“Uy, tumaba ka na ah.”
“Uy, ang payat mo na ah.”
Are these really acts of love, or insults disguised as love?
In Filipino culture, commenting on one’s weight is often regarded as harmless, even as a form of loving. These common phrases are passed around at family gatherings, office lunches, or casual meetups.
But here’s the truth: these words are far from harmless—they wound, stigmatize, and eat away self-worth. In a society obsessed with picture-perfect photoshopped physiques, Instagram filters, whitening creams, and critical gym culture, these side comments become invisible weights pressing down on a person’s mind—and eventually taking a toll on their body.
A study by Tadena et al. on 114 Filipino adolescents in Cavite found that nearly 90% of participants scored at high risk for developing eating disorders, while over a third showed moderate to marked concern about their body shape. With social media dominating daily life, teens are constantly fed with images, advertisements, and messages promoting impossible expectations of beauty, according to Suhag and Rauniyar. These numbers represent lived experiences—real people quietly struggling under immense pressure.
Some will argue that pointing out weight is just being “honest” and that Filipinos have a tradition of bluntness, or that concern for someone’s health justifies these remarks. They will say, “Para sa’yo naman ‘to,” or “May pakialam kasi kami.” But caring does not require scrutiny. Observing weight, evaluating bodies, or “checking in” on appearance is not a kind gesture nor a favor—it is an imposition; reduces a person’s esteem to numbers on a scale or inches around a waist.
Additionally, some may sneer, telling us to “stop being snowflakes,” insisting we should not take offense. But this misses the point: repeated remarks, even casual ones, carve themselves into our sense of self. Every judgment, every teasing “joke,” every whispered comment tells us we are never enough. It whispers that our bodies are open for inspection, criticism, comparison—a public stage where worth is measured in pounds, inches, and appearances. For those battling illnesses, disorders, or just the daily weight of insecurity, these words are more than harmless—they are tiny, persistent dumbbells, pressuring us away from confidence, joy, and the right to exist in peace.
Stop pretending that casual cruelty is harmless. Weigh your words before they leave your mouth and ask yourself: am I helping, or just feeding my own need to judge? Stop measuring people’s worth with your eyes or your scale. Praise effort, courage, and creativity—things that actually matter—not body size. Stop laughing at jokes that humiliate, stop excusing comments that shame, and stop hiding behind “we’re just being honest.” Refuse to participate in a culture that treats bodies like public property; enough is enough!
WEIGH. YOUR. WORDS.
No one should carry the weight of your comment.
Written by Kyriel Ashten A. Yu (What Yu Thinks), Insight PH
Kyriel Ashten A. Yu (What Yu Thinks), Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
