Bullied because of their size (story)

It seems as if we can't open a magazine without seeing either a super skinny celebrity in a bikini or someone with a few more curves just as scantily clad.

Whether the magazine is celebrating their figure or slating it usually depends on what week it is.

We talk to two n2k readers who were bullied because of their size.

Katie, 17, has always been on the larger side compared to other girls her age. "I've always been tubby," she says, "it's just the way I'm made.

When I was at primary school I wasn't fat or anything, but had a round face and chubby cheeks, so probably looked bigger than I was. Nobody really mentioned it that much; it was at secondary school that the name calling started.
When joining her new school and meeting new people, Katie got the feeling that she wasn't fitting in.

"It didn't seem to be fair. Loads of other girls would get the same as me from the school shop at break but never seemed to put on any weight. I was too embarrassed to do any sport because of my size and I just couldn't think how to lose weight."

Katie found herself the subject of ridicule by both boys and girls. "It was the usual names of Fatty and a few ruder ones. I used to run home feeling depressed and cry. To make myself feel better I'd turn to food which, of course, was a mistake because I got bigger."
Do it for you

Eventually, Katie decided to do something about it, but insists that the bullies didn't force her into her decision. "Although I was upset at being bullied, that's not why I decided to go to a dietician," she tells us.
"I noticed how out of breath I was getting and that I couldn't find any decent clothes. Clothes shops do go up to plus sizes but they just didn't look right on me and made me look older. I knew that I'd feel better if I looked better."

Now Katie's at college and has left the bullies behind. "I think that the bullies were just immature," she says, "now I'm at college everyone is more mature and although I'm still getting fit at the college gym, nobody has commented on my size once. You've got to do it for you, nobody else."

Jack, 18, was also bullied because of his weight- because he was skinny. "Everyone thinks that it's only fat people who get picked on," he says, "but that's not true at all. I have always been naturally skinny; it seems to run in my family."
No chance

Jack began to feel inferior next to the other boys at school and he reckons this is where the problems started. "I think once a bully senses you feel insecure, they play on it.
They'd call me a wimp and during sports lessons would make a real effort to bump into me or jump on me in some way. When you're skinny and rubbish at sport, you've no chance."
Learn acceptance

It seemed that no matter what he did, Jack couldn't gain weight. "I tried all sorts like eating junk food or snacking all the time, but I was probably doing myself more harm than good.
I realised the only way to beat the bullies was to act more confident and not let their childish names hurt me. I think once you learn to accept you for who you are, you've got them beaten!"

Source -http://www.need2know.co.uk