What Are Examples of Body Shaming (10 Examples & Support)

Well, hello there, my dear friends. Today I want to talk to you about body shaming. This form of bullying can have serious consequences for a person’s mental and physical health. It doesn’t matter who you are, your age, or what type of body you have – body shaming can affect anyone.

Sadly, body shaming comes in many different forms. Sometimes it can be a subtle comment, while other times, it’s an outright insult. For instance, some people may comment on someone’s weight, criticize their clothing choices, or make fun of their body shape or size. These hurtful actions can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

Body shaming can also take the form of concern trolling, where someone disguises their criticism as concern for their health, or backhanded compliments, where someone compliments a person’s appearance while simultaneously commenting negatively about their body.

Type of Body Shaming	Description
Fat-Shaming	humiliating someone for body size.
Skinny-Shaming	humiliating someone for being thin.
Muscle-Shaming	humiliating someone for their muscle mass.
Height-Shaming	humiliating someone for their height.
Age-Shaming	humiliating someone for their age.
Disability-Shaming	humiliating someone for their disability.
Body Hair-Shaming	humiliating someone for their body hair.

Body shaming can lead to devastating consequences such as eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. That’s why it’s essential to recognize the signs of body shaming and speak up when we see it happening.

This article will delve into some real-life examples of body shaming and its harmful effects. But don’t worry; we won’t leave you feeling hopeless. We’ve got some helpful tips on how to respond to body shaming and promote body positivity. Let’s lift each other and spread some love, shall we?

Examples of Body Shaming

Fat-Shaming

Fat shaming is a common form of body shaming where people are ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for their weight. This can happen in many ways, such as making derogatory comments about someone’s body size, calling them names like “fat” or “pig,” or assuming they are lazy or unhealthy because of their weight.

Some examples of fat shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their weight
• Assuming that someone is unhealthy or lazy because of their weight
• Commenting on what someone is eating or how much they are eating

Skinny-Shaming

Skinny shaming is another common form of body shaming where people are ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for being thin. This can happen in many ways, such as making derogatory comments about someone’s body size, calling them names like “skinny” or “twig,” or assuming they have an eating disorder.

Some examples of skinny shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their weight
• Assuming that someone has an eating disorder because of their weight
• Commenting on what someone is eating or how much they are eating

Muscle-Shaming

Muscle shaming is a form of body shaming where people are ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for their muscle mass. This can come from derogatory comments about someone’s body size, calling them names like “meathead” or “roid-rager,” or assuming they are vain or shallow because of their muscles.

Some examples of muscle shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their muscle mass
• Assuming that someone is vain or shallow because of their muscles
• Commenting on someone’s workout routine or supplement use

Height-Shaming

Height shaming is body shaming, where people are ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for their height. This can occur in many forms, such as making derogatory comments about someone’s height, calling them names like “shorty” or “giant,” or assuming they are inferior or superior because of their height.

Some examples of height shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their height
• Assuming that someone is inferior or superior because of their height
• Commenting on someone’s height in a negative way

Age-Shaming

Age-shaming is body shaming, where somebody is ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for age. This can happen in many ways, such as making derogatory comments about someone’s age, calling them names like “old” or “young,” or assuming they are incompetent or irrelevant because of their age.

Some examples of age shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their age
• Assuming that someone is incompetent or irrelevant because of their age
• Commenting on someone’s age in a negative way

Disability-Shaming

Disability shaming is body shaming, where someone is ridiculed, criticized, or humiliated for their disability. This can happen in many ways, such as making derogatory comments about someone’s disability, calling them names like “cripple” or “retard,” or assuming they are less capable or valuable because of their disability.

Some examples of disability shaming include:

• Making fun of someone for their disability
• Assuming that someone is less capable or valuable because of their disability
• Commenting on someone’s disability in a negative way

Body Hair-Shaming

Body hair shaming is when somebody is mocked, criticized, or humiliated for their hair. This can transpire in many forms, such as derogatory comments about someone’s body hair, calling them “beastly” or “hairy.

The Effects of Body Shaming

Body shaming can have severe and long-lasting effects on physical and mental health. Here are some of the most common effects:

• Low self-esteem: Body shaming can lead to a negative body image and low self-esteem. This can cause individuals to withdraw from social situations and struggle with self-confidence.
• Anxiety and depression: Can trigger or worsen existing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Individuals who are body-shamed may feel embarrassed, ashamed, and isolated.
• Eating disorders: Body shaming can contribute to developing eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. These disorders can lead to serious health problems and even death.
• Self-harm and suicidal thoughts: Individuals who experience body shaming may feel hopeless and believe they are not worth living.
• Unhealthy behaviors: Body shaming can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, undereating, or excessive exercise. These behaviors can have negative consequences on physical health.

It is important to note that the effects of body shaming can vary from person to person.

Some individuals may be more resilient to body shaming than others. However, it is crucial to recognize the harmful effects of body shaming and to work towards creating a more accepting and inclusive society.

How to Combat Body Shaming

Let’s discuss how to combat body shaming and develop a positive self-image. Here are some tips:

Firstly, it’s important to cultivate self-love. This means accepting yourself for who you are, embracing your flaws, and focusing on your positive qualities. Start by listing things you like about yourself and remind yourself of these things every day. Affirmations like “I love myself” can help.

Next, replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. When you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts, replace them with positive ones. For example, instead of saying, “I hate my body,” say, “I am grateful for my body and all it does for me.”

Managing your time spent on social media is also crucial. Social media can be a breeding ground for body shaming, so limit your time and unfollow accounts promoting unrealistic beauty standards. Instead, follow accounts that promote body positivity and self-love.

Making friends with food is important too. Food should not be seen as the enemy. Instead, view it as fuel for your body and focus on eating a balanced diet that includes all food groups.

Lastly, contact someone you trust if you are struggling with body shaming. This can be a friend, family member, or therapist. Talking about your feelings can help you process them and develop a more positive self-image.

Remember, combatting body shaming and developing a positive self-image takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Love yourself for who you are and embrace your unique qualities. You are worthy and deserving of love and respect.

Studies:

• “The Long-Term Effects of Being Bullied or a Bully in Adolescence on Externalizing and Internalizing Mental Health Problems in Adulthood” by Marie-Claude Geoffroy, et al. (2016): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4909076/
• “Body-Shaming and Health: The Moderating Role of Self-Compassion” by Jacqueline S. Chen and Allison B. Kelly (2019): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6551408/

Organizations:

• National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
• The Body Positive: https://www.thebodypositive.org/
• Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH): https://www.sizediversityandhealth.org/

Books:

• “Body Positive Power: How to stop dieting, make peace with your body and live” by Megan Jayne Crabbe
• “The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love” by Sonya Renee Taylor
• “Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and Quiet That Critical Voice!)” by Connie Sobczak