Cosmopolitan promotes obesity despite obvious risk factors
January 5, 2021
There is a growing movement in mainstream pop culture to embrace the “big is beautiful” mindset when it comes to body image. Now, it should go without saying that bullying anyone for the way that they look is unacceptable and cruel. However, there is a big difference between bullying someone and pointing out that they are engaging in and promoting something that is potentially dangerous.
Recently, Cosmopolitan released its February covers and a list of “11 women who prove fitness isn’t ‘one size fits all.’” The women are of varying sizes, all of which Cosmo boldly declares are “healthy.”
Weird time for @Cosmopolitan to do this cover given the relationship between obesity and death/serious illness from Covid. pic.twitter.com/7HYAktuVeh
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) January 4, 2021
The women featured include body-positive influencer Callie Thorpe, who “adheres to the body neutrality movement, which focuses on what your body can do rather than how it looks. ‘Plus-size people often feel like they can’t be part of the wellness space. We are trolled for being fat, then can feel excluded from exercise because our bodies don’t fit the narrative.’”
Obesity and its related issues such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes are two of the leading comorbidities that give someone a higher risk of “developing severe illness” and/or dying from COVID-19. Declaring that obesity is healthy, especially in the midst of a global pandemic, is disinformation. So much for the “party of science.”
There is blatant hypocrisy being perpetrated by cultural leaders who scream and shout about how we need to enforce strict lockdowns, wear masks, socially distance – do everything we possibly can to protect ourselves against COVID-19 – who then turn around and advocate for one of the principle underlying conditions that increases vulnerability to COVID-19.
It would also appear that Cosmopolitan doesn’t even believe what it’s preaching. A cursory search of their website will bring up articles peddling discounted treadmills, advice from Megan Markle about making fitness a priority, and 5 exercises to “make your boobs look better.”