Over the last couple of years I have slowly but steadily become a loner with less interest in being outgoing. My social circle has subsequently narrowed down to only handful of “must-have” friends. In the past, I was friends with every person I got acquainted with. And courtesy of social media, the trend may not change in the foreseeable future.
My loss of interest in being outgoing happened to coincide with a loss of weight. Something I had not noticed until I started bumping into old acquaintances in one place or the other. The remarks about my weight have thus become my weighing scale. All I do is wait for the next remark on my weight to tell if there has been a decrease or increase.
An old acquaintance will strike a conversation with what has now become a national pickup line, “You’re lost.” (I always wonder why people want you to continue being existent in their lives even when there is no longer a need) In my case, many go on to rhyme my sudden disappearance by making an alarm, “and you have even lost weight.” That is where I draw the moral of this article.
Why is there no problem about shelling out wholeheartedly about loss of weight yet individuals seldom make remarks about weight gain?!
Is it fair?
As of this day, it is almost treasonable to even let one’s mind think about someone’s weight gain to the extent the word fat now lives in medieval times. And anyone who uses it similarly has no place in this day and era. However; thin, small, or tiny as some people prefer to say, are blurted with no hesitation.
It is no secret that in the past, a fat person was perceived to be healthy. Which makes me wonder, aren’t the “healthy” in a better position to deal with the insensitive remarks as compared to the unhealthy (thin people)?
Ugandans are painfully honest. Sometimes, it even hurts. One wonders if all Ugandans grew up in the same home. He/she will bluntly tell you about the change they notice in you since the last time you met. If you’re donning the trending fashion be sure to be showered with questions relating to your newly found source of income (the assumption is you are doing more than just fine). But if you’re looking leaner than before, like I have tended to be, you’ll be asked if you’re “ok”?
Not everyone will tell you “point blank” but moments later you will start to feel slighted when the innuendos start to sink in as you go on about your business.
Someone tell Ugandans, it is as inappropriate to make comments about severe weight loss as it is to comment about a slight weight gain. Its not fair to go on bleating about how skinny one is yet you hold your breath when your mind registers the fact that the person you’re interacting with has gained weight.
Written by: Gilbert Opondo
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