People defend Nike after a reporter criticized the sportswear brand for a "huge, gigantic" mannequin

AP / Michael Noble Jr.

• A reporter criticized Nike for launching a plus size mannequin, claiming that the "huge, gargantuan" model was encouraging obesity.
• People defend Nike and protect it. Journalist Tanya Gold repeats her claims that it is impossible for plus-size women to be in good health.
• Others have pointed out that it was illogical for Gold to argue that Nike should not advertise for sportswear intended for plus size women, while requiring that "no one" should be allowed to compete. they lose weight.
• Research indicates that weight-related stigma is encouraging, such as the ban on large-sized dummies, complicating weight loss in people.

Nike's large-size models have been outraged by the treatment of women of greater size.

The sportswear company has recently started offering large models at its London flagship store. It was an initiative that was greeted with applause, as people celebrated their choice as a way to support themselves and take a step in the right direction.

However, Tanya Gold, a reporter for the Telegraph, had less positive ideas about the plus size manikin.

"I fear that the war against obesity will be lost or even, as in fashion, ceased to exist, for fear of upsetting people in an early grave," begins his article published in Gold. [19659008] "[T] The new Nike mannequin is not size 12. He is in good health, or even 16. He weighs heavily, but you must not kill a woman.It is huge, gigantic, huge. It swells with fat. " Gold writes.

According to Gold, if the traditional images of female beauty are unrealistically asymmetrical, the model encourages the acceptance of fats – a move she considers dangerous because she encourages people to deny the risks possible for health related to obesity.

"The facts are obvious," writes Gold. "Stay at that weight and you will be an old woman in your 50. The obese Nike athlete is just another lie."

The Gold coin has been the subject of many negative reactions online. Many have rejected his claim that plus-size women "can not run" and are inherently unhealthy.

Some commented that it was illogical for Gold to ask people to lose weight while criticizing a sportswear brand to advertise to larger people – no doubt so that they can work in the outfit. (Nike did not respond to Business Insider's comment request.)

Others contradicted Gold's logic that larger-sized models favored an unhealthy lifestyle. Maxine Ali, a health and wellness editor, noted that a study published in 2017 in the Journal of Eating Disorders found that more than 90% of female models were underfed and medically unhealthy.

While weight gain and obesity have been linked to certain health risks, experts advise against using weight as the only way to badess health.

In addition, the encouragement of stigma related to weight – for example by banning larger models – was according to a study conducted in 2018 with university students. Another study conducted in 2014 found that items that stigmatized weight and obesity lead women who consider themselves overweight to consume more calories.