Memes have a weird way of sticking around long after they should have died. You probably remember the first time you saw a "Down with the Thickness" post. It usually features a chunky cat, a very round seal, or maybe just a person embracing their curves with a certain level of defiance. It’s a pun. Obviously. It plays on the 2000s nu-metal anthem "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed, but instead of David Draiman’s iconic staccato barking, we’re talking about body mass.
But here is the thing.
What started as a silly play on words has actually become a significant marker in the "body neutrality" movement. It’s not just about being "thicc" anymore. It's about a shift in how the internet views weight, aesthetics, and the humor we use to navigate our insecurities. People are tired of the polished, airbrushed look. They want something real. Even if that "real" thing is a dog that looks like a loaf of bread.
Where the Thickness Came From
If you want to understand why down with the thickness became a thing, you have to look at the linguistic evolution of the word "thick." Originally, it was just a descriptor. Then, in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), it took on a more celebratory meaning, describing someone with a shapely, healthy figure. By the mid-2010s, the internet—as it always does—appropriated and mutated it into "thicc" with two Cs.
Then came the Disturbed parody.
The song "Down with the Sickness" was released in 2000. It’s a staple of gym playlists and edgy AMV (Anime Music Videos) edits. The transition from "Sickness" to "Thickness" was inevitable. It’s low-hanging fruit for any pun-loving person with a Twitter account. However, the meme really exploded when it hit the "chonky animal" subculture. Reddit communities like r/Chonkers began using the phrase to describe pets that had perhaps enjoyed one too many treats.
It was cute. It was harmless. But then it started to migrate back to humans.
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The Cultural Weight of a Pun
There is a subtle power in reclaiming language through humor. For decades, the media told us that "thick" was a bad thing. It was something to be fixed. Diet culture in the 90s and early 2000s was brutal. If you weren’t "heroin chic," you were doing it wrong.
Then, the vibe shifted.
Suddenly, down with the thickness wasn’t just a joke about a fat cat; it was a way for people to say, "I’m okay with how I look." It fits into the broader Body Positivity and Body Neutrality movements. While Body Positivity demands that you love your body every second, Body Neutrality—which many find more sustainable—is about accepting that your body just is.
You have mass. You take up space. And honestly? That’s fine.
Critics often argue that glamorizing "thickness" can lead to health issues. It’s a valid concern, but most people using the phrase aren't looking for a medical diagnosis from a stranger on Instagram. They’re looking for community. They’re looking for a way to feel less alone in a world that constantly critiques their physical form. Real experts, like sociologists who study digital culture, note that these memes act as a sort of "social lubricant," making difficult conversations about body image easier to handle through the lens of irony.
Why the Internet Can't Let It Go
The staying power of down with the thickness is honestly impressive. Most memes have the shelf life of an open avocado. Two days and they’re brown and gross. This one? It’s been circulating for years.
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- It’s phonetically satisfying. The rhyme works perfectly.
- It taps into nostalgia for the early 2000s, which is currently "cool" again.
- It’s versatile. You can use it for a burger, a car, a pet, or yourself.
We see this a lot in digital linguistics. A phrase becomes a "template." You don’t even need to hear the song anymore to get the joke. The rhythm is embedded in our collective consciousness. It’s like when someone says "It’s me, hi," and your brain immediately fills in "I’m the problem."
The Dark Side of the Meme
We have to be honest here. Not everyone uses the phrase with good intentions. There’s a thin line between "celebrating curves" and "fetishizing bodies."
Often, the down with the thickness aesthetic gets reduced to a very specific, unattainable body type: a tiny waist and large hips. This is what some call the "Instagram Face" version of a body. It’s a filtered reality. When the meme ignores the "unfiltered" parts of being thick—like cellulite or stretch marks—it stops being empowering and starts being just another beauty standard to fail at.
There’s also the issue of the "chonky" animal obsession. While a round cat is undeniably cute for a photo, veterinarians have been sounding the alarm for years. Overweight pets face serious health risks, from diabetes to joint pain. When we celebrate a pet being "down with the thickness," we might be inadvertently encouraging pet owners to overfeed their animals for "clout."
It’s a complicated mess of irony, health, and social validation.
How to Actually Navigate This Space
If you’re seeing these memes and feeling a certain way about your own body, or if you’re just trying to keep up with the slang, here is the takeaway.
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Don't take it too seriously.
The internet is a hall of mirrors. Everything is exaggerated. When you see someone posting about being down with the thickness, remember that they are choosing the best angle, the best lighting, and the most clever caption.
Actionable Ways to Use This Energy
- Audit your feed. If "thickness" memes make you feel bad about your own body because you don't fit that specific "curvy-but-flat-stomach" mold, hit the unfollow button.
- Focus on functionality. Instead of worrying about the "thickness," think about what your body does. Can you walk the dog? Can you lift a heavy grocery bag? That matters more than a pun.
- Check your pets. Seriously. If your cat is "down with the thickness," maybe talk to a vet about a weight management plan. Love them enough to keep them around for a long time.
- Appreciate the humor, ignore the pressure. You can laugh at a clever Disturbed parody without feeling like you need to change your entire aesthetic to match a trending hashtag.
The reality of down with the thickness is that it’s a symptom of a world trying to figure out how to be okay with its own reflection. We use humor to deflect the pain of being judged. We use memes to find people who look like us. And sometimes, we just really like a good pun.
Whether it's a song, a meme, or a lifestyle choice, being "down" with yourself is the only part that actually counts in the long run. The internet will move on to a new phrase eventually. Probably something even more ridiculous. But for now, the thickness remains a weird, loud, and surprisingly deep part of our digital lives.
To move forward, stop looking at the screen for validation of your size. Start looking at how you feel when you move. Use the meme for a laugh, then put the phone down. Go outside. The real world doesn't have filters, and it's much more interesting that way.