The worth of our weight
Weight-related stigma is a universal issue, but Filipinos are infamously notorious for delivering it with unapologetic bluntness. Hearing “tumaba ka” and other similar comments about weight gain is such a common greeting that several local businesses are profiting from t-shirts bearing witty retorts—something that comes in handy during family reunions and social gatherings for those who want a lighthearted way to deflect unsolicited negative comments about their weight.
These quips, however funny, should not mask how normalizing body shaming is deeply affecting Filipinos’ well-being. A nationwide study done by Arkipelago Analytics to explore how body image perceptions shape mental health across different demographics found that 52 percent of Filipinos aged 18 to 24 reported experiencing negative effects— 6 percent higher than the global average.
While young adults are hit the hardest, the survey’s findings revealed that distress over body image spills into other age groups as well. Forty-one percent of those aged 25 to 34 and 35 percent of those aged 35 to 44 reported being negatively affected by their body image. Even more alarming is that most respondents who reported negative effects said their perception of their own body had worsened compared to 2024.
Young people’s worries about their bodies are far from unfounded. Various research indicates a global uptick in weight-based teasing and bullying. Children and teenagers with higher body weight are more likely to experience verbal insults and cyberbullying compared to their thinner classmates. Empirical evidence also suggests that experiences of body-shaming and weight-related bullying are linked to an increase in adverse mental health outcomes, such as high rates of depression, eating disorders, and low self-esteem among young people. This escalating concern highlights just how deeply entrenched body shaming has become and how early it is internalized. Children often learn by watching and mimicking the attitudes and behaviors of adults around them. If they constantly hear negative comments about body weight or shape, they begin to believe that such judgments are normal, acceptable, and necessary for social acceptance.
Compounding the issue is the recent surge in the popularity of GLP-1 receptor drugs, such as Ozempic and its cousin Wegovy. Originally designed to help manage Type 2 diabetes and obesity, these drugs have been co-opted by celebrities and social media influencers as quick fixes for weight loss. In an instant, all the body positivity messaging in the past decade about how weight should not define a person’s worth seems like it has been quickly overshadowed by weight loss success stories. Being thin is definitely in, and you can achieve this almost instantaneously if you’re able to pay the steep monthly fee. For those who can’t afford the expensive drug, a harmful trend called “budget ozempic” has emerged on TikTok, with young people using laxatives and stool softeners to try to achieve a similar effect.
Our internalized biases about weight are further reinforced by a societal system that tends to reward or penalize people based on weight. Weight is a metric that society uses not just to judge one’s appearance but also one’s character and competence. In a previous column (see “Why do women fear weight gain,” 3/27/23), I discussed at length how body shape, especially for women, has a significant impact on the kind of opportunities one has access to in life. Research has shown that overweight people are often unfairly seen as lazy and unmotivated, while thin people are viewed as disciplined and capable. This internalized bias affects who gets hired or promoted at work, or how well a person is treated by their peers and family members. It could even influence the quality of medical care that one receives, due to professionals who may harbor their own prejudices.
Rather than framing weight gain as a sign of personal weakness or lack of discipline, we must recognize that weight is a multifaceted issue deeply intertwined with one’s socioeconomic status. It is all too easy to pontificate about eating healthy and exercising regularly when you have the luxury of time, disposable income, and household support—privileges that most Filipinos do not have. When you are barely earning a living wage and losing much of your time stuck in a three-hour daily commute, cheap and highly processed food becomes your necessary staple, and sacrificing sleep for a gym session is not a viable option. By acknowledging the systemic inequities that contribute to a person’s unhealthy lifestyle, we open the door to more constructive and empathetic discussions that could shift the focus from blame and shame to addressing the structural barriers at the root of these issues.
The numbers we see on the weighing scale should matter less. The truth is, however, that we continue to be judged and measured by our body shape, regardless of how much we wish to transcend these metrics. Sure, we can choose to laugh about it with witty t-shirts but we should also strive to change the narrative entirely—a shift that could at least begin with the kind of messaging our children are exposed to at home.
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eleanor@shetalksasia.com
