Stop calling it "exercise." Call it "movement," "play," or "recess."
| Tension | Body Positivity Perspective | Traditional Wellness Perspective | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Weight is a poor proxy for health; fat people can be metabolically healthy. | Obesity is a disease or risk factor; weight management is a wellness duty. | | Behavior Change | Pursuing weight loss is inherently oppressive and likely to fail. | Goal-setting (e.g., weight loss, muscle gain) is motivational and effective. | | Aesthetics | “Wellness” is used to disguise fatphobia and moral superiority. | Body positivity “glorifies obesity” and normalizes unhealthy habits. | | Accessibility | Wellness products (organic food, gyms, therapy) are classist and ableist. | Wellness is a personal responsibility; anyone can prioritize health. | sunat natplus junior nudist contest
If your only memory of exercise is the misery of high school gym class or the shame of a post-holiday boot camp, you will never sustain a movement practice. Stop calling it "exercise