A nutritionist who lifts weights four times a week has responded to an online troll who labeled her "skinny fat."
For many years, Joyana battled multiple eating disorders along with body dysmorphia and a lack of self-esteem. Now 28, she uses social media (@enjoyselflove) to promote body positivity, but she has been subjected to negative comments about her size 8-10 frame.
Last month, she racked up 1 million views on Instagram after sharing a video of herself with a cruel comment attached. It said: "That's called skinny fat, which happens when you are unhealthy."
"Being skinny fat isn't bad if there are no negative health consequences," Joyana, who declined to give her surname, told Newsweek. "I think it's problematic when people 'diagnose' other people that they don't even know."
"Skinny fat refers to people who fall into the normal category of weight for their height, a term called body mass index, yet have a disproportionately high proportion of body fat," Eva Tseng, an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, previously told Newsweek.
The text layered over the June 12 video says, "When they call you skinny fat but you lift weights 3-4 times per week, eat a balanced diet and that's just your body type."
"I have a very balanced and healthy lifestyle," Joyana, who lives in Switzerland, told Newsweek. "I still have body fat, and I don't have a flat belly, cellulite, etc. But women need body fat [the] same as a belly pooch [abdominal fat]. Having all of this doesn't mean I'm unhealthy, and it doesn't give anyone the right to write such comments."
The American Council on Exercise says a typical body-fat range for nonathletes is 25 to 31 percent for women and 18 to 24 percent for men. Body fat below 14 percent for women or 6 percent for men is considered dangerously low and may pose health risks.
The average body fat percentage in the United States is around 39.9 percent for women and 28.1 percent for men, making any percentage below these figures technically "below average." However, many Americans exceed recommended body-fat levels.
"Commenting on other people's bodies isn't nice," Joyana said. "Luckily, I can handle the comments very well because I'm recovered, but I know it can be very triggering for some."
Joyana has received much support for the video, which is captioned, "Calling someone else skinny fat is bodyshaming too."
Speaking from experience, one user said: "I hate this term 'skinny fat.' It affected me very negatively as a teen and led me to an [eating disorder]."
Another wrote: "It's so interesting to see how the perception of 'fit' has changed. Years ago anyone slim was considered fit, while now I think it has become more the 'social media' fit = visible abs...muscles, super toned glutes etc. Anyway, don't listen to these people. I think fit is a matter of habits and not only looks!"
A third commenter said: "Being called skinny fat is like combining skinny and fat shaming, it's awful...I'm sorry about that person."
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