This started with a question by a subscriber to talk about thin privilege.

So, naturally I had to start by educating myself on what exactly “thin privilege” is.

And as I was reading through blogs and tweets, I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t want to talk about it, because I didn’t think me, as a person who has had a fast metabolism all my life had the right to discuss this.

At first, as I was reading, I found myself thinking, well that happens to me in one way or another as a skinny person, but I quickly was able to see the difference.

When people say “oh my god your arms are like toothpicks” or call me “chicken legs” or tell me “I just want to feed you a burger”. They aren’t doing it because they look at my body as wrong or unhealthy. It’s said almost with a friendly, envious laugh.

Or when people find out I’m vegan, “They go, oh that’s why you’re so skinny.” But there’s still a lot of junk food available to me as a vegan, and I can eat it without people judging me or me worrying about gaining weight.

And just like any other person I can put down large quantities of food. But when people see me do it they are impressed. They think it’s awesome. But if I were 100/200 pounds heavier you can bet your sweet tushy they wouldn’t have the same attitude towards me eating that much.

In college when I would go a few days just eating cupcakes for meals people thought it was funny. What if I were 215 pounds instead of 115 pounds?

There are so many underlying issues out there today that dictate our lives, our health, our bodies, etc. So many things that are invisible to the naked eye. When people see someone who’s overweight there’s a good chance their first reasoning is “Well, they must eat like crap and sit on the couch.”

And you know what? There are a ton of people who fall into that category of eating unhealthy and not moving. But do you know how many skinny people fall into that category… a lot. But people don’t question your health in relation to your size when you’re skinny.

Do I want people to live the healthiest lives possible? Of course I do. But your size isn’t always in direct relation to that. And people shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed, or not be able to do something because of their size.

And justifying the hurtful things you’re saying/thinking about someone with “oh I just want them to be healthy” is a BS excuse.

Stop doing it.

I could go on and on about the advantages I have learned I have because of my size, but I challenge you to go seek those out for yourself.

It’s a great practice to learn about issues that don’t effect you personally, because just because you don’t experience it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

What’s an eyeopening experience/lesson you’ve had about something that effects other, but not yourself?