Gym scales are very triggering

Via Twitter:  Carleton University has removed a scale from its gym, apparently because physical reality is too much for some students to handle. A sign where the scale used to be explains that the school’s decision to ditch it was in an effort to keep up with “current fitness and social trends,” according to a student newspaper, The Charlatan.

An official from the campus in Ottawa, Canada told the campus publication that a scale can cause students to become obsessed with their weight.

“We don’t believe being fixated on weight has any positive effect on your health and well-being,” said Bruce Marshall, who manages the university’s health and wellness program. “The body is an amazing machine and even when we are dieting and training it will often find a homeostasis at a certain weight.”

“It takes weeks, even months to make a permanent change in your weight. So why obsess about it?” he continued. “Why not look at other indicators?”

Marshall said these “other indicators” include improving one’s cardiovascular health and changes in one’s measurements.

While Carleton is facing backlash from many of its students over this decision, some are on board with the university’s decision.

“Scales are very triggering,” freshman student Samar El Faki told the campus paper. “I think people are being insensitive because they simply don’t understand. They think eating disorders are a choice when they are actually a serious illness.”