During the end of year celebrations, appearance is the center of attention. We dress up, we take care of our makeup… but this aesthetic emphasis seems to wrongly give our loved ones a “right to have a say” over our body shape.
Whether it’s weight loss or weight gain, the family face-to-face sometimes transforms the meal into a body court.
Why do holidays encourage these remarks?
For Aline Nativel Id Hammou, this phenomenon can be explained by the context of the reunion. “Geographical distances mean that we see each other again after several months. The physical change is obvious and family proximity releases an often clumsy spontaneity. she explains.
If malice is rarely the sole driving force, these comments sometimes hide a poorly expressed concern about the overall state of health of the loved one. However, the emotional impact remains the same: sadness, self-loathing, anxiety or aggression. So how to react? Our expert reveals the sentences that will end the discussion
“I don’t want anyone to comment on my body.”
It is the ultimate protective response. According to the psychologist, it is essential to use a firm but caring tone. By asserting your position, you close the door to debate. “It is impossible to say nothing, because silence breeds shame. Setting a framework preserves self-confidence.”underlines Aline Nativel Id Hammou.
“Are you making fun of my body?”
Here, we use humor or radical astonishment. By asking this question with a slightly exaggerated laugh or, on the contrary, a disappointed pout, you send the interlocutor back to his own rudeness. “It’s a way to defuse the situation while still expressing your disagreement.” recalls the expert.
“My body is fine and it is loved as it is!”
Faced with a remark that is intended to be “protective”, this sentence allows you to reassure while affirming your self-determination. “You remember that you are the only judge of your well-being. It’s a powerful response that links self-acceptance to mental health.” notes Aline Nativel Id Hammou.
“In 2025, acceptance of all bodies is the rule: no more judgments!”
This is the “societal” response. “By decentering the subject from your own person to bring it to the field of current values (body-positivity), you show that the remark is simply out of date and inappropriate. adds our expert.
“Is my body really the most interesting topic of New Year’s Eve?”
Aline Nativel Id Hammou suggests this adjustment to refocus the festivities on the essential: sharing and joy. “The holidays are focused on nobler subjects than weight variations. Reminding yourself that your body is not entertainment allows you to end the intrusion elegantly.”
Why is it important to respond to these comments?
Aline Nativel Id Hammou reminds us that behind a change in weight there is often an intimate reality: stress, bereavement, hormonal imbalance, postpartum or even an eating disorder.
Discussing these topics in front of the whole family is inappropriate. “If a loved one is really worried, it must be the subject of a private and dual discussion, never between cheese and dessert.concludes the psychologist.