Ria Atayde has no problem being called fat. She has long learned to love and accept her figure. The actress said proudly, “Beauty comes in all forms and sizes. What matters most is how you feel about yourself." Inasmuch as she has learned to be confident in her own skin, Ria is also hoping others of her ilk would follow suit noting, “Kung magpapa-apekto ka sa sinasabi ng iba, then wala, your whole life will be affected.” It is mainly why she agreed to pose as calendar girl for a liquor brand.
“I want to show people that despite our flaws we could be confident in our own skin,” she said, pushing for body positivity. “Body positivity is all about embracing yourself and understanding yourself,” she noted. "In this day and age, it is high time we put more importance on this than body shaming." Ria maintained, “We don’t know what some people are going through. Maybe they look the way they do because it is a choice or maybe they’re going through something.” The actress then revealed how she has been living sans a gallbladder, that body part which break down and absorb fats from food. More, she is battling hypothyroidism. She said, “I have hypothyroidism. So, my metabolism is slower than usual. I have no gallbladder. Losing weight is a lot harder for me than it is for other people. So, go ahead. Call me fat. Anong magagawa niyo?” She related how some friends in showbiz struggle to embrace their bodies because of the intense scrutiny. “It can be ruthless,” she said. “That’s why I am advocating for body positivity to do my part in helping those struggling with unreasonably harsh criticism.”