Those "fat memes" you keep sharing? They're not as harmless as you think.

You've seen them. The pig dancing in front of the pool. The person tucking into dessert seconds after complaining about their body. The guinea pig waddling to the kitchen after a cry. They're all over Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and every time they get reshared, they reach more and more people.

They feel harmless. A bit of self-deprecating humour. A relatable giggle. But they're not harmless and in this episode, I explains exactly why.

This one is more of an "I never thought about it like that" episode. No big transformation promised, just an important conversation that needs to be had and yes I am woke and proud of it!

In this episode I cover -

• What diet culture actually is. A system of beliefs that worships thinness and equates it with health and moral virtue. It oppresses people in larger bodies, disproportionately affecting women, people of colour, and people with disabilities and it shows up everywhere, including in those "funny" memes on your feed.
  

• Why these memes are stigmatising, not silly. For the person seeing them, especially someone in a larger body, these images send a clear message: your body is not worthy. Whether they're meant that way or not, the impact is real. It's fat phobia dressed up as a joke.
  

• What it means if you're the one posting them. I’m not here to shame you, I want to know are you okay? When "crying because I'm fat, ordering a Chinese" becomes a running joke, it normalises a cycle of body shame and emotional eating. That cycle can be broken but first it has to be seen for what it is.
  

• Fat isn't a feeling. When someone says they "feel fat," something else is going on underneath. What emotions are actually there? What role is food playing in managing those feelings? These are the questions worth asking and these are the ones that I ask in 1-1 coaching.
  

• What you can actually do about it. Call it out (if you feel safe and comfortable to do so). Educate rather than shame. Mute, block, or report if needed. And start asking: is this kind? One conversation, one meme at a time, that's how diet culture gets reduced.

So next time you see one of these memes or catch yourself about to share one - pause.

Ask: who is this actually kind to? Then go forth and educate.

Connect with Cara -

Thanks for joining me today on Chatting with Cara. I hope today's conversation gave you some food for thought!

If you're looking to transform this area of your life I'd love to support you, please get in touch with me using the below links.

Email - cara@coachingwithcara.co.uk

Website - www.coachingwithcara.co.uk

Facebook - Coaching with Cara

Instagram - @coachingwcara

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Until next time, keep chatting!