Fat Liberation

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Fat: A derogatory term historically used to pathologize or demean people in larger or bigger bodies, the term fat has been reclaimed by activists beginning in the 1960s. 

 

Fat liberation works to combat anti-fat bias and weight-related stigma. Fat activists treat being fat as a valid and celebrated part of their identity.

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Fat liberation is at core a social justice movement that works against anti-fat bias, oppression, and discrimination.

 

It is a radical alternative to body positivity – and affirms the value of all people, regardless of weight or health.

 

The fat liberation community understands and acknowledges that anti-fat bias and discrimination has powerful roots in anti-Black racism, colonialism, and classism, and that anti-fat bias and discrimination show up everywhere.

 

Fat liberation seeks to identify and name systemic anti-fat bias and individual prejudice, and to unlearn internalized fat bias and oppression. Fat liberation seeks to normalize fat bodies and to celebrate them.

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From NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance), the world’s first documented fat acceptance organization:

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"Though people of larger size are the majority in America, very few laws specifically outlaw discrimination based on body size. Research conducted by Dove showed that nearly 90% of women—and 84% of all adults—living in larger bodies have at least once in their life been shamed because of their body size. Many have also been discriminated against because of their body size, with 78% of women and 65% of all adults living in larger bodies experiencing discrimination at least once. Race also plays a key role, with women of color living in larger bodies more at risk of discrimination than white women. Body size discrimination denies people necessary—even life-saving—medical treatment, contributes to financial inequality, and creates serious mental health challenges. 

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Very few laws exist that specifically outlaw discrimination based on body size. In 2019 alone, body size discrimination harmed 34 million Americans."

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BODY LIBERATION​

 

Culture and society in the US values youth, fitness, being able bodied, sports, appearance, diet culture, and so many other harmful "Norms". The fatphobic environment we live in encourages people, especially medical providers, to be dismissive at best of people who are fat for any reason, supporting chronic or "yo-yo" dieting, and frequently leads fat people into eating disorders, unhealthy relationships with food, and a higher weight than when the diet started.​

 

Whatever the reasons are for people being fat -- the medical profession, our friends, families, and workplaces tend to have negative thoughts and feelings about fat people - and relate to fatness as a  moral failure.​ If you want community and support, want to live your best fat life but don't know how, if you take medication that has led to weight gain, if you want to just be accepted as a human being ... please consider joining the Fat Liberation Therapy Group I run.  I strongly recommend working with a HAES dietician and engaging with the Intuitive Eating model as part of the healing process.

 

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HAES / Health at Every Size

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Health at Every Size is the Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH)'s key concept. 

 

It asserts that "health exists on a continuum that varies with time and circumstance for each individual. Health should be conceived as a resource or capacity available to all regardless of health condition or ability level, and not as an outcome or objective of living.

 

Pursuing health is neither a moral imperative nor an individual obligation, and health status should never be used to judge, oppress, or determine the value of an individual."

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