The Body as a Gift

By Theresa Rézeau

Rethinking Beauty and Judgment Through Art

In a recent online conversation, someone wrote, “God hates when you disrespect a gift He gives you.” I found myself nodding: yes, when we neglect our talents, our time or our bodies, we risk disconnecting from something sacred. But then they followed it with this: “This is why fat people are always unlucky.”

That’s where I had to pause.

While the first part acknowledges a spiritual truth, the second reflects a harmful misjudgment, one that misrepresents both faith and the human experience. It also overlooks how deeply complex body size is.

Yes, if someone has the health, education and resources to care for their body and repeatedly chooses to neglect it, that might be viewed as disrespecting a divine gift. But that’s a personal situation not a universal truth. Many people live in larger or differently abled bodies for reasons far beyond personal discipline: genetics, trauma, medical conditions, mental health or poverty all play real roles. And yet we live in a culture that pushes a colder message: Stay away from fat people. They’re undisciplined. They’re weak. Surround yourself with winners only.

That kind of thinking is shallow, often cruel and fundamentally wrong.

Discipline and strength cannot be judged by appearance alone. Many people in larger bodies run companies, create art, raise families and overcome unimaginable challenges. Meanwhile, others who “look the part” may lack accountability, resilience or compassion. Weight is not a measure of character.

As a qualified personal trainer with years of experience working at Third Space Canary Wharf and Matt Robert’s Personal Training in London, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply weight issues affect humans, both physically and emotionally. I’ve worked with countless individuals who struggled not just with their physical bodies, but with how society perceives them. From personal experience, I understand the toll these pressures take and how they shape our relationship with our own form. My transition into the art world allowed me to see how this struggle is often mirrored in the portrayal of bodies throughout history and modern art.

The art world has always challenged these superficial standards. One powerful example is Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. While not traditionally labeled as “fat,” he had a visibly disproportionate body due to a genetic disorder and childhood injuries that left his legs stunted. He became a subject of ridicule and lived with chronic pain and illness, developing alcoholism and syphilis later in life. Despite this, Toulouse-Lautrec became a masterful artist who captured the soul of Parisian nightlife with unmatched sensitivity and brilliance. His work wasn’t about hiding imperfections, it was about revealing the truth of human experience.

Art has long embraced the body in all its forms. From Rubens’ voluptuous muses to Lucian Freud’s unflinching portraits of aging or plus-sized models, beauty is found not in perfection, but in presence.These artists didn’t only paint “winners”, they painted real people, with real stories, real scars and real depth.

In a world where appearances are too often equated with value, those who don’t conform to traditional beauty standards may face harsh judgment. This constant scrutiny can lead to mental health struggles, including depression and anxiety. The pressure to conform is not just a personal battle but a collective one, as society often overlooks the emotional consequences of body shaming.

In many religious traditions, the body is viewed as a temple, a vessel for the soul. Art, in its truest form, can help us reconnect with this sacred view. Instead of focusing on flaws, art invites us to appreciate the body’s narrative, its strength, and its vulnerability. It becomes a tool for healing and a reminder that our bodies, in all their variations reflect the divine.

In today’s society, many young adults are affected by the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards of beauty. With the rise of filters and the accessibility of cosmetic surgery, some are going to extreme lengths to “perfect” their appearance. Tragically, many are dying on the surgery table, while others are left deeply scarred, both physically and emotionally.

The toll on mental health is devastating, as some individuals, unable to reconcile their image with societal ideals, fall into despair, even resorting to suicide. This crisis reflects the destructive power of unattainable beauty standards and the profound need for a shift in how we view and treat the human body.

So yes, disrespecting a gift from God is wrong. But that includes shaming or judging someone else’s body without understanding their journey. True faith, like true art, calls us to see more, not less. Let us allow art to remind us of what culture often forgets: that the human form, in all its variety is sacred.