Fat acceptance movement

The fat acceptance movement, also the size acceptance movement or fat liberation movement or fat power, is a grassroots effort to change societal attitudes towards individuals who are fat. The movement consists today of a diverse group of people, who have different beliefs about how best to address the widespread prejudice and discrimination against people whose girth is considered to be above average in contemporary Western societies.

Generally dated to the 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s witnessed an increase in activist organizations, publications, and conferences. In the 1980's new anti-dieting programs and models began to appear in the research literature, in response to new information dispelling common myths about obesity. The contemporary movement perceives negative societal attitudes as persistent, and based on the presumption that the rotund characteristics of a person's body reflect negative character traits of that person. For example in Chang and Christakis paper they state this belief by stating that obesity is detrimental to the community, by means of decreasing human efficiency, and that obese people interfere with labour productivity (V Chang and N Christakis, 2002). Furthermore, these diet-touting trends and societal views have led to an increase in psychological and physiological problems among those who feel that their weight is above the "socially acceptable norm".

Background

Fat activism covers several fronts but generally can be described as attempting to change societal, internal, and medical attitudes about fat people.

The movement argues that large people are targets of hatred and discrimination, with plus sized women in particular subject to more social pressure. Hatred is seen in multiple places including media outlets, where fat people are often ridiculed or held up as objects of pity. Discrimination comes in the form of lack of equal accessibility to transportation and employment.

Proponents also argue that people of all shapes and sizes can strive for fitness and physical health. Thus, proponents promote "health at every size", an idea that one can place their mental and physical health before physical appearance and size.

Through the works of authors such as Paul Campos and Sandy Szwarc, the fat acceptance movement has argued that doctors should treat health problems of people of all sizes, recognizing that health issues are not defined by weight and are shared by people of all sizes, fat and thin. Some in the movement have argued that the health risks of fatness and obesity have been greatly exaggerated, and used as cover for cultural and aesthetic prejudices against fat.

Fat activism faces challenges. Organizations such as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) and the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) are small in number, and people interested in the movement tend to be clustered in larger cities and spread across medium- to small-sized web communities. NAAFA changed leadership around the turn of the century.

History

The history of this movement is difficult to chart because of its grassroots nature, although it originated in the late 1960s and 1970s. Like other social movements from this time period, the fat acceptance movement, initially known as "Fat Pride," "Fat Power," or "Fat Liberation," often consisted of people acting in an impromptu fashion. To offer one example, a "Fat-in" was staged in New York's Central Park in 1967. Called by a radio personality, Steve Post, the "Fat-in" consisted of a group of 500 people, eating, carrying signs and photographs of Sophia Loren (an actress famous for her figure), and burning diet books.

Several groups were formed in this period that promoted a fat acceptance agenda. The "Fat Pride" group, NAAFA, initially called the National Association to Aid Fat Americans, subsequently renamed the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, was begun in 1969 by William Fabrey. This group was at its inception more of a social club. A more radical group, the Fat Underground, was founded in 1973. The group had begun as a chapter of NAAFA, but had quickly developed an activist philosophy more radical than the group. To be more specific, they were inspired by the philosophy of the Radical Therapy Collective, a feminist collective that believed that many psychological problems were caused by oppressive social institutions and practices. The group consisted of a number of members including the founding members Sara Fishman (then going by Aldebaran) and Judy Freespirit, and subsequently Lynn McAffee. They quickly developed into a group that took issue with the developing science against obesity. One of their central sayings, "A diet is a cure that doesn't work for a disease that doesn't exist," reflects their dedication to fat acceptance as well as fat activism.

Shortly afterwards, Fishman moved to New Haven, CT, where she, along with Karen Scott-Jones, founded the New Haven Fat Liberation Front, an organization similar to the Fat Underground in its scope and focus. In 1983, they collaborated to publish a germinal book in the field of Fat Activism, Shadow on a Tightrope. The book consists of some activist position papers, initially distributed by the Fat Underground, as well as collections of poems and essays from other writers.

The movement today

Today the Fat Acceptance Movement continues to strive for societal, internal, and medical attitude change in regards to fat people. Proponents engage in public education about the myths about being fat and about fat people, conferences and conventions, and in writing newsletters and books.

In recent years there has been an increase in online zines, bloggers, retail items for fat people, and online communities of activists. As well as a steady stream of books by fat activists challenging the medical belief that fat = unhealthy, and highlighting the issue of weight-based discrimination that the fat face by the community and medical professionals. In addition to online and literature there has also been an increase in the arts on sizeism. Performance art groups such as The Padded Lillies, Big Burlesque and the Fat Bottom Revue just to name a few feature a variety of body types in their shows

There has also been an emerging body of fat political and sociological studies, some with a fat activist agenda, developing within the academy. The American Popular Culture Association has an area in fat studies and regularly includes panels on the subject. In addition, student groups with a fat activist agenda have emerged in a number of colleges including Hampshire, Smith, and Antioch colleges.

In addition to what the movement is doing to raise public awareness, there have been a surge in studies both for and against fatness in scientific journals on virtually all topics including medical, psychological, politics, etc.

Issues within the movement

As it has expanded, the fat acceptance movement has faced internal issues.

One point of contention in the movement is found between those fat people who are attempting to lose weight and those who are not. Opponents of weight loss attempts cite the high failure rate of all permanent weight loss attempts (95-98%), and the many dangers of "yoyo weight fluctuations" and weight loss surgeries.

Due to intrinsic linguistic misunderstandings and differing definitions of the word "acceptance," some "fat activists" believe the phrase refers to any fat person fighting for equal rights and opportunities, regardless of whether or not that person believes that the pursuit of reduction in a person's body mass is feasible. Other "fat activists" define "fat acceptance" more strictly, applying that phrase only to fat people who are not pursuing a reduction in their body mass, and use phrases such as "fat activist" to describe fat people and "allies" working more generally on civil rights issues pertaining to fat people.

An additional issue with regard to language is that many in the fat acceptance movement find the terms "obese" and "overweight" offensive, as they are often used to make overtly prejudiced statements seem more clinical or scientific. The word "fat" is generally preferred.

In practice, the only way to know the position of any particular individual member of the group on weight loss attempts is to ask, or read specific position papers on the issue.

Criticism

Fat acceptance advocates' positions have sparked criticism. Some critics, while acknowledging that fat and obese individuals are subject to inappropriate discrimination or pressure, contend that fat acceptance advocates' goal of unconditional acceptance of obesity is itself unhealthy. They contend that accepting fatness will make people less likely to aspire to achieve a healthy weight. Fat activists, on the other hand, will argue that the idea of a "healthy weight" is one without meaning, as health can be found in people at all weights and sizes. Other criticisms state that obesity causes medical problems. Public health officials regard widespread obesity as posing significant costs to society. Despite advocates' claims to the contrary, some studies show that fat people are more likely than others to be in poor health, at a time when health care costs are rising: In 2006, the CDC estimated that 10 percent of current health care costs are due to obesity. However, a recent Dutch study came to the conclusion that while obese individuals cause higher annual health care costs during their lifetime, their total health care costs over the span of a lifetime are lower than the costs caused by "healthy-living" (non-smoking with a BMI between 18.5 and 25) individuals due to higher average life expectancy of this group. Additionally, the common fat acceptance mantra that "diets don't work" is considered by some critics to be an oversimplification that may discourage even responsible and potentially beneficial changes in eating habits.

Notable advocates

• Jo Morley, founder of Big People UK [London, UK]

• Stacy Bias, founder of FatGirl Speaks [Portland, ORE]

• Paul Campos, author of books such as The Obesity Myth

• Charlotte Cooper: London-based writer

• Laurie Toby Edison, photographer, published the book Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes

• Nomy Lamm, performance artist and writer of I'm So Fucking Beautiful

• Debbie Notkin, writer of the texts for Women En Large and the body image blog Body Impolitic

• Judy Sullivan, author of Size Wise

• Sandy Szwarc, author of Junk Food Science blog and articles challenging widely-held beliefs on fat and health[15]

• Pattie Thomas, Ph.D., co-author of Taking Up Space: How Eating Well and Exercising Regularly Changed My Life Sociological memoir about the stigma faced by fat people (written in collaboration with Carl Wilkerson, M.B.A.)blog

• Marilyn Wann, author of FAT!SO? and Activism Chair of NAAFA

Further reading

• Berg, Frances M. (2000). Women Afraid to Eat: Breaking Free in Today's Weight-Obsessed World. Hettinger: Healthy Weight Network. ISBN 0918532620

• Braziel, Jana E. (ed) and LeBesco, Kathleen (ed) (2001). Bodies Out of Bounds: Fatness and Transgression. University of California Press. ISBN 0520225856

• Brown, Laura S. (ed) and Rothblum, Esther D. (ed) (1989). Overcoming Fear of Fat. New York: Harrington Park Press. ISBN 091839371X

• Campos, Paul F. (2004). The Obesity Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health. New York: Gotham Books. ISBN 1592400663 (Later issued in paperback as The Diet Myth: Why America's Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health. ISBN 159240135X )

• Cooper, Charlotte (1998). Fat and Proud: The Politics of Size. Women's Press. ISBN 0704344734

• Fraser, Laura (1997). Losing It: America's Obsession with Weight and the Industry that Feeds on It. New York: Dutton. ISBN 0525938915 (Later issued in paperback as Losing It: False Hopes and Fat Profits in the Diet Industry. ISBN 0452272912 )

• Frater, Laura (2005). Fat Chicks Rule: How to Survive in a Thin-Centric World. Gamble Guides. ISBN 0975251716

• Gaesser, Glenn A. (1996). Big Fat Lies: The Truth about Your Weight and Your Health. New York: Fawcett Columbine. ISBN 0936077425

• Gard, Michael (2005). The Obesity Epidemic: Science, Morality and Ideology. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0415318963

• Goodman, Charisse W. (1995). The Invisible Woman: Confronting Weight Prejudice in America. Gurze Books. ISBN 0936077107

• Kater, Kathy (2004). Real Kids Come in All Sizes: Ten Essential Lessons to Build Your Child's Body Esteem. New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 0767916085

• Kolata, Gina B. (2007). Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss -- and the Myths and Realities of Dieting. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN 0374103984

• Koppelman, Susan (ed) (2003). The Strange History of Suzanne Lafleshe: And Other Stories of Women and Fatness. Feminist Press. ISBN 1558614516

• Kulick, Don and Meneley, Anne (2005). Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin. ISBN 1585423866

• LeBesco, Kathleen (2004). Revolting Bodies?: The Struggle to Redefine Fat Identity. University of Massachusetts Press. ISBN 1558494294

• Louderback, Llewellyn (1970). Fat Power: Whatever You Weigh is Right. Hawthorn Books. ASIN B0006CAKQG

• Manheim, Camryn (1999). Wake Up, I'm Fat! New York: Broadway Books. ISBN 0767903633

• Oliver, J. Eric (2006). Fat Politics: The Real Story behind America's Obesity Epidemic. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195313208

• Poulton, Terry (1997). No Fat Chicks: How Big Business Profits Making Women Hate Their Bodies-How to Fight Back. Birch Lane Press. ISBN 1559724234 (Also issued as No Fat Chicks: How Women Are Brainwashed to Hate Their Bodies and Spend Their Money. ISBN 1550137409 )

• Schoenfielder, Lisa (ed) and Wieser, Barb (ed) (1983). Shadow on a Tightrope: Writings by Women on Fat Oppression. Iowa City: Aunt Lute Book Co. ISBN 1879960249

• Seid, Roberta Pollack (1989). Never Too Thin: Why Women Are at War with Their Bodies. New York: Prentice Hall Press. ISBN 0136156002

• Solovay, Sondra (2000). Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight-Based Discrimination. Amherst: Prometheus Books. ISBN 1573927643

• Thomas, Pattie and Wilkerson, Carl (2005). Taking Up Space: How Eating Well and Exercising Regularly Changed My Life. Pearlsong Press. ISBN 1597190020

• Wann, Marilyn (1998). Fat!So?: Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 0898159954

External links

Fat Acceptance at Curlie