This is a tough topic to tackle, but I do want to say a few things about it — so please forgive me if anything I say causes offence.
I accept all people and think everyone is beautiful. These are just some observations I have from working in the industry that I do.
The media is known for its preference for slim people. This has pretty much always been the case.
Times are changing, however, and people who aren’t as slim as others feel that they, too, deserve to be represented in the media. Right now, acceptance is growing and equality is thriving. More and more “plus-sized” models are appearing in clothing adverts, and body size is becoming less of an issue.
That being said, this is not the case for every outlet (media and otherwise), and there are still many people out there who feel underrepresented.
Here are my views on the matter. I work for a health news and information website, and as such, I know quite a bit about the dangers of being overweight and obese. Actually, the dangers are becoming more prominent.
Excess weight can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, some cancers, heart disease, and premature death. The fact of the matter is that more people are overweight and obese now than ever before, and noncommunicable diseases are growing in prevalence across the world.
I therefore think that some media outlets are wise in their decision not to feature plus-sized models.
The media’s role in our modern-day world is very influential, and for it to promote unhealthful eating would be even more irresponsible than if it didn’t.
Promoting overweight and obesity in a world that is already in the grasp of an obesity “epidemic” would be foolish. While I hate to have to say this, this is a big part of the reason behind the media choosing not to feature plus-sized people.
Personally, I don’t think this issue comes down to “fat-shaming,” “inequality,” or “bullying” — just common sense.