Back to school skinnies - what to say

[broadly]

Private school (relevant as this relatively is expensive) - mums arriving back significantly smaller than they were before the summer.

Do I say anything? Like they look great? Or just ignore it. None of them are really good enough friends to openly ask about WLI, and I wouldn't ask how. But just to acknowledge?

Do people really have this much time on their hands? What a weirdo!

I think the whole weight debate is characterised by unkindness, and I feel as though Mountjaro seems to have made it all worse somehow.

Haunted?! I’ll just refer to myself as a Halloween decoration.

I’ve lost 3 stone in the past 12 months. Gone from a size 16/18 to a size 12. People notice but very few comment. The only people who have are my closest friends and my sister. It’s completely inappropriate to comment about someone’s weight especially when they are casual acquaintances such as school mums.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

“Oh Janet, times are tough are they, no money for the fat jabs this year? Have you seen Siobhan, she looks absolutely haunted! That could have been you!”

Don’t say anything

When I’ve lost weight and am complimented for it, and then later regain the weight, I always feel upset about the positive skinny attention. Their weight isn’t any of your business and there is already too much focus on women’s bodies

I know what you mean OP. IRL no need to make any comment at all but ...
... a couple of weeks ago I went to an event where there were a lot of acquaintances I hadn't seen for about 9-12 months. I didn't even recognise one person who came past me and said "hello Nong how are you?" and I had to think "who on earth is this?" before I realised it was Mrs X about 3-4 stone lighter!

We have a group of richer but older mums at the gate who were all pretty slim and very glam (they look like wives of retired footballers). Definitely low end BMI before summer and they have all lost significant amount of weight over summer. My guess is they've been on jabs. It's sad, they didn't need to at all!

This trend of WLI obsession is crazy.
A random lady in tesco clothing section commented that I was petite, followed up with do you use ozempic?
No, my eating disorder is older than ozempic.
I don't know anyone slim who has used WLI only celebrities.

I’m never sure my weight has yo-yoed from 11-16 stone over the last 30 years and I reckon I’ve had both but more recently I do think it’s about being slim. Previous I think it meant well fed!

This is the problem.

Previous generations have worked so hard for women to be unshackled from societal constraints and assigned "roles."

But this weight thing - smuggled in under the guise of "health" - is anything but. It's a new way to box up and control women. Women like the ones you refer to who didn't need to lose weight are cramming themselves with chemicals we really have no idea about, and competitive thinness to the point of ill-health is becoming rife - and easily achievable. All these women are simply slaves to societal dictates that we ought to have the sense to reject.

At least corsets could be taken off at the end of the day ...

I hate these One Plop Wonders. Do they think they're cutting edge clever or something. Another one for the 'hide' pile.

I never ever comment on another person's weight - I think it plays into a completely toxic culture.

I thought it was 'gaunt' but I wasn't paying attention!

Exactly.

"You're looking well! Did you have a good summer" is surely the line - unless they're a good friend and they're looking knackered of course.

Lets just not comment on people's bodies. For the best really!

Everyone's lucky they don't work with Filipinos - everyone at work (I work remotely for a company in Manila) has commented on my weightloss and had a long conversation about it!

There's no room for private health information - it's been a little bit of an adjustment from reserved british colleagues to sharing everything Filipino ones

I can't afford mounjaro but I can't afford private school. There's a big difference between have a spare £100-£150 a month and private school fees 😂.

I’ve never once mentioned anyone’s weight.

I would say “you look great” to an acquaintance if I hadn’t seen them in a while and that was my genuine, heartfelt reaction. I said that to someone today.

Should they comment on your figure OP?

No need to comment on someone’s weight. It’s rude

Ha my SIL’s mother is Filipino and she’s always got something to say about my weight 🤣 usually complimentary, thankfully, so I’ve decided I like her!