“5 Reasons ‘Body Positivity’ Is Evil” – Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Interview With Author

Body positivity is a touchy topic, even to this very day. While some fully embrace it for helping people accept who they are with all of their flaws, others are more careful about voicing their support because they believe that some use it as an excuse for unhealthy habits. Meanwhile, fitness expert Jack Bly sparked a bit of internet drama over on Twitter after sharing his 5 reasons why he believes that body positivity is ‘evil.’

Like you could have expected, this approach made quite a few people angry while others stood in support of Jack’s views. Have a read through his arguments below and let us know in the comments what you think of them, dear Pandas.

In reality, body positivity and fitness are very sticky and nuanced topics. They aren’t as black and white as people would prefer to paint them, whatever their views on the subject. Each individual case and the small details matter a lot. For instance, a personal trainer I’d spoken to earlier pointed out that body positivity greatly depends on the context of the individual and the movement can be “both extremely helpful and potentially harmful.”

Meanwhile, The Guardian notes that we need to have those unpleasant conversations about weight and health instead of “leaping straight to the friendly hashtag, complete with women detailing their own blessed journeys towards inner beauty.” Uncomfortable? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.

I reached out to Jack and he was kind enough to go in-depth about the thread and his views on body positivity. “When it comes to TRUE body positivity, I think it can be a good belief system for things regarding our appearance that may be out of our control,” he told Bored Panda, pointing out some examples where it works such as in the case of burn victims, people with disabilities, etc.

“But, it is a terrible belief system when it comes to things in your control,” he noted that, in his opinion, this doesn’t work with obesity. “Like I mentioned in my thread, a lot of misinformation has been thrown around due to this which is extremely detrimental to everyone.”

Jack shared the reasons why he personally believes that the body positivity movement is ‘evil’

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TheJackBly

Jack told Bored Panda that, overall, he received “an OVERWHELMING amount of support” that far outweighed any criticism that he got.

I wanted to get Jack’s take on what we should do if we’re looking to improve our level of fitness but we’re constantly finding ourselves without much energy to see things through.

“If you’re someone who is SERIOUS about making a permanent body transformation but feels like you’ve tried everything before, don’t want to do another miserable diet, or don’t have much time to commit… you need to invest in a coach,” he put it simply that the support of a professional helps immensely.

“Countless studies show the power of accountability when it comes to achieving any goal. And we know that where we invest our time & money reveal our true priorities. If you want an area to improve you MUST invest your resources there. And, just know that EVERYONE is capable of achieving the body they can be proud of.”

He added: “You can do this!!!”

There are plenty of perspectives on body positivity even among professionals. It’s a topic full of nuance

Earlier, personal trainer and physiotherapist Paulius Lipskis explained to me that we have to be completely honest about ourselves, our health, and our fitness levels.

“Somebody could potentially use the body positivity movement as an excuse for their unhealthy habits, however, if the movement encourages you to accept and embrace yourself, it’s something that you should strive to follow,” he told Bored Panda during an earlier interview.

“It’s also a problem if you view healthy living as something that you’re forced to do. If you’re constantly angry, tired, and you’re low on energy—it’s an issue,” the personal trainer said.

According to trainer Paulius, you can’t force someone to want to change; their desire to change their lifestyle must come from within.

“Usually, our unhealthy habits are a result of constant stress and our behavior that’s meant to protect us from it. If we would have an honest chat with ourselves, we’d clearly see that we’re dissatisfied with ourselves only when we feel that we’re using our bad habits to cover our emotions,” the fitness expert said.

“However, if we accept that we’re not perfect, we’re not pressured to change. That’s when you start developing a natural desire and curiosity to find out what the best possible version of you is.”

Meanwhile, Eva Wiseman shared in an article on The Guardian that the body positivity movement increases the pressure and guilt that overweight people feel. In her opinion, we’re better off finding peace with our bodies instead of loving ourselves as we are.

“‘Everybody’s beautiful, and all bodies are perfect!’ said 2019, to a small murmur from those pointing out that the workplace, Tinder, fashion, and health professionals disagree. The effect, then, was a feeling of isolation, and a doubling of guilt. Guilt both for living in a body that doesn’t fit and for wanting to change it,” Wiseman said that we ought to move toward body neutrality, not positivity.

People reacted to Jack’s post in a lot of different ways. Some were completely in favor of his view…

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: smithhmackenzie

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: AmboJedi

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: HominemDad

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: TJPhoenix3

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: mir_and_a

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: MedusaMetacast

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: Tsavagemofo7

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: Life_of_Slamb

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: foles03

…others had a different opinion and were much more critical of Jack’s approach

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: jaygby

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: WeHateDiana

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: Natasha_Langa

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

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"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

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"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: Musmu1203

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: miggycox

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: Aidan816104182

Meanwhile, some Twitter users pointed out that body positivity and the health industry are all about making money

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: ghostenomics

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: IssaWangai

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: DavionTheDN

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: wing_ng80

"5 Reasons 'Body Positivity' Is Evil" - Guy Starts A Discussion About The Toxicity Of The Body Positivity Movement

Image credits: MrJPearce

Storytelling, journalism, and art are a core part of who I am. I've been writing and drawing ever since I could walk—there is nothing else I'd rather do. My formal education, however, is focused on politics, philosophy, and economics because I've always been curious about the gap between the ideal and the real. At work, I'm a Senior Writer and I cover a broad range of topics that I'm passionate about: from psychology and changes in work culture to healthy living, relationships, and design. In my spare time, I'm an avid hiker and reader, enjoy writing short stories, and love to doodle. I thrive when I'm outdoors, going on small adventures in nature. However, you can also find me enjoying a big mug of coffee with a good book (or ten) and entertaining friends with fantasy tabletop games and sci-fi movies.

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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What do you think ?

POST

Daria Z 3 years ago

I may be wrong but I have thought body positivity is about loving yourself no matter how you look. And this self love means that you take care of your mind and body. A person can definitely be slightly overweight or underweight but still healthy. But willingly going beyond that means self destruction and needs to be addressed.

132points

WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago

That's indeed how body positivity started out. Love your healthy body despite it's "imperfections". It was a reaction against the magazines telling people to get plastic surgery for no good reason at all. Today it's changed to: "Love your body even when you're unhealthy overweight and you're uncomfortable and miserable not being able to do what you want to do."

59points

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Potato 3 years ago

"Being uncomfortable and miserable" is not something anyone strives to be just for the sake of being fat. The "love your body" message is being misconstrued, like that Cosmo mag (which NO ONE should be reading anyway) -- but you absolutely should love your body even if you are overweight, because however you got there that weight is not coming off overnight, and we shouldn't be starving ourselves on 500 calorie diets just to make trolls happy. It's up to our doctors to tell us our personal health issues and help us meet our goals, it's not up to bitter old aunts and incels to shame us for something that we could be working to fix for all they know. It was meant as a response to all the verbal abuse, because harassment isn't motivation.

17points

Troux 3 years ago

Yes!! to your first two sentences. Have fun and be happy with however you look in a swimsuit or whatever defect is visible, and look at others with the same respect - they are people, no matter what skin they are in. But overweight and underweight are medical terms. Doctors and researchers have said that these are not OK. These go outside of an acceptable range which puts people at higher risk of diseases and behaviors which are not 'living your best life.' I am of the mind that I genuinely do not care what you look like and how you decide to dress, but cognizant that being overweight does affect you, as well as the people around you and the people in your society. That being said, shaming individuals is not helpful. This is a problem of society and people need to be taught that they are victims of industry; Cheap food is a trap, cheese is not healthy, burgers and soda should not be at every meal, fruit juice and sweet tea with the same sugar is not a healthy alternative to soda, etc.

4points

Frank Ropen 3 years ago

So mind positivity would be "love yourself no matter what how you think"? Some mindsets are just wrong, so are some bodies. We are talking about massive obesity with a BMI way beyond 40 and not the muscular type. If you are in that area you have either an eating problem or an illness causing that weight. Both need to treated.

1point

Chimmels 3 years ago

same with child obesity

0points

Yelena Yardeen 3 years ago

You're not wrong. This guy doesn't understand body positivity. And I wouldn't even consider myself a member of the body positive "community" if we can call it that. But I don't think being cruel to someone over their weight has ever helped them.

0points

William Teach 3 years ago

And that's how it got going, then they turned the amp up to 11 and extol the virtue of being obese.

0points

Aunt Messy 3 years ago

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Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)

Body positivity is not meant to be about promoting obesity, or accepting that it's normal. Body positivity is about self esteem. So many people obviously just don't get it. Articles like the Cosmo one doesn't help though. Often poor self esteem coincides with mental health issues that also coincides with lack of motivation, emotional eating etc. It's also about teaching people that just because some are obese does not mean they don't deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. We are obese, not stupid so we know what effects it has and health issues. People picking on overweight/obese actually make things worse, not better. Bullying, teasing etc rarely helps anyone. Plus obesity is not always caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. There are many factors to take into account. How about you mind your own damn business since you have no idea what the individual is going through. It's between the individual and their doctor.

67points

qwerty 3 years ago

I think the best point that was made in this article was the person who pointed out that no one complained about unhealthy body standards when it was underweight people being praised, but now that it's overweight people being praised, everyone's freaking out. I think that neither extreme is healthy, and if you are not at a healthy weight you should work to resolve that issue. Also, praising people who are underweight and praising people who are overweight has happened before. In the Roman Empire, for example, a voluptuous body was viewed as a good thing. It's possible the cycle is repeating itself. On the other end of the spectrum, underweight bodies have been praised up until the body positivity movement. And I completely agree with your point that it might not actually be a person's fault for having an unhealthy weight.

18points

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Ivana 3 years ago (edited)

It drives me nuts! Why do we think that shame and ridicule will result in anything other than low self-esteem? People with low self-esteem, that hate their bodies, are not the most likely candidates to switch to a healthy lifestyle. They shut down and ignore an issue that they feel they can't control or escape. They feel like they are not worth the effort. A person who is approached with support and positivity will have the foundation they need to make changes in their life. Your size doesn't make you worthy of hate (for your own good) because how convenient to have a justification for abusing someone. Treat people with respect, and they will respect themselves.

9points

Caro Caro 3 years ago

You got it! NOBODY has said obesity is ok. BUT it is a problem and obese are not stupid. It is indeed between the individual and their doctor. The "body positivity" is normally used to accept us in all our sizes and shapes and colours .

7points

Happy_Pandalover 3 years ago

word! promoting obesity/ unhealthy lifestyles in general VS promoting body positivity are two different things. An obese person can feel positive about themselves, but they can also be aware of the fact that their weight is not healthy.

3points

Beans 3 years ago

Exactly right foxxy, shaming doesn't work. And who are we to judge health just by appearance? The camera is notoriously unreliable at showing an accurate representation of fatness. Especially since we have a biasesd image of health due to underweight models etc being the norm. Barring the dangerously obese what looks 'healthy' to us or fat is between them and their doctor, not us. As for people who say "they're a burden on the healthcare system so I should get a say" no. Apart from the fact I bet fat people often just die other than burden the system, By that logic we should get a say in the health of everyone who has any vice, such as alcohol, a class A carinogen, or who work in the sun or eat charred foods or meat... policing health is a slippery slope.

1point

Eppe 3 years ago

Tell 'm Foxxy!

0points

FrankStellar 3 years ago

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Mike Crow 3 years ago

I had a friend who was curvy, but she went to the gym and she ate well. Yet people still lectured her, berated her and made fun of her because she was still curvy, even her mother told her that she only had a pretty face. Did this help? Did this make her work harder? No. She tried but she eventually gave up because she could see no point in continuing. Body positivity doesn’t mean accepting obesity, it just means loving yourself.

43points