
“Let me guess ladies??? You feel unfit, unattractive, self conscious and worthless… especially when standing in front of the mirror naked.”
That’s the beginning of a recent social post by independent gym, HTFU Fitness Adelaide, which has sparked accusations of sexism and fat shaming from several followers.
Shared to the company’s Facebook and Instagram accounts this week, the post reads: “You feel embarrassed and ashamed getting naked in front of your partner… You’re sick and tired of picking outfits that hide your fat. And you want to feel comfortable in your own skin, wear your favourite outfits, feel fit, confident, attractive and sexy.
“But there’s a problem. You’re too afraid to join a gym because you’re too embarrassed, ashamed, self conscious, worried about being judged and most of all, you’re just too nervous to commit.
“But that stops now. We understand you.”
The post was met with several comments accusing the company of demonising larger bodies and perpetuating the myth that only thin people can be fit or happy.
“‘Worthless? Ashamed? Unattractive?’ What a disgusting way to advertise to women,” one wrote. “You should be ashamed.”
“I can tell you I do feel embarrassed, ashamed and self-conscious all the time. And having posts like this pop up in my feed definitely don’t make me feel better about myself,” added another. “The idea that a business would deliberately, and proudly, use those feelings to try and drive up the number of people who attend their gym is disgusting.”