Weighty Relationships
49% of Australians are overweight. 64% of Americans are overweight or obese. It’s not a huge surprise that there are plenty of couples out there who have a significant weight difference between them.
(When I use the word ’significant’ I mean that the weight difference is noticeable physically.)
While there are different things to deal with for both the thinner partner and the obese partner, I am not going to pretend I have experience with being the thinner partner. I don’t mean to make thinner partners feel neglected by me on this subject or on this site; I simply don’t have the experience to talk about it.
What the thinner partner needs to know about having an obese partner is that the obese partner has a lot of stress just being obese. For all the people in this world that are obese, people are still so entirely obsessed with being thin that even obese people who go to gyms to lose weight get dirty looks from thinner gym patrons.
Take that and add on being with someone who is thinner than you. Wondering if people are looking at you and wondering what you are doing with your partner. Yes, it happens. Even I have gone to the restroom, looked in the mirror, and wondered if people see me and my husband and wonder why he’s with me.
That’s not to say that you (the thinner partner) are a constant stress on your partner by any means. That’s not the case whatsoever. However, it does mean that you need to be sensitive to your partner.
*Don’t complain about being/feeling fat.
*Don’t talk about the meals you’ve had while you’re not with your partner.
*Don’t engage in making jokes – or even little pet names to do with weight – at your partner’s expense.
If you are the overweight partner and have problems with things your partner is saying or doing remember to speak up. Don’t let things pass by simply because it’s your partner saying them instead of someone else. If anything, your partner should be more sensitive than other people.
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