issue 2// vol 46 CHONK Chart A Fine Boi 20 16-25% Body Fat 30 mans 26-35% Body Fat eH 40 36-45% Body Fat 50 46-55% Body Fat HEFTYCHONK 60 MEGACHONKER OH LAWD HE COMIN 56-65% Body Fat opinions // no. 15 70 65% Body Fat Image by Emilie Chang on Facebook Fat pets are cute, but it’s not healthy > There’s a fine line between chubby and obese Jessica Berget Editor-in-Chief he internet, as we all know, loves chubby pets. You've probably seen photos or videos of these round animals circulating on the web with captions like “chonker,’ and “absolute unit,’ or likening them to a loaf of bread. As much as | am guilty of enjoying the adorable fat animal trend on social media, I can’t help but think some of these animals are too chunky, bordering on morbidly obese, and that isn’t cute. Pet obesity is a major problem in Canada, and the way the internet romanticizes these fat little creatures is only going to make it worse. According to a 2011 Pet Wellness Report, overfeeding is the most common mistake pet owners make. It may be a dated source being from eight years ago, but I’m willing to bet that given the current internet trends that the commonality of overfeeding has increased. If you're looking for a more recent source, look no further than this 2019 article by the Global News. In the article, veterinarian Stacy Dudman says more than 50 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight and the main cause of this is overfeeding. Having an overweight pet also makes them more susceptible to a multitude of health concerns. Risks such as heart and liver disease, arthritis and joint pains, 6C diabetes, respiratory issues like asthma, gastrointestinal issues, and some forms of cancer are all more common if your pet is too fat. Because of all this, being overweight can also shorten their life expectancy. There are many types of dogs that also are prone to certain health issues, such as hip dysplasia, trouble breathing, and hip, joints, and back complications and having extra poundage can exacerbate these issues. Chubby pets are now so idealized Don't equate a dog's cuteness with being fat or overweight.” Rants 1n your pants >» The best version of a food should never ‘ruin’ other foods Janis McMath Assistant Editor eeing that I spend most of my life watching food vlogs, I often hear “X food will ruin all other similar foods for you!” I dislike this saying because I think it is inherently ungrateful. It is certainly difficult to not take things for granted when we are so lucky to feel so familiar with many privileges, but we have to push ourselves act and speak in a thankful manner otherwise we fall into the habit of being ungrateful. Saying things like “I can never enjoy X food again” is embarrassingly entitled and points to a questionable way of thinking. Approaching life with the philosophy that the very best version of something lessens what you have is a tremendously negative way to look at life. Constantly cc comparing what you have with what others have is a game with no prizes and no winners. Just because someone has something better than you does not mean the intrinsic value of what you have is minimized. The value is only lessened if you dictate that it has been. Also, considering that people only say this phrase when they try a new delicacy for the first time, I refuse to believe that foods that their palate have already been developed to appreciate could change so abruptly. I think this phrase is often used to peacock the amazing food experience to other people who haven't had the pleasure. Logically, if all other foods are ruined for the foodie and you've never had the food they’re speaking of, they're basically saying that everything you eat is garbage to them now. Why is a different category of food even being compared to “high quality” food anyways? Many reference wagyu beef, an intensely marbled beef that Japan is known for, asa meat that ruins all other meats for them. My issue with this is that all different tiers of food have different things to offer. For example, wagyu beef can never offer me what a luncheon meat like SPAM can. that even when animals are at an ideal weight they are not considered as cute. This is exactly what happened to one dog blogger littlecooperbear.com. In a blogpost entitled, “The Corgi Truth: Weight Matters” she talks about how people react to her dogs. “I’ve had people telling me that Cooper is ‘the skinniest dog I’ve ever seen’ and ‘he’s not as cute since doesn't look like a round loaf of bread’ because they’re so used to seeing large, overweight (borderline obese) corgis. A corgi should have a waistline with a visible abdominal tuck just below the ribcage.” Chubby animals may be more aesthetically pleasing to some, but very often it’s just plain unhealthy. Don’t equate an animal’s cuteness with being fat or overweight. Yes, they may be “chonky,” a “thick boi,” or a “unit” as the recent internet adages go, but there is a very fine line between being adorably chubby, and unhealthily overweight. Photo by Schellack via Wikimedia Commons Sometimes there is nothing I want more than to let my hair down and eat some delicious canned salty lunch meat. Nothing can stop me from seeing the good in both options, regardless of which is better in quality. I understand that we all exaggerate, but this saying just comes off unmindful. Wagyu beef can never offer me what a luncheon meat like SPAM can.”