business of the individual.

The thread title uses this censorious rather brutal language, even invoking delusion. As if delusion is something particular to fat people and not a phenomenon that is everywhere and arguably like money, makes the world go round. People are deluded about their personal charm, their virtue and character, their talents and abilities, their worth, merit, adorableness and specialness and hold all sorts of irrational ideas, attitudes and beliefs on all subjects. It takes them far in life, to the top in politics for instance.

It isn't usual for everyone to challenge them in their daily life on their personal quality or point out their delusion. That is reserved for a rather exclusive set, chiefly fat people or religious people, meaning Christians of course. Atheists are inherently superior and can point and laugh with impunity.

While I don't deny concern on the part of a family member or friend, and it may be for the friend at the moment it happens to suggest it might be a good idea to check with the doctor as a precaution over the shortness of breath, it's best to leave it at that and in that moment, unless the friend wants to take it up and further discuss her health.

I wouldn't write earnest letters about concern or worry for her and wanting to see her live a long life. That may be excruciating for her to receive and give her the heeby jeebies as she is asked to contemplate her life. Not your business and rather presumptuous as she didn't ask you to concern yourself with it or intrude upon her. I would ring her up and arrange to meet, go for a walk or a drink and a chat and take the opportunity to assuage hurt feelings in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship.

Thank you for that post. And for the fact you mentioned how atheists treat Christians, especially on this forum also.

Blueberryjamming · 08/09/2024 09:38

That is reserved for a rather exclusive set, chiefly fat people or religious people, meaning Christians of course. Atheists are inherently superior and can point and laugh with impunity.

I’m not a fan of militant atheists who use every opportunity to mock others belief but let’s not pretend Muslims don’t get attacked, ridiculed and criticised too. It’s not just Christians.

And unfortunately many “religious people” have a very superior attitude. Not just atheists.

Abitofalark · 08/09/2024 15:27

Blueberryjamming · 08/09/2024 09:38

That is reserved for a rather exclusive set, chiefly fat people or religious people, meaning Christians of course. Atheists are inherently superior and can point and laugh with impunity.

I’m not a fan of militant atheists who use every opportunity to mock others belief but let’s not pretend Muslims don’t get attacked, ridiculed and criticised too. It’s not just Christians.

And unfortunately many “religious people” have a very superior attitude. Not just atheists.

Edited

As Muslims weren't referenced in this thread until you did, there is no 'pretend' and no reason to drag them into it.

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