Katrina Kaif's weight trolling isn't an isolated incident. It's part of the same system that every obese person silently endures every day—at work, at home, in the marriage market, at the doctor's clinic.
Why dislike obesity?
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif attended Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Antilia in Mumbai on September 14, 2026. She arrived with her husband Vicky Kaushal and son Viaan. Before-and-after photos of Katrina before and after her pregnancy were combined to create collages, and people began debating the changes in her body. Besides Katrina, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was also trolled at Cannes 2026.
Why is obesity considered so bad, and where does the problem lie?
Why is obesity considered bad?
In social science, this is called fatphobia. It's not just an individual hatred. It's an entire system that degrades people based on their body size.
In Indian cinema, obese characters are often used as the butt of comedy. A 2025 study of Malayalam cinema found that portraying obese characters as a "source of humor" reinforces fatphobic attitudes. This normalizes body shaming in Indian society.
How deep is this obesity in India?
The first study of internalized weight stigma in India was conducted. Among those preparing for bariatric surgery:
- More than 71% of people had internalized hatred about their weight.
- 74.6% felt depressed about their weight.
- More than half of the people hated themselves.
- 50% believed that they would not have a good social life until they lost weight.
Dr. Aparna Govil Bhaskar, a bariatric surgeon in Mumbai, says that weight-related bullying begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. Obese people are often considered lazy or weak-willed.
The same thing happens in the office. A study of employees at multinational companies in Delhi-NCR found that weight-based teasing was the biggest predictor of psychological distress.
Where did this hatred come from?
In 1967, about 500 people held a "Fat-In" protest in New York's Central Park. They burned diet books and chanted slogans against fatphobia. In 1973, a group called the Fat Underground published the "Fat Liberation Manifesto." It stated, "We believe that fat people have the right to full human dignity and identity."
In 2001, Yale University researchers Rebecca Puhl and Kelly Brownell demonstrated that obese people face discrimination in employment, education, and healthcare. They also found that 28% of teachers believed that being overweight was the worst thing that could happen to a person. 24% of nurses felt "disgusted" by obese patients.
Discrimination in healthcare
What's even more disturbing is that even going to the doctor can be a source of fear for obese people. Many avoid treatment because they fear the doctor will judge them. A 2026 study on fatphobia in India found that the healthcare system has documented practices such as requiring weight loss as a requirement for medical eligibility.
So what is 'Healthy at Every Size'?
Health experts are now suggesting a new framework—Health at Every Size (HAES). This doesn't mean that weight doesn't matter. It means that the focus of health should shift from weight loss to mindful eating, safe movement, and respectful self-care.
So what would a world without obesity look like?
This doesn't mean the absence of obesity, but rather a world without obese hatred. A world where no woman has to apologize for her body after giving birth. Where no one thinks, "He's going to judge me," before going to the doctor. Where no one comments on someone's food plate or body size at work. Where children don't cry in fear of body shaming at school.
The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) runs an entire campaign called 'Imagine a World Without Weight Hate.'
