Women take hardest hit, Lagos residents speak on body shaming
Body
By Dishi Agaga-Akpati
Lagos, Aug. 23, 2026 (NAN) Words about a woman’s weight, whether a joke at home, a friend’s comment on gain or loss, or a stranger’s remark on her body, can stick with her long after the moment passes.
These moments often seem small in the moment, but they accumulate.
A single remark can shape how a woman eats, dresses, posts photos, or shows up in public spaces.
Over time, the jokes and comments turn into an internal voice that judges her body even when no one else is watching. What was said in passing becomes a standard she measures herself against daily.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, residents said women bear the brunt of criticism about their appearance — criticism that often starts early in life and continues into adulthood.
A digital marketer, Joy Sodiende, said she had grown used to comments about being too slim, even though she had no major concerns about her body.
“I am slim, and people, including friends and family, wrap their fingers around my wrist or ask if I eat enough because of how I look.
“I don’t think I am that slim, and I don’t really have a problem with it, although sometimes I wish I could add a little weight.
“I think women are judged a whole lot, especially by men. You hear comments like, ‘she doesn’t have curves’, ‘no breasts’ or ‘she is just bones’.
“Women’s bodies shouldn’t be a topic of discussion. And it’s not just men who need to stop,” she said.
Sodeinde said social media had also boosted many women’s confidence, reminding them they are beautiful no matter how they look.
For Charity Oparah, an entrepreneur, she had lived with comments about her weight for most of her life, making the pressure to change her appearance hard to ignore.
“I have always been a plus-size and people have always talked about it.
“Sometimes I wonder if those comments are the reason I constantly feel I need to lose weight.
“I don’t think anybody should have opinions about another person’s body unless they are asked.
“Nigerians should simply mind their business,” she said.
Oparah said she rarely heard men being body shamed, and believed they should also face the scrutiny often directed at women.
Covenant Adepoju, a realtor, said men’s frequent comments about women’s looks might come from a sense of entitlement.
Adepoju urged men to focus on taking care of themselves rather than imposing unrealistic expectations on women.
He said body shaming, whether aimed at men or women, could cause lasting emotional scars and hurt self-esteem.
He said people needed to be more sensitive, respectful and empathetic.
Segun Lekan, however, disagreed, saying men had the right to express concerns about their partners’ appearance.
He argued that in relationships, honesty about health and appearance should not be mistaken for shaming, but seen as part of mutual responsibility.
“Women should take care of themselves, especially for their families.
“If she is your woman, you can tell her to look after herself,” he said.
A relationship coach, Temitope Akinwale, noted that constant remarks about weight, skin, or dressing erode trust in relationships.
“It starts as a comment, but over time it becomes pressure to change who you are to please someone else,” she explained.
She added that such remarks often make women withdraw emotionally and begin to doubt their worth.
According to her, partners should focus on communication built on respect rather than criticism.
“A healthy relationship is where both people feel accepted. If the only feedback you give is about appearance, you are teaching your partner to seek validation outside,” she said.
She also urged the public to be more mindful of how they speak about bodies, both online and offline.
“Body shaming is not a joke and it is not motivation. Words have power. Choose words that build people up instead of tearing them down,” she advised.
According to her, parents, teachers, influencers and media practitioners all have a role to play in changing the narrative.
“We need to teach young people that everybody is different. Health and beauty do not look one way. Respect, empathy and sensitivity should be our default,” Akinwale added.
She also encouraged anyone experiencing body shaming to speak up, seek support, and remember that their worth is not tied to appearance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
DAA/JOJO/FAA
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Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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