Louise O'Neill: 'You can't tell how unhealthy someone is by their appearance'

"When I go to the shop to pick up a bar of chocolate and a packet of Tangfastics, there are no side-eyes or raised eyebrows. If I got Covid and was rushed to hospital, there would be no snide remarks about how ‘obesity is the real pandemic’. "
Louise O'Neill: 'You can't tell how unhealthy someone is by their appearance'

Louise O'Neill. Photo: Cathal Noonan

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet a writer I admire very much. Her work is provocative, ground-breaking, and frequently very funny.

She often writes about her body, and her experiences as a fat woman. I posted a photo on Instagram and someone commented on how ‘healthy’ I looked in comparison to her. I put the phone down but for one, dizzying second, I was tempted to reply.

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