Body image is a significant factor in physical and mental health. However, in India, particularly the Bollywood industry, has long contributed to the culture of Body shaming and obesity discrimination. Today, let’s talk about how this affects people psychologically and physically and why we need a change.

As a doctor, I want to emphasise that obesity is a medical condition, not a moral failure. Yet, I see so many individuals with higher body weight facing ridicule, bias, and discrimination. This stigma doesn’t just affect their mental well-being; it also creates a barrier to seeking medical care and makes it harder for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. No one should feel judged for their body, especially when health is so much more than just a number on a scale. It’s time we replace shame with compassion and understanding.

Let’s talk about what obesity really is. It is a complex condition, influenced by multiple factors, not just about eating too much or moving too little. 

• Genetics

Genetics play a real role in weight. Some people are more prone to gain weight due to gene mutations like those in the leptin gene, which helps regulate hunger and fat storage. But it’s not just one gene; it’s a combination that affects appetite, metabolism, and how the brain responds to food.

Having these genes doesn’t guarantee obesity; it simply increases vulnerability, especially in today’s environment with easy access to high-calorie food and low physical activity.

• Metabolism & Hormones

I often compare metabolism and hormones to the body’s operating system, constantly working to manage hunger, energy, and fat storage. But in obesity, that system can glitch.

Leptin, the hormone that signals fullness, can stop working properly, so the brain doesn’t know when to stop eating. Insulin resistance makes weight loss harder and raises the risk of type 2 diabetes. Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, may stay high even after eating. And chronic stress increases cortisol, which leads to more fat, especially around the belly.

Certain medical conditions, like hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and PCOS, also make it far more difficult for someone to manage weight, even if they are trying. Weight isn’t only about willpower; it’s also about biology.

• Lifestyle & Environment

You know, one of the most overlooked factors when it comes to weight is our environment and lifestyle. The food we have access to as fast food is cheaper and more convenient, our work schedules, as a lot of people work for long hours or multiple jobs, and even our financial situation impacts our ability to maintain a healthy weight.

• Mental Health

As a doctor, I see every day how deeply mental health and weight are connected, yet we often focus only on diet and exercise. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic stress don’t just affect mood; they impact sleep, energy, appetite, and even how the body processes food.

Obesity can also increase the risk of mental health struggles. Weight stigma, low self-esteem, and social isolation take a real emotional toll. And chronic stress? It raises cortisol, which leads to more fat storage and cravings. Body shaming only adds to the burden, an invisible weight that makes everything even harder.

• Emotional struggles

I see the emotional toll body shaming takes every single day. It’s not just about hurt feelings; it’s about deep wounds that affect confidence, self-worth, and mental health. Many patients struggle with self-esteem, anxiety, or depression because of years of criticism and judgment. 

• Unhealthy Eating Patterns

When someone is constantly shamed for their size, they often turn to food for comfort or worse, develop disordered eating habits and unhealthy eating patterns. It becomes a vicious cycle. And instead of helping them feel better, it often drives their health in the opposite direction.

• Avoiding Medical Care

One of the most heartbreaking things I witness as a doctor is when people avoid coming in for care, not because they don’t need help, but because they are afraid of being judged for their weight. Research says that weight stigma in healthcare often leads to poorer treatment, missed diagnosis, and subpar treatment.

Media Role – Shaping perceptions

I see how the media impacts the way we view health and beauty every single day. Everywhere we look on screens, in magazines, across social media, we’re shown one narrow idea of what we’re “supposed” to look like. And it messes with our minds.

We start to believe that being thin means being healthy, being worthy, being loved. But that’s simply not true. Health comes in all shapes and sizes. And constant exposure to these unrealistic ideals? It’s been linked to poor self-esteem, anxiety, disordered eating, and even social withdrawal.

And I can tell you it’s not just happening on social media or in our own communities. It’s happening in Bollywood too.

As a doctor and someone who deeply cares about mental and physical wellness, I’ve seen how body shaming affects even the most successful and talented people in the industry.

Take Vidya Balan, for example. She’s an award-winning actress who has been repeatedly criticised for her weight. But she didn’t let that stop her. She spoke openly about her struggles and emphasised how important self-acceptance is, especially in an industry that expects you to fit a narrow mould. Her honesty was not just brave; it was healing for her and for the many fans who saw themselves in her.

Then there’s Sonakshi Sinha. Even after working hard to change her body for film roles, she still faced harsh comments. Can you imagine? Doing the work, putting yourself out there, and still being told you’re not enough? That kind of judgment chips away at a person’s confidence. And it tells the rest of us that we’ll never be “good enough” either, no matter how hard we try.

Mrunal Thakur shared how she was rejected from a film role because a director couldn’t imagine her looking “sexy.” It’s disheartening that talent is overshadowed by shallow ideals. It sends a message: unless you look a certain way, your abilities don’t matter.

And let’s not forget Swastika Mukherjee, who was body shamed online for having “saggy breasts.” Her response was powerful; she reminded everyone that she’s a mother, and that her body is natural, beautiful, and worthy of respect. She turned shame into strength.

These aren’t just stories about celebrities. They reflect the world we live in a world that teaches us to judge others (and ourselves) based on appearance.

And it affects the audience too. When Bollywood continuously promotes one ideal body type, people watching feel pressured to look that way. A study from SAGE Journals found that young women exposed to Bollywood films often experience body dissatisfaction and internalise beauty standards they can’t realistically meet.

Even when films try to be progressive like Dum Laga Ke Haisha, which features a plus-size protagonist, they sometimes fall into the trap of using weight as a punchline or a barrier to love. It’s a step forward, sure, but it also shows how deep these biases run.

The worst part? The ripple effect. Young people grow up believing their worth is tied to how they look. Patients delay medical care because they’re scared of being judged. People harm their health with crash diets, pills, or isolation. And all because we’ve been conditioned to value image over health, and appearance over identity.

As a healthcare professional, I believe we need a major shift not just in media, but in mindset.

We need to challenge these narrow ideals.

We need to celebrate all bodies, not just the ones that fit a certain mould.

And we need to remember that health is so much more than a number on a scale.

Behind everybody is a person with hopes, struggles, talents, and dreams. No one deserves to be dismissed or disrespected based on size, not celebrities, not you, not anyone.

Let’s change the conversation. Let’s choose compassion over judgment. And let’s build a world where everybody, yes, every single one feels seen, supported, and valued.


Hema, is a Specialist Dietitian at The London Obesity & Endocrine Clinic. She has helped many patients overcome weight management barriers. ©Simplyweight


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