In recent months, I’ve discovered the newest thing that has really started to piss me off. I know that we, as Americans, are obsessed with weight. People would kill to be skinny. If people are three pounds over the weight they think they need to be at, they are FAT. At least in their minds.

I am a small person. There is no way around that. I am petite. I am one of those lucky few that has a good metabolism. I have never had to fight with my weight. I know I can eat a big slab of chocolate cheesecake and it won’t go straight to my hips. I am lucky. I know this. And people hate me for it.

When I went on tour with the African Children’s Choir, I ate three hefty meals a day, as we were guests everywhere we went. We all know that guests = good food and lots of it. Throughout this time, I discovered that I DID have to watch what I ate. I actually put on an extra five to ten pounds. Luckily, on my tiny little frame, it was not a bad thing. Many people told me the weight looked good on me. I tried not to let the fact that my pants wouldn’t zip shut bother me. I was actually fine with that. It gave me a chance to buy new clothes.

Since coming off tour, I have dropped that extra weight. It wasn’t intentional. It just seems that with my non tour lifestyle, I don’t seem to put weight on. Or keep it on. I don’t eat a ton of food. It doesn’t take much to fill me up. Now, when I am hungry, I can put some food away. Some people have watched how much I can eat in amazement. I don’t put the food away on a daily basis, but rest assured that I am a healthy eater.

The thing that has come up in recent months is the fact that some people seem to be obsessed with the fact that I am skinny. I can handle a simple compliment, like, “You are looking beautiful” or something to that effect. But they are never complimentary. It’s always some snide remark. And they think they’re being funny. They just never realize I’m not laughing.

Here’s an example. I arrived at work a couple weeks ago. I was wearing a blouse that was tight fitting around the waist. I went to clock in, and one of my co- workers came out of her office, looked at my waist area and declared, “Look at that skinny little waist!” Some other co-workers agreed and they all laughed, and I gave some weak little smile as I pushed through their sarcasm and fumed my way to my office.

There have been many comments like this. I have heard many of my residents whisper as I walk past, “Look how small she is. She’s so skinny! I think I was that skinny when I was five!” They don’t seem to realize that MY hearing is not as bad as THEIRS.

The problem with these comments is that they are rude. They are not meant to be compliments. In my head, they translate to: “You are skinny. I am not. Therefore I hate you.” It doesn’t do good things for me. It is not my fault that you are not at the weight that you’d like to be. Please don’t take it out on me. I am skinny and I like that. I don’t want to be fat. Please don’t hate me for it.

Another thing that has bugged me immensely about this lately is that I have been struggling with some sort of hypoglycemic tendencies. In the past year or so, I have had some odd “episodes” where I have felt a bit shaky and “off kilter.” Before anyone panics, I mentioned this to my doctor at my physical this past year and did all the blood tests. Everything came back normal. She informed me that watching what I was eating would help with those “off kilter” moments. I am doing my best to watch what I eat and I am trying to keep it balanced. Some days I feel like my being so skinny is not so helpful with this. I have had several days where I have barely been able to get any food down. Nothing has seemed appetizing. I know that I need to eat, but some days it takes all my efforts to eat. I am actually trying to put a few extra pounds on, and it has proven difficult. I know that some people are rolling their eyes as they read that, but please realize this is a big struggle for me. Just as it’s frustrating for you to have to beat that chocolate cake craving, it’s hard for me some days to pick up that food and put the weight on. Fat people aren’t the only ones with weight struggles.

I had another comment from an unthinking coworker yesterday. He looked at me and said, “You aren’t trying to lose weight are you?” It sounded accusatory. Now, I understand if it’s a close friend that is concerned for my health. They have gained my trust and are allowed to hold me accountable. But if you have no credibility with me, don’t say anything. I may have lost a pound since I began working at my current job, but not enough to warrant a comment like that.

I suppose what I’m asking is to be sensitive to skinny people. I mean, we don’t walk around and comment, “Wow, you have the biggest waistline! I can’t imagine being that fat!” It’s considered RUDE to tell someone they are overweight. Why can’t the same consideration be extended to us small people???

And if someone has any good comebacks I could use to shut people up when comments like this come my way, I could probably use them.