I'm curious about this.  There are many groups who say we should accept our bodies for who we are and it's okay to not be in perfect shape.  I disagree and I think everyone should strive to be healthy.  If you're not happy with your body, do the research and find dietary and fitness means of losing weight and improving yourself.  Health is directly tied to body weight and especially fat in the waist area.  

If body acceptance is correct, aren't people just accepting themselves to be fat and unhealthy?  Why is it so offense to encourage people to get healthier or point out the fact that they're doing damage with their ways of life?

*edited out original post*

warmaker :

I got a warning once about saying the same thing. Well, not in those same words exactly, that is why got the warning but still. I got a bit of a gut myself so it is not like I am judging but at least I can move around without some scooter, don't start wheezing after walking a flight of stairs, can carry heavy things and fit through a door. I eat fruits, berries and vegetables and when I go out to eat I don't go to a fast food joint. Yet I have a bit of a gut and that is fine. That I can accept. Heck, you don't have to look like some statue of an ancient Roman god or goddess but you can have at least a bit of respect for your body. Just a bit.

I don't normally see fat or obese people around where I live but I always seem to see girls who literally look like toothpicks. However, most people don't understand that their health and body weight plays a role in their survival on the long run whether they are anorexic or obese.

Too bad not everyone takes their health seriously until it becomes a last-minute potential life-death situation. I guess the reason why people don't want to be reminded to eat healthy because they don't want to handle the truth.

warmaker :
EideticMemory :  
This is less meant for you Matt, but I still think you should give it a read. 

Whoah now. Hold up. I was a little bit thrown off by the title of this thread considering I don't think that's actually what you're talking about.

You see there's a massive difference between body positivity and having a healthy diet. Most people who struggle with body positivity aren't bulimics, anorexics, and the majority of them aren't massively overweight. They're average people with average physiques who've been pressured into thinking that the way they look isn't acceptable. 

The terminology I like to use (even though it's not really family friendly) is porn star standards. We basically apply the standards that we hold the most attractive men and women in society to everyone. I'm 6' tall and 185 pounds. I know I'm big, but I'm not fat, and I've been plagued by negativity when it comes to my image despite my doctor and loved ones telling me that my weight wasn't something I should be medically concerned about.

The thing you're arguing is that people accepting their body leads to them being fat and unhealthy. No offense, but that's crap. People accepting their bodies is a step in a long process that leads to the realization that they may be physically unhealthy, but the first step in overcoming that is to realize their problem, and accept themselves for who they are. Instead of hiding a corner after being assaulted by jerks telling them that they're "fat losers".

In regards to your second question, well, I think you can answer that yourself. If someone walked up to me on the street and told me to work out and loose weight because i was unhealthy, well, I'd punch that jerk right in the face! 

The only people qualified to make judgments about whether someone should lose weight are that individual and their doctor. People may be overweight for many reasons, perhaps even due to a pre-existing medical condition. More importantly, however, people should not have to justify the appearance of their body to complete strangers in order to be respected.

Just remember Society Rule #1 when you think someone is obese.

1) Don't be a jerk, it's probably not your place.

NVTaks :

You're correct and while your post wasn't directed toward me, I do feel bad about the way I worded my post. While I meant to say that the body image standards are too high, I ended up conveying an unintentionally hurtful message I didn't mean to.

I admit, I was wrong. I'm sorry for that and I'm editing my post.

EideticMemory :

Hey man, don't worry about it! It can be a confusing/touchy topic, and I really didn't mean for that attack to be directed towards you. But, it is nice that you apologized.

Body weight should always be consistent with the length. For example 85 kg with 1.85 cm

Body weight should be 75-80 kg.

I feel as long as you're actively trying to improve yourself, it doesn't matter what body shape or size you are. If you're ripped but lazy I won't respect you. If you're obese but making healthy food choices I will respect you.

I think it's important to be happy with yourself because you're the only person you get to be. I hear the term "body acceptance" and think content with yourself, and that is a good and healthy thing. Physical and Emotional health are both connected on some level. I have met some full figured people who where content with there body and that's great. On the other hand I've met some lean and "fit" people who hated the body they have. That's not healthy even if they where in great physical shape.
Physical and emotional health are equally important. But the most important thing is being happy with who you are. I believe that if your not happy with your physical appearance then you are the only person who can do anything about it.

It seems nobody is happy with themselves and it is easy to see why. Every add on TV and on everything else is screaming "If you don't rub this cream on your face then your not beautiful!" "If you don't look like this woman then you are too fat!" "Bla bla bla!" you must buy their magic face cream or you could trow that junk right out the window and be yourself and be happy with who you are. Now if you are really unhealthy and want to make a change then good, if you don't that is good too. Be yourself and be happy that you are yourself no matter what anyone else says or thinks. That is how I live.

warmaker : i'm pretty healthy i like veggies and fruits i'm not fat and i work out quite often granted its just a tredmeal,punching bag, and a pull up bar but point is pretty healthy

If you want it do it. So i kinda agree with you here.

I accept wholeheartedly that I have the sexiest body for any 13-year-old in the world.

yup.

My opinion is to just do what you want. If you're fat and you're okay with it then be fat if that's what you want. Or strive to be as fit and healthy as you can it's really up to you. What I do dislike though is if people complain about being fat even though they're doing nothing to prevent it.

I do encourage that people should know the consequences of these actions but they shouldn't be shamed for being fat whether they are trying to improve their fitness or not.

Otherwise we should start shaming people for not getting A's in all of their subjects in school.

I think people should be aloud to do what they want with their bodies as long as they are happy with how they look. It is their body, so let them decide how look. Who are you to judge and tell somebody how they should look just because you are uncomfortable with how they look?

I would say that body acceptance should depend on the circumstances/situation/environment a person is living in, and whether the body is/isn't getting in the way of the person's current goals and aims. Understanding one comes first before judging, or else this person is being plain ignorant of whether the judged person had also thought about the matter himself/herself.

But yes this doesn't mean that the person should not try improving self- I think to improve the body one should improve own mind too, i.e. proper discipline to work out timely and patience to keep on enduring.

Although you have to accept your own body, you have to watch your health. Nothing is wrong than being a bit more fat or thin than the average person but you shouldn't be too thin or fat since it affects your health as well. I am thin but that's because I'm growing and not because I don't eat enough or exercise too much and I accept that. If you exercise and eat healthy but your body just doesn't change easily then you have to accept that as well, everybody their body is different.