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'Care and not judge': The debate sparked by Ariana Grande's decision in the privacy of families
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

'Care and not judge': The debate sparked by Ariana Grande's decision in the privacy of families

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • The public debate surrounding Ariana Grande's recent public appearance and perceived extreme thinness has sparked discussions on political correctness and public commentary on appearance.
  • Psychologist Vivianne Lewis argues that genuine concern for someone's well-being should shift from scrutinizing their body to understanding their personal needs.
  • Experts emphasize that physical appearance alone does not allow for diagnosis of eating disorders, and weight loss can stem from various medical, psychiatric, or personal reasons.

The public's reaction to Ariana Grande's recent appearance has ignited a debate about the boundaries of political correctness and what can be said about public figures' bodies. Many are questioning where to draw the line between genuine concern and harmful scrutiny.

I am not going to say this girl is unwell. I am not going to say something is wrong with her. But something is wrong with her.

— RosarioReflecting on the impulse to comment on Ariana Grande's appearance.

Rosario, a mother of a teenage daughter, shared her struggle to refrain from making judgmental comments about Grande's appearance, highlighting the challenge of navigating conversations about bodies in the age of social media. She wonders how to translate the visual information that prompts concern into words that are not hurtful.

When a celebrity appears to lose weight, the same debate starts. Some say we shouldn't comment on others' bodies. Others argue that silence ignores the possibility that someone is going through a bad time.

— Vivianne LewisDescribing the recurring public discussion around celebrity weight loss.

Psychologist Vivianne Lewis, who specializes in eating disorders, noted that the debate surrounding Grande's thinness mirrors recurring discussions whenever a celebrity loses weight. Lewis suggests that instead of focusing on what one sees in someone's body, the focus should shift to what the person needs as an individual. This shift from critical observation to compassion, she believes, can make a significant difference.

The next time you worry about someone's health, don't ask yourself what you see when you look at their body. Ask yourself what they need as a person. That simple shift, from critical gaze to compassion, can make a difference.

— Vivianne LewisOffering advice on how to approach concerns about others' well-being.

Psychiatrist Juana Poulisis, an expert in eating disorders, cautioned against equating a thin body with anorexia nervosa, as many individuals with eating disorders do not fit common perceptions. She stressed that weight loss or body changes can result from numerous factors, including medical conditions, psychiatric issues, medication, stress, or grief. Therefore, physical appearance alone is insufficient for diagnosis.

A thin body does not equate to anorexia nervosa, and many people with eating disorders do not look the way people imagine.

— Juana PoulisisExplaining the complexity of diagnosing eating disorders.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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