Fat acceptance movement

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The fat acceptance movement, also known as the size acceptance movement, fat liberation movement or fat power, is a grassroots effort to change societal attitudes towards individuals who are fat.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]} 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 above average in contemporary Western societies.^{[10][11][12][13][14][15]}

Generally dated to the 1970s, the 1980s and 1990s witnessed an increase in activist organizations, publications, and conferences.^[16][17] In the 1980s, new anti-dieting programs and models began to appear in the research literature in response to new information dispelling common myths about obesity.^[18] The contemporary movement perceives negative societal attitudes as persistent and based on the presumption that body fatness reflects negatively on a person's character.^[9][19] For example, a paper by Chang and Christakis describes how, during the early part of the 20th century, obesity was seen as detrimental to the community, by means of decreasing human efficiency, and that obese people interfere with labour productivity (V Chang and N Christakis, 2002). ^[20] Furthermore, anti-fat stigma and aggressive diet promotion have led to an increase in psychological and physiological problems among those who feel that their weight is above the "socially acceptable norm".^[21]

[edit] 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 overweight people are targets of hatred and discrimination ^[22], with obese women subjected to more social pressure than obese men.^{[23][24][25][26][27][21]} Hatred and disrespect towards fat people are seen in multiple places, including media outlets, where fat people are often ridiculed^[28][29][30] or held up as objects of pity.^[31] Discrimination comes in the form of lack of equal accessibility to transportation and employment.^[32]

Proponents of fat acceptance maintain that people of all shapes and sizes can strive for fitness and physical health.^{[33][34][35][36]} Health is believed to be independent of, not dependent on, body weight. Thus, proponents promote "health at every size", the philosophy that one can pursue mental and physical health regardless of their physical appearance or size.

Through the works of authors such as Paul Campos and Sandy Szwarc, the fat acceptance movement has argued that doctors should treat the health problems of people of all sizes, believing 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 exaggerated or misrepresented, and used as cover for cultural and aesthetic prejudices against fat.

Fat activism faces challenges.^[37] Organizations such as the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) and the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) have relatively small memberships, and people interested in the movement tend to be clustered in larger cities and spread across medium- to small-sized web communities.

[edit] History

The fat acceptance movement originated in the late 1960s, although its grassroots nature makes it difficult to precisely chart its milestones.^[16][17] 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.^[38] 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 formed during this period to promote a fat acceptance agenda. In 1969, William Fabrey founded a social club promoting "Fat Pride" called the National Association to Aid Fat Americans, subsequently renamed the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). In 1973, a radical NAAFA chapter spun off to become an independent group, the Fat Underground, promoting a stronger activist philosophy. They were inspired by the philosophy of the Radical Therapy Collective, a feminist group that believed that many psychological problems were caused by oppressive social institutions and practices. The Fat Underground, founded by Sara Fishman (then Sara Aldebaran) and Judy Freespirit, took issue with the growing bias against obesity in the scientific community. They coined the saying, "a diet is a cure that doesn't work for a disease that doesn't exist," reflecting their dedication to fat acceptance and fat activism.^[39]

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.^[40] The book collected several fat activist position papers initially distributed by the Fat Underground as well as poems and essays from other writers.

[edit] The movement today

Today the Fat Acceptance Movement continues to strive for societal, internal, and medical attitude change regarding fat people. Proponents engage in public education about the myths concerning fat and fat people,^[41] through conferences and conventions,^{[42][43][44][45]} newsletters^[46] and books.^{[47][48][49][50]}

In recent years, more writers have begun producing online zines,^[51][52] blogs,^[53][54][55] and online communities promoting fat acceptance. Several websites have sprung up to help connect fat people with fat-friendly service providers and products.^{[citation needed]} Many books have been published challenging the medical claim that fat produces ill health and highlighting the issue of weight-based discrimination that fat people are subjected to by medical professionals and society at large.^[56][57] Size discrimination has been increasingly addressed in the arts, as well. Performance art groups such as The Padded Lilies, Big Burlesque and the Fat Bottom Revue, among others, intentionally feature fat bodies 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.

[edit] Issues within the movement

Wikinews has related news: Obesity and the Fat Acceptance Movement: Kira Nerusskaya speaks

"Fat activist"^[58][59] Kira Nerusskaya feels that how people describe themselves depends upon their comfort level with their bodies.^[60]

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, and the many dangers of "yoyo weight fluctuations" and weight loss surgeries.^[61]

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.

Another common division in the "fat acceptance" community is the differing attitudes towards general society, specifically "thin people". The fat acceptance community generally divides into two categories; those that feel discrimination towards "thin people" hinders their cause whilst the opposing side view "thin people" as the enemy, or the partial cause of their social stigma. The issue has been lampooned^[62] via fat publications however it also receives serious debate.^[63]

[edit] Criticism

[edit] Health problems

Despite advocates' claims to the contrary, many studies show that fat people are more likely than others to be in poor health, at a time when health care costs are rising,^{[64][65][66][67][68]} though this may be partially attributed to fat people avoiding doctors because of perceived weight discrimination in the medical profession.^[69] In 2006, the CDC estimated that 10 percent of current health care costs are due to obesity.^[70] A Dutch study concluded that lifetime cost of obesity are less as these individuals die at an earlier age, while obese individuals have higher annual health care costs.^[71]

There are many health related problems associated with obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and joint problems caused by overloading the skeleton with too much weight. One study found that obesity reduces life expectancy.^[72] Public health officials regard widespread obesity as posing significant costs to society.

[edit] Social 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.^[73] They contend that accepting fatness will make people less likely to aspire to achieve a healthy weight.

Additionally, the common fat acceptance mantra that "diets don't work" is considered by some critics to be an oversimplification that may discourage a person in need of a healthier lifestyle from making responsible and potentially beneficial changes in eating habits. This is, of course, correct in the cases of most fad diets, but dietary changes coupled with exercise and other changes in lifestyle, would indeed work in at least making one healthier, if not slimmer, in most cases. ^[74]

[edit] Legal Achievements

Michigan passed a law prohibiting weight discrimination in the workplace. San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Santa Cruz, CA, also passed legislations to ban weight discrimination.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Fat Acceptance at the Open Directory Project