When I was obese I couldn't pull off crop tops because of my body size, it was incredibly unflattering, and now that I'm a healthy weight I still can't pull off crop tops because of my body proportions, I have a short torso.

Body type encompasses both scenarios, so it's often thought of as a polite way to tell someone something is unflattering without singling out specific "flaws" in their body.

[–] melpomenesclevage@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago

Until its only used for this because our society sucks and just becomes a euphemism, because we can't have nice things.

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

That makes a bit more sense. I was initially reminded of the various pseudo-scientific attempts to classify variations in human body shapes, which usually don't factor in great variations in body fat content. The way it's used in the image made me think this was an attempt to frame an unhealthy lifestyle as something inherent that can't be changed.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 31 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Even if I were to agree with this rather obvious trolling attempt.

...yes?

"Type" is a word used to categorize things by shared characteristics, in this context, characteristics shared by the human body?

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

No, like this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_type

Even if I were to agree with this rather obvious trolling attempt.

Peak reddit conversation.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

ah yes the Ayurveda, an excellent scientific take on the medical condition of the body, my back aches because my Adam's apple is haunted.

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What are you trying to say?

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

you: "is this type of body a body type?"

me: "yes, a type is a type"

you: "no, I meant something really specific" (provides a list of lists)

me: (looking at the list of lists): "this is pure nonsense"

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm aware that any of the past attempts to classify body types are extremely pseudo-scientific and I've explained as much in a different comment in this thread. The point is that "body type" isn't just necessarily just a generic way to refer to someone's body shape. Plenty of people still believe in that made up nonsense.

[–] funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Respectfully — that's not what you said, though, until now.

[–] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

None of what I said implied anything else.

[–] feedum_sneedson@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

It's an illness.