How do you feel about fat pride?
I just read this article http://www.sbs.com.au/thefeed/blog/2014/05/26/fat-pride-growing-movement-people-looking-fat-acceptance
What are your thoughts on fat pride? Do you think fat and healthy can go hand in hand? It seems to be an increasing (pardon the pun) movement at present.
Personally, I don't know if I believe someone can necessarily be fat and 'healthy'...or more I guess, in the best health that they can be, and away from potential risks-that's one of my motivations for wanting to change, I had some serious health risks and I got scared about my future. Of course losing some of it has improved other areas of my life (mental health, relationships etc), but above all health was just what had to come first, so in that respect I guess I don't think it is a good thing.
What are your thoughts on fat pride? Do you think fat and healthy can go hand in hand? It seems to be an increasing (pardon the pun) movement at present.
Personally, I don't know if I believe someone can necessarily be fat and 'healthy'...or more I guess, in the best health that they can be, and away from potential risks-that's one of my motivations for wanting to change, I had some serious health risks and I got scared about my future. Of course losing some of it has improved other areas of my life (mental health, relationships etc), but above all health was just what had to come first, so in that respect I guess I don't think it is a good thing.
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Replies
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I've been big my whole life, and I'm very much behind anti-bullying campaigns and ways to make people nicer to each other and not discriminate on the basis of weight and appearance.
However. Fat acceptance, not getting healthy, is bad for health. It's also bad for wallet, but mainly health. What's the use of promoting people staying obese?
I hate bullying and I would support initiatives to stop that. In fact, bullying often makes people eat more, especially those of us prone to comfort eating. But fat acceptance seems to turn what could have been a healthy movement to stop bullying and get people to focus on their own health and the welfare of others, to a movement about it being okay to be unhealthy and court health risks like diabetes and certain types of cancer.
To quote from the article and one of the fat acceptance activists
'Natalie wasn't always overweight but when she was 17 her weight gain started after she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
"I slowly became fatter and fatter," says Natalie. "When I began to gain weight, I was a little worried... but as time went on I became OK with being fat."'0 -
When I was plump I certainly wasn't proud of it :laugh:0
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Being fat isn't always the same as being unhealthy. Being thin isn't always healthy.
Fat pride seems to be about tying self esteem to something BESIDES your weight just as Black Pride isn't about black supremacy and Gay Pride isn't about an anti-straight agenda.
I think its healthy and, if anything, can be far more motivating when it comes to healthy behavior than fat shaming.0 -
You guys are exactly why fat pride is important. I personally am not happy being fat, but I absolutely respect someone else's right to be proud of being plump, chunky, thick or whatever you want to call it. Each to their own.
Plus it is certainly possible to be overweight and healthy - a not so skinny lady swam the channel a couple of years ago and did marvellously - and I think we should respect and accept everyone's mindset and decisions.0 -
Respectfully - I think that the recent tendencies to be "politically correct" no matter what will cost our civilization dearly in the long run.. We're getting to the point of ridicule fast..0
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In my opinion it lulls those in need of some health in their lives to simply accept it and remove a certain amount of motivation to change. "Hell, they're saying it's healthy, no reason to panic."0
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I think in a world where everything is made for "slim people" its hard to get caught up in this topic. I mean everything from changing rooms, clothes sizes, toilets, store manikins , magazines , tv, ect. They all say/show what you should look like. I think its important to look past this & check on an individual level your health and take steps to improving and being healthy. Does not matter if too fat/thin both can be unhealthy.
I say everyone be proud of who you are but Health is your main goal, Health is life quality.... I used to be over 350lbs and i was not proud.. I am proud of who i am now , Not because i lost weight and im considered healthy weight, But because i feel in control of who i am and i know im capable of things i never thought i could.0 -
HaibaneReki, political correctness means using terminology that people don't find offensive to describe said people. For example, using non-offensive language to describe racial groups.
It is perfectly possible to disagree without using abusive language, so there's no political correctness issue here at all.0 -
While I don't think you can be FAT and healthy, I do believe that not everyone comes in the same sizes. Not all people can be a size 4 or even a size 8. While I think you should try hard to be healthy, it is hard to do when you don't like yourself.
I don't know much about the movement, but what I do know is that generally we are putting too much emphasis on how we look versus being healthy. I know heavy people who are healthier than skinny people. My husband is the perfect weight, but he is flabby, never works out and needs cholesterol meds. I am overweight, workout 5 times a week, have muscle tone (under the fat) and my cholesterol is perfect. Even with my weight being on the high side, my life insurance policy came in at the lowest rate that I could get at my age.
It is important to feel good about yourself and generally as a society we are making people feel lousy about themselves. Kids are getting scorecards saying they are overweight (2nd grade) and parents are putting healthy kids on diets. My Sister-in-law said my skinny niece was getting fat, I was like where? So while there are flaws in Fat pride, there are many more flaws in the messages we are sending to our kids and each other. I know at least one girl on here who was logging 500 calories a day and is now in the hospital. She realized she needed help from what others were telling her, but couldn't eat more. We need to make a change to the messages we send out because skinny isn't always healthy either. Balanced diet and exercise is healthy, even if its too much food, if its healthy food it will be better than eating only junk.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of who you are no matter what you look like or how much you weigh!0 -
"Fat acceptance" =/= "Fat celebration"
Fat acceptance doesn't mean that you can be proud of yourself BECAUSE you're fat, it means you can be proud of yourself EVEN if you're fat. There's a slight difference.0 -
I have no problem with people being a little thicker and being okay with it. Some people are built that way. But when it gets to the point where it's going to cause health problems, then no. My biggest issue is extremely overweight men and women being proud and almost promoting it, especially around young children who might get the idea that its desirable to be extremely overweight and aim to achieve that, while not thinking about the problems it can cause to their health. I agree with anti bullying and supporting one another but in the end, being a size that can damage your health should not be seen as acceptable in any society.0
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Obesity pride is like diabetes pride, or skin cancer pride, or anorexia pride, or alcoholism pride or crack addiction pride.
Severe medical problems aren't something to be celebrated...they are to be treated. Just because an obese person hasn't so far suffered a heart attack or whatever doesn't mean they get to consider themselves healthy with any measure of sanity.
This is not to say I support fat shaming or anything of the sort. But I tend to roll my eyes at someone, especially a role model, celebrating their unhealthiness as opposed to trying to do something about it.0 -
Fat pride? Now that's just crazy0
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HaibaneReki, political correctness means using terminology that people don't find offensive to describe said people. For example, using non-offensive language to describe racial groups.
It is perfectly possible to disagree without using abusive language, so there's no political correctness issue here at all.
aha, I understand - call me medieval, but what I was trying to say is that the more quirks society tolerates and the more it encourages differences the quicker it'll eventually degenerate.0 -
What is written there:
"Kath Reid wants to change the way society perceives being overweight."
What I see instead:
"Im not happy about myself but too weak minded to change, so im going to change everyone else instead."
I have yet to see someone who actually cares about random people living around them
Hundreds of thousands people live in the same city, and they are all just a ghosts in a background of a regular day. Fat or not, NO ONE CARES! 
. Do whatever makes you happy. If someone says I consider him less worthy because of his weight, that is HIS problem and lack of self confidence, not the problem of society.
Also, trying to "change the society"... well people like Gandhi, Mandela and so on may have some impact on the way we think... good luck getting on their level. But this type of initiative usually has exactly opposite effect. You will get hate just for the fact you try to mess with at the moment popular opinion in general. 0 -
HaibaneReki, political correctness means using terminology that people don't find offensive to describe said people. For example, using non-offensive language to describe racial groups.
It is perfectly possible to disagree without using abusive language, so there's no political correctness issue here at all.
aha, I understand - call me medieval, but what I was trying to say is that the more quirks society tolerates and the more it encourages differences the quicker it'll eventually degenerate.
Fair point, yeah. It is a worrying thing because as much as it's good to accept ourselves for who we are, it has to be with a focus towards health.0 -
"Fat acceptance" =/= "Fat celebration"
Fat acceptance doesn't mean that you can be proud of yourself BECAUSE you're fat, it means you can be proud of yourself EVEN if you're fat. There's a slight difference.
This.
It irritates me that most people (in my experience, mileage may vary), seem to believe that because I'm fat, I'm not allowed to look at myself in the mirror and be happy with who I am at that moment, regardless of my size. I'm still a good person. I eat better, I'm working on getting more active, but because I'm fat, I'm... not allowed to be proud of myself? I may have just lost five pounds, but hey... since I'm still obese, that doesn't matter, right?
I shouldn't feel like I hate myself every step of the way until I meet what society perceives as the "correct way to be." I can't understand how people believe it's okay for your mind to be shattered, if your body is "healthy." Acceptance for me is being able to look in the mirror and not scrutinize every little thing until it consumes me. It's the ability to walk with my head held high when everyone else tells me I should be ashamed to walk around and stain the earth with my presence. It's the knowledge that I am /changing/ and the change is good. It's loving myself, and being willing to let that self - identity, even - go.
I'm not proud of myself for being fat. It wasn't a contest, I haven't won anything but the derision of cruel people and people who mean well (but should shut up, for their own health). I'd be the first dead in a horror movie, and the first sacrifice in a zombie apocalypse. I'm not proud of that. I /can/ be proud of my accomplishments, scholastic, hobby, and personal, without tagging on "but I'd be better if I wasn't fat." I'm a whole bunch of things... and even fat, that's still a whole lot to be proud of.0 -
Being fat isn't always the same as being unhealthy. Being thin isn't always healthy.
Fat pride seems to be about tying self esteem to something BESIDES your weight just as Black Pride isn't about black supremacy and Gay Pride isn't about an anti-straight agenda.
I think its healthy and, if anything, can be far more motivating when it comes to healthy behavior than fat shaming.
Good response ^^^
Hadn't looked at it in that light before.
Xx0 -
I am a little torn.Over the past decade I have been in every possible weight category. I worked out like crazy to get to what was considered a healthy BMI. What I found out is that being "healthy" for me was not actually healthy. I looked awful, I felt awful. For me, that sweet spot where I looked and felt my best was actually on the low end of obese, according to BMI. So I get being proud of who you are and what you look like, even if the ridiculous BMI is calling you fat. As long as you are eating right and exercising, and are happy with how you feel / look, then be fat and proud.0
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"Fat acceptance" =/= "Fat celebration"
Fat acceptance doesn't mean that you can be proud of yourself BECAUSE you're fat, it means you can be proud of yourself EVEN if you're fat. There's a slight difference.
^^ Nailed it.0 -
FA is not ok ,
sorry, i know my spouse prefers bigger woman ,
but i have always felt confined , the fat happy woman ...
im not im not nice all the time , im not chipper all the time,
and fat healthy only lasts a few years ...
that said ,
so we need to be more accepting of larger sizes , yes,
but not so much that we actively discourage them from getting healthier,
it think the FA movement is a WHIPLASH
against the FOOLISH and potentially harmfull diet industry...
think
What other industry is reliant <solely >on constant failure .....0 -
If it s real pride- admirable !0
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Fat Acceptance, as I understand it, is about fat people being able to love their bodies and not be shamed or bullied for that. I think that's awesome! You sometimes hear, "but being fat is a choice!" So what? Even if someone makes a concious decision to be fat, they deserve the same respect and right to confidence as anyone else.
FA is about fat people having the right to be proud of who they are.0 -
Why would anyone be proud of something that is causing them physical disability, making them sick, and shortening their lives?
I'm happier having lost 65# with 15 more to go.
"Fat pride" is a total cop out.0 -
It should definitely be seen as an anti-bullying campaign.
However, what makes someone healthy is a whole other subject. You don't have to be "skinny" to be healthy and in fact once upon a time....skinny meant unhealthy and poor and having some meat on your body meant you were doing well. So these things change as time goes on....but obviously getting to a weight that causes health issues like diabetes and joint problems, sleep apnea..... is not healthy no matter how pretty you paint it.
The focus is to be healthy and active and find a happy weight....that can be a huge difference in numbers...:)0 -
I believe that you are the only person who has to live with your body so be proud of what you have. With being overweight, many people have problems with depression and if they love themselves then maybe they will be able to drop a couple pounds. So be fat and happy. I wasn't able to be but they should be happy because there is no reason they shouldn't be allowed to be. Now fat and healthy, there is a level where that is true...I'm still in an overweight BMI but I work out, eat right and according to my Drs., I'm very healthy! So it depends on how far out into the BMI they can say it's "healthy" because being 100 lbs overweight was under no circumstances healthy in my situation. But please, be happy for sure!!!0
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Sorry, long post: Personally I see a number of different points in this debate, and in my mind I like to separate them out.
Bullying someone is unacceptable for any reason, clearly. (Although I do draw the distinction between gentle teasing between friends and full scale bullying, but what does and does not fit into this distinction varies person to person). As someone has mentioned, bullying someone due to their weight may in fact make it worse.
A person’s value lies in more than just their physical appearance, and that therefore even unattractive people (or people who do not fit into society’s view of what is attractive) are worth something – appearance is just one aspect of a person, and while someone may be more attractive, they may be less nice (and vice versa).
However, I think we need to draw a distinction between what is “ok” as a human being, and what is healthy. The bulk of scientific evidence shows that the risks of many health conditions are much greater if you are outside of a range of BMIs, whether that is underweight or overweight. The fact that the *risks* of health conditions are higher outside of this does not mean that an overweight person always experiences the health conditions. However, the small number of cases where an overweight person is not currently experiencing health issues does not mean they will not in the future, and is not a good argument to say that being overweight is healthy when the science shows otherwise. It is also not a good argument to recommend ignoring medical advice by not losing weight if you are overweight (or indeed put on weight if you are underweight).
It is also worth noting, I think, that the majority (2/3) of Brits and Americans are overweight or obese, so our idea of what is “Normal” i.e. the most common physique is an overweight physique. This may also lead to the notion that being overweight is acceptable.
Personally, I support the idea of not bullying people because of their weight, and I’m all for questioning the societal norms and demands of glossy magazines; however I am wholeheartedly against saying that being overweight is healthy when the overwhelming scientific evidence shows otherwise. I am concerned that many people are using the argument that being overweight is “Normal” or being overweight doesn't make you less of a person to support their idea that therefore being overweight must be healthy and to justify not losing weight. This logic, in my mind, does not follow, and I think it’s dangerous to be arguing this.
TL;DR – I think we should love the fatties, but hate the fat 0 -
i'm all for it!
love yourself no matter what! body positivity for all!
i loved myself when i was 50 kg heavier than i am now and still love myself and i would never have been able to lose weight if i hated myself.0 -
I've noticed the "fat pride" thing. I'm in two minds. It's not good to feel rotten about yourself BUT it's not good to encourage people to maintain an unhealthy state. To me, it's like being proud of being an alcoholic.0
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I have seen "fat pride" get to the point of skinny shaming.0
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