A slimmer bottle of Nestle, labeling it as "fit.", Image by Author
The Hidden Messages We Absorb Daily
Okay, imagine this: You’re at the store, looking for something to drink. You see a sleek, slim bottle of water from Nestle, and it’s labeled "fit." It looks cool, modern, and healthy. But wait… what does "fit" even mean here? Is it about the bottle, or is it hinting at something more? Could this simple design be part of a bigger story about how we see our bodies and what society thinks is "acceptable"?
This isn’t just about a water bottle. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves through the things we buy. It’s about the unspoken rules of what it means to be "fit," "healthy," or "beautiful." And it’s about how these messages, even in small ways, can shape how we feel about ourselves.
In this blog, we’re going to talk about body shaming, fitness myths, and how media and brands like Nestle play a role in all of this. We’ll ask questions like: Is being slim the same as being fit? Do we even need an "ideal" body shape? And how do brands influence the way we see ourselves?
So, grab a drink (from any bottle you like), and let’s break this down together. Because sometimes, the smallest things, like the shape of a water bottle, can make us think about the biggest issues.
Image by Ana Municio, on Unsplash
What Really Counts as Body Shaming?
Body shaming isn’t just about calling someone "fat" or "skinny." It’s bigger than that. It’s about judging people for things they can’t always control, like their body shape, skin color, hair, or even the way they talk. It’s about saying, "You’re not good enough because you don’t look a certain way." And honestly, it’s exhausting. Why do we do this to each other? Why do we let society tell us what’s "beautiful" or "acceptable"?
Image by Jade Destiny, on Unsplash
The Truth About Fitness: It’s Not What You Think
As you can see in the picture above, Nestle has packaged a slim bottle (competitively priced at a lower rate) and labeled it as "fit." But what does fitness really mean? Is it just about following the latest Instagram trend like #slimtrim? The truth is, the idea of fitness has changed over time and varies across cultures and regions. For example, being overweight to the point where it’s hard to carry your own body can be considered unhealthy and may lead to other diseases. However, that doesn’t mean every person who is larger is automatically unfit. Similarly, being slim doesn’t guarantee fitness either. There’s no direct connection between slimness and being fit—it’s much more complicated than that.
Image by Jennifer Burk, on Unsplash
Do We Really Need an 'Ideal' Body Shape?
If you look at historical pictures, you’ll notice that the idea of a "perfect woman’s figure" has never been tied to one specific body shape. Body shaming, however, has become a significant issue, especially for women in places like Pakistan. This problem grew more prominent with the rise of Hollywood and Bollywood, which promoted narrow ideals of beauty, and events like Miss World, which reinforced those standards. Think about it: when media constantly pushes one specific body type as the only definition of beauty, it creates a harmful, almost racist mindset. We’ve seen this clearly with brands like "Fair & Lovely," which literally built its name on the idea that being fair-skinned means being beautiful. After facing global backlash, they rebranded as "Glow & Lovely," but the damage was already done. Their advertisements in Asia, particularly in India and Pakistan, perpetuated racist and body-shaming ideals. This kind of messaging harms people worldwide by reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards. To truly stop body shaming, we need to challenge these harmful narratives in mass media. It’s crucial to recognize that every person, regardless of how they look or how society categorizes them, is beautiful in their own way.
Image by Anastase Maragos, on Unsplash
What Does It Really Mean to Be a 'Manly' Man?
Gyms tend to attract more men than women in Pakistan. Many in the younger generation believe that the only way to be fit is to become a #fitnessfreak, equating being muscular with being a "real man." But is it fair to link fitness solely to gyms? Are there no other ways to stay fit? Not everyone has the time or resources to hit the gym every day. To answer these questions, we might need to revisit old fashioned, simpler approaches to fitness. While gyms have their benefits, they also come with drawbacks. Fitness isn’t limited to lifting weights. It can be achieved through walking, staying active in daily life, avoiding smoking, and breaking other unhealthy habits. The key is balance. There’s no need to obsess over one specific way to stay fit. After all, being fit isn’t about a gym membership; it’s about taking care of your body in ways that work for you.
Image by Camila Quintero Franco, on Unsplash
Can Everyone Handle Body Shaming?
The simple answer is "no." Not everyone can handle criticism, and telling someone to "be a man" or that "criticism makes you stronger" doesn’t work for everyone. Linking criticism to character development can backfire, leaving people emotionally broken instead of stronger. Sadly, some people are driven to extreme measures, like suicide, because of the pressure from media and advertisements, like the Nestle bottle I mentioned earlier. These messages can make people feel rejected or unworthy in the world.
I can’t ignore the bottle I saw on my dinner table last night. Even if I personally understand that #slimtrim is considered "fit" in today’s world, it doesn’t mean it won’t hurt someone else’s feelings. Small details like this matter because they shape how we see ourselves and others. If we’re not careful, these messages can lead to harmful outcomes, just like the "Fair & Lovely" case, where brands promoted damaging beauty standards.
Image by Steve Johnson, on Unsplash
Nestle: A Brand I Love to Criticize, But Do I Hate It?
I still remember when Nestle started replacing plastic straws with paper straws on juice boxes. I praised them for this step, even though the paper straws often got soggy and mixed with the drink, making them less practical. A bamboo or edible straw might have been a better option, but I was still glad they took some action. I also admired Nestle for their efforts to reduce water waste by improving irrigation technology in Pakistan. There are plenty of reasons to appreciate Nestle as a company.
However, their recent move of labeling a slim bottle as "fit" feels like it promotes body shaming, and that’s something the company should take seriously. The public today rejects any branding that even slightly aligns with harmful beauty standards pushed by modern media.
Just to be clear, I don’t own any Nestle stocks, nor am I affiliated with their investors. I’m not planning to buy their stocks in the future either. Personally, I believe the world was better off before water pollution became widespread and bottled water became the norm. I even think there’s a connection between water pollution and the rise of bottled water companies, though these are just my personal thoughts, and you don’t have to agree with them. That said, I do respect these companies for providing clean water in areas where it’s scarce or unavailable.
What Am I Doing About It? (And What Can You Do Too?)
I’ve shared my thoughts here, and I’ll continue to do my part to spread this message to more people, and hopefully, to Nestle as well. If you found this article meaningful, I’d love your help in sharing it with others. Every small step counts, and together, we can make a difference. Please leave your thoughts in the comments. I’m eager to hear what you think about body shaming and how we can change these harmful norms.
Affiliate Disclosure
Join Binance through THIS LINK for 10% off trading fees! Let's save together!