Hello? Hello and

this is late's podcast about gender feminism and this week bodies.

Bodies.

Each week you get a pair of feminists talking about what we can not get off of our

minds. I'm Shannon Paulus, Slate Science and Health Editor.

It's the new year and many Americans are starting up diet and exercise regiments with the hope of getting

fitter and losing weight. Many, many of them will fail, especially in the long term.

Not because people are lazy or not doing the right exercises or not eating the right things.

But because weight loss is incredibly hard.

We all kind of know that, and yet it flies in the face of so much cultural messaging around weight

and around fitness.

That if you just quote unquote take care of yourself, you'll look a certain way.

And that looking a certain way will also be better for your body.

And that if fat people don't resolve to lose weight if fat people just exist their glorifying obesity.

That is all wrong. We're going to explore why it's wrong today when I'm joined by

Aubrey Gordon. Aubrey is the host of the popular podcast maintenance phase which

takes a critical look at the wellness industry.

She's also the author of two books, including one that's out this week.

It's called You Just Need to Lose Weight

and 19 other myths about fat people.

After the break, Aubrey and I are going to get into the noxious idea that

healthier is always better. Why the practice of debunking myths can be so frustrating,

...