What We Take On In The Name Of Health
I did not see the Mike Tyson ad that aired during the Super Bowl 2026 nor am I going to. I saw one clip from it and it is a downright dangerous message. To imply that living in a larger body is not a life worth living is so f*cking ableist. Instead of blaming ourselves and our bodies, let’s destroy the systems that perpetuate this stigma. I am in the largest body I have ever been in and I am living my best life. I moved to Portugal from Wisconsin in June 2025 and I love my life. I am creating a life I want in a body that mainstream society deems unacceptable. I will continue to prove them wrong every step of the way.
The default has always been to blame ourselves for failing to meet society’s expectations or standards. It’s easier to blame ourselves for not fitting into mainstream attitudes and beliefs.
I am going to say something audacious - I don’t think society is meeting our expectations or standards. We have the power to allow a different narrative to take hold. We deserve better.
We, as individuals, don’t need standards or expectations; we need freedom to choose without judgement or guilt, and trust. Trust that we know what’s best for us instead of relying on the government or some corporation to tell us how we should behave or feel. They want our conformity because then they can manipulate us into complacency. Society needs us to conform in order for white supremacy, racism, capitalism, patriarchy, and misogyny to survive. We must denounce and smash the systems that allow for marginalization and oppression.
What we don’t stop to realize is that we have taken on the problem of mainstream attitudes and beliefs. And by taking on these beliefs, we are doing their job for them and doing great harm to ourselves in the process. When we decide it’s our fault for not fitting in, by being in a bigger body, we risk our health, both physical and mental, our well-being, and our very existence. If mainstream society had its way, people in larger bodies would not exist. We are told in so many little ways that this world is not made for us.
Living in a larger body does not have to be a death sentence.
If being thin was as simple as what we ate, then we could all be thin. Our environment, socio-economic status, access to food, privilege, genetics all play a part in the shape of our bodies. We don’t have as much control over our bodies as we think.
We are told we should just eat better. What does this even mean? This is such a privileged thing to say. Many people live in food deserts, living paycheck to paycheck and cannot afford to buy organic food. Our system has been designed to keep all people from accessing adequate food. It is designed to keep people in food deserts, to keep them from accessing anything but processed foods. And somehow, we still believe it’s our fault.
What we deserve is for the food and diet industry to be held accountable. We deserve systems in place to make sure that the standard of food is exceptional. The system must make sure that ALL PEOPLE have access to food, not just to those who can afford it, and that food must affordable for everyone. The standards and expectations must be placed on the corporations that dole out processed food not the individuals caught in the crosshairs of profitability.
I am lucky because I can afford good food. Food that I find satisfying. This is not to say that I eat what mainstream deems “healthy” for me. Healthy is a loaded word and a trigger for me. It puts morality on food that doesn’t exist. I do not want to know about what nutrients are in the food; I want to know if the food is delicious and satisfying. I was told that I could not eat the foods I loved because they were not “healthy” for me. This is how I developed an eating disorder that I still struggle with daily.
I could eat all the “healthy” foods, in the amounts deemed proper and I will still be in a larger body. I have to work twice as hard as someone else to be thin because my genetics have conspired against me. My paternal grandmother was a short, plump Italian woman. I have her body shape. I loved my grandmother; she was a fabulous cook. I loved going to my grandparents’ house after church on Sundays for Sunday lunch. She always had enough food on the table to feed an army. And we would end our meals with pints of ice cream. These are some of the happiest memories I have of growing up.
Being in a larger body doesn’t mean that we have to stop living. It’s means that we get to figure out how to navigate living in a world not made for us and find its joy. My larger body has opened my eyes to many things that I took for granted when I was in a smaller body. I am slowly building up my stamina and focusing on the things I can do and not what I can’t do. I am also allowing myself permission to listen to my body. I find that it is pretty smart. I have adapted fairly well and am learning what my limits are and living within them. Living in a larger body does not have to be a death sentence.
Diet culture does not know who we are and what we need, only we do. They don’t have the memories of Sunday lunches. They have told us over and over again not to trust ourselves. We all have the right to autonomy to choose what we eat, how we eat, and what our bodies look like.
What would happen if we just threw away these diet culture beliefs and lived life on our terms?
Martha Treder
Soul Searcher | Activist
I have always valued community and cultivating connections. I’ve been reflecting on my next steps and part of that is sharing my thoughts and journey. It’s not just about my story; it’s about creating a community where we can all connect, support each other, and grow together.