CW: a before-and-after photo depicting weight-loss through a person holding up/wearing much bigger pants than their size. Ugh. But then there is lots of incisive criticism, too.
Part of what I do as a FIFI blogger is check out the latest research on health, fitness, nutrition, wellness and longevity to write about for your occasional consumption. Most sources come from mainstream news, science journalism and newsletters, and the majority of those are brought to my attention by Samantha (thanks for being always on the case!)
Well, when I was looking over a Science Daily press release for a new study ahout the benefits of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for fat loss and preservation of muscle mass in people over 70, I thought, hey, cool.
Until I scrolled down and saw this.
So what’s wrong with this picture?
First, the study isn’t about weight loss, so breaking out the big-pants model to illustrate it is false advertising.
Second, ENOUGH WITH THE BIG PANTS PHOTOS! It’s one of the most cringey types of before-and-after diet images in existence. It not only screams “bigger body bad, smaller body good” but it does so by mocking the owner of the bigger pants, who is, presumably, the same person standing inside them, but at some previous date.
That’s a lot of subtext and self-loathing and implicit and explicit fat bias, all in one image. I plan to contact Science Daily, in my joint capacities as FIFI blogger and feminist bioethicist to ask them WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING? I’ll let you know if I hear anything back.
In the meantime, let’s all agree that we don’t want any more big-pants photos out there as a way of illustrating weight loss. I’d be happy with no big-pants photos at all. With one exception.
David Byrne. He can wear big pants anytime. Because they go with his big suit.
And in case you’ve forgotten or have never seen the big suit in action, here you go. You’re welcome.
Happy Thursday, everyone.
