8 Things Everyone Should Know About The Fat Acceptance Movement

Advocacy for the Fat Acceptance Movement is not about trying to encourage unhealthy habits. Most supporters of the movement agree that overeating foods high in fat and a sedentary lifestyle can lead to severe health problems, such as diabetes and high cholesterol. However, many advocates of the movement also support the idea that fat people can be strong and healthy. By removing the focus off of losing weight for aesthetic reasons, they feel liberated and empowered to practice healthy eating habits and to be active for the purpose of feeling healthy. The notion that "fat is not a bad word" may seem unusual to some. However, the Fat Acceptance Movement is a social movement dedicated to removing the negative perceptions that society has toward plus-sized individuals. In a world where fat shaming is commonplace, advocates of this movement aim to replace those perceptions with body positivity and fat acceptance. Although the majority of supporters seem to be women, the movement also has many male supporters as well.

Weight bias is a pervasive issue in today's society. Many people believe that those who are fat or plus-sized and have health problems like diabetes and high cholesterol have no one to blame but themselves. The belief that all fat people are completely responsible for their high cholesterol levels and have become the size they are due to being lazy and having poor eating habits is a false assumption that is completely unfair. Many people also believe that those who are thin have become the size they are due to a healthy diet and rigorous exercise. Some people even shame skinny people by telling them they look sick and need to eat something. These types of beliefs are considered stereotypes. Stereotypes are harmful because they are simply not true for everyone and are detrimental to the way society views plus-sized individuals and skinny individuals, thus adding to their mistreatment. Carrying excess weight is not always a result of having unhealthy eating habits. The size we are is pre-determined by our own genetics, and although we can try to change our bodies' appearances through diet and exercise, many times we find ourselves back where we started as we find that our goal weight is too difficult to maintain. Want to see if you are guilty of weight bias? Check out this Instagram post by fitnessreloaded.com:

Genetics can determine a variety of factors including what size we are, the likelihood we will develop certain types of cancers, how high our cholesterol levels are, and how much we are at risk for heart disease. Certainly, our lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and daily habits play a role, but sometimes, there is not much we can do to change the way our bodies are. Trying to manipulate the hand we are dealt can prove to be more difficult for some. Being thin doesn't always mean one is healthy and being fat is not the only reason people have health issues like high cholesterol. Although high cholesterol can indeed be caused by an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, sometimes physically fit individuals who have healthy eating habits have high cholesterol due to a genetic predisposition. High cholesterol is a trait that can be passed from one generation to another, regardless of lifestyle factors, and can lead to heart problems if not addressed. Genetics can also determine our body mass and metabolism as well. I have witnessed this happen to a few "skinny" people, mostly men, who spent years trying to bulk up by eating fatty foods excessively and felt very discouraged that they were not able to achieve the look they desired because their weight is pre-determined by genetics. Unfortunately, after years of these bad habits, not only did their fatty meals not lead to a bulkier build, but they also developed high blood pressure and high cholesterol as a result of those bad habits.

The following meme is meant to be funny, but for many naturally skinny people, situations like this can be really frustrating because it is so hard for them to put on weight:

Though one can have high cholesterol due to a variety of factors, the so-called "War on Obesity" has many people convinced that those who are fat and do not take care of themselves are the only type of people who develop this health problem. Even worse, some people also feel that people who are fat are somehow deserving of whatever type of health problem they have and that they have brought it on themselves. This type of thinking is unfair and is not logical. A skinny person can be skinny because of their genetics regardless of unhealthy food choices in the same way that a fat person can be fat because of their genetics regardless of healthy food choices. Obviously, there are some people who are fat and in poor health because of the strain it puts on their bodies, however, there are also many people who are fat and in great health. Sadly, society tends to dismiss the idea of the "healthy fat person." This is one example of weight bias, or what some might call "anti-fat bias." Weight bias is not just a hurtful experience for plus-sized individuals; it is also a very hurtful experience to people who are naturally very thin. Telling a thin person that they really need to gain some weight can be very frustrating for them, similar to the way a plus-sized person feels when someone tells them they really need to lose some weight. No matter what end of the weight spectrum a person is on, comments like these are not helpful and only make the person on the receiving end feel like they are not good enough the way that they are.

Advocacy for the Fat Acceptance Movement is not a new trend. In 1969, The National Association to Aid Fat Americans was formed after a group of fat activists staged a "Fat-In" demonstration at Central Park in New York City in an effort to bring awareness to their cause and to reach out for support and advocacy in their community.

The following article is a newspaper clipping about the "Fat-In" Demonstration that paved the way for the Fat Acceptance Movement:

Since then, the civil rights organization has been renamed the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) and is estimated to have over 11,000 members. According to the NAAFA website (https://www.naafaonline.com/dev2/), the group states that they are "dedicated to protecting the rights and improving the quality of life for fat people" while working to "eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through advocacy, public education, and support."

Peggy Howell, the Public Relations Director of NAAFA stated something that she feels is important for everyone to know about the Fat Acceptance Movement: "Fat people are discriminated against in all aspects of daily life, from employment to education to access to public accommodations and even access to adequate medical care. This discrimination occurs despite evidence that 95 to 98 percent of diets fail over five years and that 65 million Americans are labeled 'obese.' Our thin-obsessed society firmly believes that fat people are at fault for their size and it is politically correct to stigmatize and ridicule them. People come in all sizes and deserve equality at every size!"

Here is a photo of Peggy Howell, the Public Relations Director of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, speaking on behalf of the organization about their "End Bullying Now" campaign:

I am an average-sized woman (a little on the short side) who has never been large enough to be discriminated against. However, I do consider myself an ally of the movement. Like many other social equality movements, you do not actually have to be someone who is discriminated against to provide advocacy for those who are. In fact, advocacy from anyone, regardless of size, is encouraged. For instance, although men are not faced with the same struggles as women, I always find it refreshing and helpful when men acknowledge and speak out against sexism to openly support feminists because their advocacy adds further validity to the cause. Whether you are skinny, average, or just slightly overweight, acknowledging and speaking out against the discrimination of plus-sized individuals is very helpful to the cause. Advocacy from people of all shapes and sizes is very much needed to spread awareness, and it is always very much appreciated by those who struggle on a daily basis to live in a society that treats them like lesser individuals.

To gain more insight on the Fat Acceptance Movement, I began browsing Facebook to see what groups were out there and came across Pia Schiavo-Campo's page, "Chronicles of a Mixed Fat Chick". I really enjoyed the passion and authenticity of her posts, so I decided to shoot her a message to see what her perspective was on the movement.

As you can see from her photos, Pia Schiavo-Campo is a beautiful and confident plus-sized activist who is not shy in front of the camera. Another thing she is not shy about is publicly stating her opinion about the need for advocacy in the Fat Acceptance Movement. Schiavo-Campo is size acceptance activist, public speaker, and certified life coach, who is highly involved in promoting body positivity within her community and through social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter (@mixedfatchick) and as an inspirational writer for her blog, "Chronicles of a Mixed Fat Chick." When asked what she felt was important for everyone to know about the Fat Acceptance Movement, Schiavo-Campo responded, "You don't have to be fat to be part of the movement. We need allies of all kinds to help us fight against the bigotry and vitriol sold to us by advertisers in the media."

Despite what the critics say, the Fat Acceptance Movement is not about encouraging people to make unhealthy choices, nor do fat people use it as an excuse just to let themselves go. However, if some fat people choose to eat junk food and not exercise, it is not okay to shame them for making that choice. What people choose to put in their bodies and do with their bodies is totally up to them. If you don't like it, you should probably just mind your own business. Mirna Valerio (pictured above) is an ultramarathon runner and National Geographic's 2018 Adventurer of the Year. Valerio is also a shining example of a healthy and strong plus-sized woman. She can run ultramarathons! I can't even run a regular marathon. To be completely honest, I can't even run for more than two minutes without getting a cramp in my side!

Contrary to popular belief, many people who are considered fat by society's standards eat a very healthy diet, are very health conscious, and exercise regularly. The Health at Every Size (HAES) approach is a set of principles that "rejects the use of weight, size, or BMI as proxies for health, and the myth that weight is a choice" (https://www.sizediversityandhealth.org). This approach is embraced by the majority of those involved in the Fat Acceptance Movement, including the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH), and the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB). According to the HAES Community website (https://haescommunity.com), HAES includes the following basic components:

Respect: Celebrates body diversity; Honors differences in size, age, race, ethnicity, gender, dis/ability, sexual orientation, religion, class, and other human attributes.

Critical Awareness: Challenges scientific and cultural assumptions; Values body knowledge and lived experiences.

Compassionate Self-Care: Finding the joy in moving one’s body and being physically active; Eating in a flexible and attuned manner that values pleasure and honors internal cues of hunger, satiety, and appetite, while respecting the social conditions that frame eating options.

The Health at Every Size (HAES) approach is growing very popular among fat acceptance supporters as they find using the HAES approach to be much more helpful and encouraging than the standard diets that emphasize weight loss as the ultimate goal. Having a health-centered approach is not only great for overall health, but it is also a very body-positive approach as well.

Some people like to live in a bubble where they can believe that discrimination against others doesn't exist. Somehow, they feel like if they admit that the scales are tipped in their favor, then it delegitimizes their struggles and all of the work they have put into their success. However, discrimination is very real in this country and throughout the world. Accepting and acknowledging that truth does not delegitimize your success or make you the villain, but it does help validate those who are fighting for equal treatment and opportunities. Fat discrimination is real. Fat people are discriminated against in public, in the media, in the workplace, at school, and in healthcare settings.

So far, Michigan is the only state in the United States that prohibits weight discrimination, and there are only six U.S. cities that have laws against weight discrimination (Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Binghamton, Urbana, and Madison). Currently, there are no federal laws against weight discrimination in the United States. According to the NAAFA, in 1995-96, 7% of adults living in the United States reported being discriminated against because of their weight. By 2006, that number had almost doubled to 12%. In addition, the Council on Weight and Size Discrimination provided the following statistics regarding workplace discrimination:

Not surprisingly, it seems that many of the following studies reported heavier women being at more of a disadvantage than heavier men when it comes to size discrimination in the workplace:

Even though a large portion of American adults are obese, there is still an unfortunate weight bias in today's healthcare system. When doctors and nurses have weight bias, it often prevents obese patients from receiving adequate medical care. Many obese patients report that they have gone to see a physician for a health problem and are simply told they need to lose weight if they want to feel better. If a patient's complaints are consistently dismissed or mistaken as a symptom related to the strain of carrying excess weight, it is possible and very likely their physician could be missing warning signs of a severe health problem. Don't think it's that bad? Check out the following infographics based on studies done by The Rudd Center For Food Policy & Obesity:

With statistics like these, how can we say there is no weight bias in our healthcare system? The lack of consideration for the health, well-being, and comfort of obese patients in the healthcare industry is very degrading and dehumanizing. Saying that obese patients do not deserve to receive adequate medical treatment because of their "bad habits" is essentially the same as telling a lung cancer patient they cannot have chemotherapy because they used to be a smoker. Even worse, the assumption that all obese patients have somehow "brought it on themselves" is completely insensitive, ignorant, and inaccurate. Some patients, like Sarah Bramblette who was born with lipedema, have conditions that cause them to become obese. Congenital hypothyroidism and/or the development of hypothyroidism as an adult is another example of a condition that may cause obesity in patients. Obviously, no one is to blame for having an underactive thyroid, and yet most of the people in the healthcare industry are not stepping up to help these patients feel welcomed and cared for.

Sarah Bramblette is a healthcare administrative professional in Florida who was a speaker at TEDxNSU in 2015. In her advocacy efforts, Bramblette bravely spoke about her experiences as a 430-pound obese woman living with both lipedema and lymphedema and how the healthcare system failed to recognize the warning signs of her condition because of weight bias. Although many of her doctors over the years assumed that her obesity was due to poor lifestyle choices and unhealthy habits, it was actually the lipedema that was responsible for her progressive weight gain.

In her TED talk, Bramblette discussed the way weight bias in the healthcare industry has had a negative impact on her overall health:

While there is an increase in larger seating accommodations for obese patients in waiting areas at many healthcare facilities, Sarah Bramblette explains that other accommodations are needed, such as larger exam room tables and larger gowns. She also spoke about how most doctor's offices do not have scales with a high enough capacity to weigh obese individuals that weigh more than 300 pounds. Regarding this issue, Sarah told the audience:

In addition to being unable to properly measure an obese patient's weight, Bramblette mentions how many doctor's offices are not able to properly take her blood pressure, either because they do not have a large enough cuff, or because the staff are not trained to take a manual reading on her arms. Weight and blood pressure are both very important vital signs that should be documented and monitored regularly, especially in obese patients like Sarah who have medical conditions that put her at risk for serious health problems. Another issue for patients who are obese is being unable to get necessary testing because most healthcare facilities do not have equipment that can accommodate obese patients that require imaging. Many obese patients, like Sarah, are told that they should not expect doctors and hospitals to buy expensive equipment for "just a few patients" to accommodate them for their unhealthy habits and poor lifestyle choices. This is an unfair weight bias and as Sarah puts it, "Since when is one-third of American adults 'a few patients'?" Not surprisingly, health insurance companies also engage in weight bias to deny coverage for obese individuals. In her talk, Bramblette also discusses how sometimes the insurance company denies payment for her appointments, claiming that appointments with a diagnosis code of obesity attached to the claim are considered "cosmetic care," even if the reason for the appointment is completely unrelated to weight loss management.

If you would like to watch Sarah Bramblette's full speech at TEDxNSU, check out the link below:

The Fat Acceptance Movement strives to promote body positivity and self-love. In order to do that, we must stop vilifying fat bodies as ugly and undesirable. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes, and most of those bodies do not come in the "super-model" edition. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It is time to let go of fat shaming and body shaming altogether.

Like most women, I have had my own struggles with body image and self-love. I have gained and lost the same 40 pounds repeatedly since high school. I have done the South Beach Diet twice and the Alli plan twice. Both diets were effective, and I was able to lose a substantial amount of weight, but I have always managed to gain it back every time. Yo-yo dieting is a dangerous habit. Although I cannot be absolutely sure, I think it is likely that it was either my taking the Alli pills or my repeated extreme weight gain and weight loss, or maybe a combination of both that could be responsible for me having to get my gallbladder removed due to gallstones. Apparently, having gallbladder issues is a common side effect of using the drug. I know I am not the only one who has had health problems as a result of yo-yo dieting. So many women are literally killing themselves to reach a goal weight that, for many, is unattainable and impossible to maintain. Many of us are labeled "too thin" or "too fat" by society's standards. Some of us are slim and toned, voluptuous and curvy, beautifully pear-shaped, or somewhere in between. All bodies are awesomely unique and deserve to be treated with care and respect. If your weight makes you feel bad about yourself or makes you feel unhealthy, there is nothing wrong with following a healthy diet and exercise regimen, as long as the end goal is about feeling better and you are being safe about it. No matter what you choose to do or not to do with your body is up to you. If you are still struggling with being body-positive, that's okay! It's hard! I hope you keep at it and one day you will figure out just how worthy you are and how much you deserve to be fully and completely loved by you!

Bullying fat people is a prevalent practice in our society and is now even more commonplace with social media, chat rooms, and message boards. In fact, most online articles and photos that promote fat acceptance and are available to the public to read and comment on usually contain at least one comment from an ignorant troll who feels compelled to insult fat people. Cyberbullying is pathetic, cowardly, and can sometimes be worse than face-to-face bullying because the bully feels more empowered to "go for the jugular" behind the safety of their computer screen.

Many of us know all too well what it is like to be bullied in childhood and adolescence for being fat. Unfortunately, bullying and size discrimination in our schools is still a big issue. I am sure it could be improved upon if there were more positive representations of fat people in the media and if more parents could model appropriate behavior and attitude toward larger individuals in front of their children.

Upon completing a size discrimination report, the National Education Association made the following statement:

The NAAFA works hard to put positive messages out to the public. The following image was posted on Twitter by the NAAFA as an effort to teach kids to love themselves, despite what their bullies might say:

In an effort to fight against bullying in schools, the NAAFA volunteers also attend several events and work within their communities. One of the many ways the NAAFA combats bullying is by distributing the “NAAFA’s Fact Sheet on Bullying” and giving out wristbands with body positive messages. According to the NAAFA website, the NAAFA End Bullying Now campaign aims to "empower society with the skills to promote positive relationships, to end bullying and embrace diversity in the world. Our purpose is to promote the message of acceptance and diversity through educational programs that change attitudes and actions of adults and children alike."

In our culture, most of us are made painfully aware that society places a high value on being thin. Those that are "fit" are celebrated, envied and admired, while those who are "fat" are mocked and ridiculed for their fat rolls, cellulite, and stretch marks. Kelli Jean Drinkwater, an artist, fat acceptance activist, and public speaker on radical body politics is working to tackle these issues by challenging dominant stereotypes and putting a spotlight on how beautiful a fat body can be.

Drinkwater recently worked as an Artistic Associate on the dance theatre performance titled, "Nothing to Lose." The performance was described as an "unapologetic exploration of fat bodies in motion." As you can see by the stunning images below, "Nothing to Lose" was successful at achieving their goals to "challenge aesthetic norms and reclaim a performative space for people with larger bodies" and at investigating "the relentless fascination with the fat body while abandoning stereotypes and reshaping expectations" (http://kellijeandrinkwater.com/nothing-to-lose/).

In her recent appearance at TedXSydney, Drinkwater eloquently said:

If you would like to hear Kelli Jean Drinkwater's full speech at TedXSydney, check out the link below:

Although everyone may not be in agreement about the Fat Acceptance Movement, the momentum it is gaining is undeniable. Social networking, blogs, educational websites, and online groups and forums like "The Fat Liberation Feed" (https://bigliberty.wordpress.com/the-fat-liberation-feed/) and "Notes from the Fatosphere" (https://fatfu.wordpress.com/about-the-notes/) are wonderful outlets that provide a place for fat people to speak freely about the problems they face and collaborate on their ideas. In addition to spreading awareness online, there are many uprising plus-sized models and TV stars who are providing positive representations of witty plus-sized women in the media. Whitney Way Thore, the star of the TLC network's reality TV series "My Big Fat Fabulous Life" danced her way into fame when she boldly dared to dance her heart out unashamedly on this video that went viral:

Since her dance video, she has been busy spreading awareness by starting a "No Body Shame" global movement (www.nobodyshame.com) and has also done a TED talk about living without shame:

And who could forget the lovely Chrissy Metz, one of the stars in the hit show "This is Us"? Metz's role as "Kate" in the show is invaluable to the Fat Acceptance movement as her character bravely tackles the issues of size discrimination and anti-fat bias with style and grace.

With role models like these two beautiful plus-sized women and all of the activists working to educate the public on the issues at events and online, it is obvious that the Fat Acceptance Movement is not going away anytime soon! I sincerely hope that fat shaming will one day become a thing of the past. As with most movements, these things take time. However, getting plenty of positive representation in the media is a great place to start, so keep up the good work ladies!