No Matter Your Weight You Still Feel Pressure

By Sheanneen Shelby

Women are placed on an invisible yet rigid line of personal value, dictated by their weight. Marketing and cultural messaging make it clear: if you're thin, do whatever it takes to stay that way. If you gain weight, expect to be treated differently—worse—because now, you’re one of "those people." This fear fuels toxic diet culture, paralyzing fear, and rampant eating disorders.

Crossing "the line" into weight gain turns life into an uphill battle. Society equates fatness with laziness, a narrative that crushes self-worth and fuels chronic stress. Increased cortisol makes weight loss even harder, trapping people in a shame-fueled cycle of stress, depression, and frustration.

But this struggle isn’t just mental. Genetics play a major role in body composition. Access to healthy food is a privilege, not a given—especially in lower-income areas where gas stations stock ultra-processed "food" instead of fresh produce. Pharmaceuticals, too, often have weight gain as a side effect, making the battle even steeper.

Meanwhile, corporations prey on our insecurities, exploiting "pain points" to drive profit. Women hold over 85% of the country’s spending power (Forbes.com), and cultural expectations are strategically manipulated to keep us in a perpetual state of self-doubt—because self-doubt sells.

I once believed weight loss would solve my struggles. I lost 100 lbs., only to develop epilepsy from extreme calorie deprivation. My proportions didn’t change, my clothing struggles remained, and later, I regained the weight due to Clobazam’s side effects—all while exercising consistently.

Yet, I still received patronizing "pats on the back" from thin people assuming I was lazy.

Ladies, we are more alike than we are different. The insecurities that consume us and the ever-shifting expectations we chase are manufactured for profit. But here’s the truth: your body is unique, and it is not your job to conform to arbitrary standards. Wear what makes you feel alive. Clothes should fit you—not the other way around. You are not just a demographic. You are a person, and your worth is not measured by the scale.

Ready to remove yourself from feeling societal pressure that you don't deserve while not settling for clothes that truly reflect who you are? Let's chat.

Written by Sheanneen Shelby

www.myfashionsupport.com