My Struggle With Asian Culture’s Attitudes About Weight
Talking about weight is taboo in America, but Asian cultures are a lot more direct
Disclaimer: this piece mentions weight and eating disorders, which may be a triggering topic. If you or anyone you know needs help, please visit the National Eating Disorders Association website.
This past weekend, I went back to New York to visit my family. I am Chinese-American, and my family is Chinese. The past several months, almost every phone call with my parents has had some mention of my older brother’s weight. Almost everyone calls him fat. Almost everyone says he eats too much. Mainstream American culture would be horrified at the directness with which Asian culture talks about weight and appearance, particularly with greater awareness of eating disorders in our mental health discourse.
Outside my family, in most spaces I occupy, particularly among runners, talking about weight is extremely taboo, particularly if there are women in the conversation. It’s commonly known that eating disorders are a very common problem in the running community due to the association between the high volume exercise and eating disorders. I have personally known friends who have struggled with disordered eating, particularly runners.
