There are many powerful, funny, intelligent, liberal voices on American TV. There are many late show hosts who ask tough questions, critique and hold their government accountable. Two of them are Bill Maher and James Corden. Where Bill Maher is known for a satirical, caustic tongue that lacerates any whom he deems deserving of it, James Corden’s content is lighter, frothier and less political. Bill Maher called out the obesity epidemic and Corden responded. Needless to say, Twitter weighed in.
“Americans eat s**t and too much of it,” he says in this video; giving stats about diet, its link to several medical conditions and the environmental impacts of the food people eat. Fat is not healthy, it is bad, he says. There is no smoking acceptance or drunk acceptance so why is there fat acceptance. He wants people to take responsibility for what they eat and goes on to say that some amount of shaming is good. He feels that there shouldn’t be less fat shaming but more of it.
Corden can best be described as tubby and he called out Bill Maher for his comments. He pointed out that shame never works to make people make positive changes to their lifestyles and weight. He likens fat-shaming to bullying and thinks it is as harmful and counterproductive. He speaks about struggling with his weight his entire life; about making unsuccessful attempts to lose weight for as long as he can remember.
There were voices that came out in support of Maher because being overweight and obese is objectively bad. It is a fact that obesity is a leading cause of death and not enough people acknowledge the fact that this is a cultural problem says this commentator.
Some thought that Corden was getting praise just because he offered justification for people being overweight; basically for making people feel better about themselves. They thought that Maher was receiving hate for merely speaking the truth.
Many expressed the view that there is no need to tiptoe around people’s feelings to the extent that normalise obesity. If fat shaming isn’t good, neither is fat acceptance.
Many who have struggled with their weight thanked Corden for putting out their own message; about how poverty and access to health care have a huge bearing on weight.
One health activist pointed out research that fat-shaming is harmful. The research speaks against weight stigmatisation and points out that it doesn’t serve to motivate people to lose weight.
While having a positive body image and self-esteem are important, there is no need to celebrate being an unhealthy weight. This tweet points out that being too thin and being overweight are both unhealthy and problematic and neither needs either celebration or censure.
Clearly there is some truth in what Bill Maher says, though his sneering tone and choice of words have offended many. There is also truth in what James Corden says – overeating and depression are linked and tend to become a vicious cycle. There is a genetic component in some obesity cases and poverty and healthcare access are also crucial determinants.
However, there is no need to celebrate obesity either. It is important to recognise that being obese is linked to many life-threatening conditions; that it is a leading cause of death. The bottom line is, body positivity is important, but physical health is as important if not more so. It is misleading to say that one can be healthy at any size – being very underweight is not healthy; similarly being very overweight is also not healthy. If we can keep this in mind, we can put both Bill Maher and James Corden on the backburner.
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
