Healthy fat and healthy weight awareness

“Ah ah, you’ve added weight o!” If you’re Nigerian, you’ve probably heard that sentence more times than you can count. Sometimes it’s a compliment. Other times, it’s an insult disguised as concern.

  • In Nigeria, many people assume that being fat means you’re unhealthy and being slim means you’re healthy. That’s not always true.
  • Some people carry extra weight but exercise regularly, have normal blood pressure, and live healthy lifestyles. At the same time, some slim people eat poorly, avoid exercise, and may have hidden health problems.
  • Health is about more than body size. Your fitness, diet, blood pressure, sleep, and overall lifestyle matter far more than what the scale says.
  • Instead of judging people by their appearance, focus on healthy habits.
  • Not all fat is bad. Not all slimness is healthy.

In many Nigerian homes, body size has become the unofficial measure of health. If you’re slim, people assume you’re sick, stressed, or hungry. If you’re fat, they either think you’re enjoying life too much or heading straight for health problems.

But what if both assumptions are wrong? The truth is that not all fat is bad. And not every slim person is healthy.

The Nigerian Obsession with Body Size

From family gatherings to office meetings, Nigerians have a habit of commenting on people’s weight. Aunty says you’ve become too fat. Uncle says you’ve become too thin. Neighbors become nutrition experts overnight.

The problem is that most of these comments are based on appearance, not actual health indicators. Health is much more complicated than what the eye can see.

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The Difference Between Weight and Health

Many people confuse body weight with overall health. Your weight is simply a number. Your health includes your blood pressure, heart condition, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, fitness level, mental wellbeing, and lifestyle habits.

Two people can weigh exactly the same and have completely different health outcomes. One could be physically active, have healthy blood pressure, and eat balanced meals. The other could be sedentary, have high cholesterol, poor sleep habits, and be at risk of chronic illness.

The scale alone cannot tell the full story.

Can Someone Be Fat and Healthy?

The answer is yes. Health experts often refer to some people as “fit fat.” These are individuals who may carry extra body fat but maintain healthy metabolic markers. They exercise regularly, have good cardiovascular fitness, normal blood pressure, and healthy blood sugar levels.

This does not mean excess weight can never become a problem. However, it does mean that body size alone does not automatically determine a person’s health status.

A bigger body does not always equal poor health.

The Skinny People Nobody Talks About

Here’s where many Nigerians get surprised. Some slim people are actually unhealthy. Medical experts sometimes call this “skinny fat.” These individuals appear thin on the outside but carry dangerous levels of internal fat around vital organs.

They may survive on soft drinks, junk food, alcohol, and little physical activity. Because they are slim, nobody questions their lifestyle. Yet they could face serious health risks in the future.

In other words, being slim is not a health certificate.

Why Fat Shaming Does More Harm Than Good

Many people believe criticizing someone’s weight will motivate them to change. In reality, it often produces the opposite effect. Fat shaming can damage self-esteem, increase anxiety, trigger depression, and create unhealthy relationships with food.

People who constantly face body criticism may begin crash dieting, skipping meals, or developing dangerous eating habits. Encouragement works far better than humiliation.

Health conversations should focus on wellbeing, not insults.

What Nigerians Should Focus on Instead

Rather than obsessing over body size, focus on healthier questions. Do you exercise regularly? Are you sleeping enough? Do you eat fruits and vegetables? How often do you check your blood pressure? Can you climb stairs without getting exhausted? Are your blood sugar levels normal?

These indicators reveal far more about your health than your clothing size.

The Goal Is Health, Not Perfection

Social media has created unrealistic beauty standards. Some people want to be extremely slim. Others want dramatic weight gain.

Neither extreme should be the target. The real goal is a healthy body that functions well, supports your lifestyle, and allows you to live confidently.

Every healthy body does not look the same. And that’s perfectly okay.

Final Thoughts

The next time you see someone who has gained weight, resist the urge to make assumptions. The next time you see someone who is slim, don’t automatically assume they’re healthy.

Health is bigger than body size. Not all fat is bad. Not all slimness is healthy. And perhaps it’s time Nigerians stopped judging health with their eyes alone.