The “Thin is In” zeitgeist has maintained an iron fist on our collective psyches for at least the past 60 years. From waif-like images of Twiggy to impossibly tall and thin models to celebrities who maintain their physique through a combination of personal trainers, chefs, and questionable health practices, many people have long assumed that being trim is synonymous with attractiveness, good health, and personal character.

Although these assumptions have been under question for decades, they are so embedded in our shared belief system that we find it hard to believe they aren’t accurate. As a psychologist, I routinely lecture on stress and health and emphasize the fact that measures of health including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and physical activity are more reliable markers of health than thinness alone.

This was driven home to me this year as I have lost 35 pounds due to a series of unfortunate health events. Losing weight without trying is not typically a measure of health and is often indicative of underlying physical problems, as it was for me.

Despite being open about my health issues with my friends and colleagues, many were voluble about how “great” I look now that I am thinner. While I viewed most of their comments as complimentary, it also began to seem as though they were really saying that I have been much less attractive at my former normal weight. Others expressed envy at my easy weight loss, although in reality dealing with surgery and an uncooperative digestive system is anything but enjoyable.

Rather than reflecting willpower or self-control, my weight loss reminded me of being........

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