January 19, 2015
Does The Fat Movement Really Have to Stop?
The fat acceptance movement (also known as the size acceptance, fat liberation, fat activism, fativism, or fat power movement) is a social movement seeking to change anti-fat bias in social attitudes. There's even a non-profit organization for it called the NAAFA.
According to their site, NAAFA was founded in 1969, and is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to ending size discrimination in all of its forms. NAAFA's goal is to help build a society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life. NAAFA will pursue this goal through advocacy, public education, and support.
However, there is a HUGE difference between body-pride and flaunting obesity, as some people would argue. The statistics say it all.
It is no surprise why obesity is on the rise in America. According to the CDC, it is only getting and going to get worse. You can also see from the chart above that there is a crucial rise in obestity amongst children.
According to blogger Maria Mae Stevens,
"Now being overweight is one thing. It is understandable, considering our environment (which is strongly structured to promote fat), that this happens. The majority of us are overweight. We get it. We know why. This is not news. There’s time for change. Let’s make it!
But being inordinately fat–that is obese–is another thing. It is up there with the most unhealthy things you can choose for yourself. In the end, I believe obesity-related illnesses will bankrupt our health care system."
I came across this article called 6 Things I Don't Understand About the Fat Acceptance Movement in which the author states her thoughts of the movement itself. In the article, her 6 things are:
The "fat acceptance movement" praising their fat is no different than the "thins movement" in which thigh gaps, collarbones, and hip bones are praised. Both are giving the wrong messages. Why?
Here's why.
According to Huffington Post's reponse to the article, "All bodies, large, small and everything in between, pay dearly for the negativity in which fat bodies are perceived. Because as long as we demonize a body shape (any body shape) there will always be a fearful comparison. And the fearful comparison will inevitably breed all forms of hatred; both internally and externally. We will never be able to embrace our bodies as a diverse society as long as negative body messages exist. So yeah, we're going to be talking about the "social deviants" of the body world, but this discussion is applicable to us all."
Stop praising fat.
Stop praising skinny.
Start praising healthy.
Let's face it: no one body size can honestly determine one's health... or could it?
For free diet and workout plans to start 2015 off with a bang, click the image below to have your best, healthiest year ever:


- America is extremely accepting of fat.
- "Body positivity" should include health.
- "Health at every size" seems physically impossible.
- People are allowed to not be attracted to certain body types.
- Food addiction is a real medical problem.
- Childhood obesity is something we can't be accepting of.
- Fat discrimination is the 4th most prevalent form of discrimination (Midus, 1995-1996)
- AND there has been a 50+ increase in size discrimination between 1996 and 2006. (Puhl et all, 2006)
- According to CSWD.org, "Workers who are heavier than average are paid $1.25 less an hour. Over a 40-year career, they will earn up to $100,000 less before taxes than their thinner counterparts." (Baum, 2004)
- Also according to CSWD.org, "Of people who were 50% or more above their ideal weight on the height-weight charts, 26% reported they were denied benefits such as health insurance because of their weight, and 17% reported being fired or being pressured to resign because of their weight." (Rothblum, 1990)
- For more statistics, click here for an awesome PDF.


