Lizzo Got Real About the Assumption That Plus-Size People Exercise to ‘Escape Fatness’
Lizzo doesn’t buy into weight loss culture that encourages “escaping fatness,” and neither should you.
On Monday, the “Juice” singer stitched a TikTok from the creator @tiffriahgrande that addressed the experiences of adults in the fitness world—specifically, the judgments of bystanders who assume that their only fitness goal is to lose weight. It’s not, and Lizzo had a lot to add to the conversation.
TikTok Content
This content can also be viewed on the website arise since.
In her video, @tiffriahgrande says that a plus size person should be able to exercise without the assumption that they are trying to be skinny. That line resonated with the Yitty founder and she echoed it boldly. “Heavily on the not trying to escape fat. Heavy fucks on it,” she said in her stitched video.
She added, “I think a lot of people see a fat person like that and immediately just assume everything they do is try to be thin. I’m not trying to be thin. I never want to be thin.”
Lizzo goes on to explain how physically demanding her “high-performance” job is, but stresses that she never tries to lose weight—even when she’s dancing, singing and playing the flute for 90 minutes on stage. Instead, she calls her approach to fitness “holistic” — and is careful to avoid the phrase “health conscious,” which has long been used to disparage people’s weight under the guise of expressing concern for one’s health. .
“Embracing the fact that your body is changing, that’s part of it, and making sure it does [the mind] is what we have power over. Everything I eat, everything I do, every time I move my body, it’s all for [my mind and happiness].”
Leon Bennett/Getty Images
More than anything, Lizzo wants to destroy the narrative that adults only exercise for weight loss.
“I just wanted to put this together to show you support because this creator specifically said I’m looking for people I can relate to. Much, much the same.”
Lizzo Got Real About the Assumption That Plus-Size People Exercise to ‘Escape Fatness’