is "fat" derogatory?

mswoodsy

Soo I feel like I've been tip-toeing around the boards/feeds/blogs with this word. And, maybe I just don't notice, but I don't think I ever see people use the word "fat". I see large, overweight, husky, big and even little nicknames for their areas like flat tire and wings etc... I even see obese.

Considering the site we're on, is the word " fat" inappropriate or insensitive? Would you (or anyone else) be offended if I started using it? Obviously I'd never use it towards someone in an attacking manner. I feel like there's a secret rule no one told me about...


Stupid question? Just GIF me...

allie_00p

How about "in excess of adipose tissue"?

ETA: Really tho, in reference to a person, I don't like to use the word "fat" because it does carry different weight (ha pun) with different people.

tquill

Since there's always someone who's offended... I tend to just not care and do what I want.

shellma00

I have seen many people use it.. mostly talking about themselves or may be some article they read or society as a whole..

derogatory, maybe not.. insensitive, yes ...

shellma00

Since there's always someone who's offended... I tend to just not care and do what I want.

I agree with this

klkarlen

I think it is a matter of context. Nothing offensive about saying "my percent of body fat is. . . " or "I need to lose some fat on my . . . ". But when used to describe someone. . . then it can be insulting when used that way.

nilbogger

It's complicated. For one thing, I think it is hard to draw a line between "fat" and "not fat". At 20 pounds overweight, am I fat? If so, is 15 pounds overweight fat? if not, is 25 pounds? 30?

Aside from that we're taught from a young age that fat is bad, and fat is not what we want to be. So even if we are considered obese many of us don't want to give ourselves that label. We're plump, curvy, "more to love", chubby, husky, plus-sized, large, etc.

Honestly, I don't really get it. Like, you can call me fat if you want. I know what my body is like, and being called fat or skinny doesn't change anything. I think as long as you aren't using the word in a hateful manner it shouldn't be offensive.

La5Vega5Girl

if someone weighs 100 pounds and they are my height and build and they call me fat, then YES i will be offended.
if i say i need to lose body fat, then nothing offensive there.
it's all context.

cat_monster

Language is a living thing and for whatever reason calling someone fat does seem derogatory.

Particularly as the word 'fat' is often used with its bedfellows 'lazy' and even 'stupid'.

I am only slight overweight and have never been called fat in my life but I can see why it would hurt people. I would avoid using it. It's just manners.

RockstarWilson

fat is a generic term. If I say I am fat, you dont know if I am being coy or if I am that guy everyone hates sitting next to in coach.

Terms like obese, overweight, morbidly obese, or pot belly define the degree of fat-ness (for lack of a better term).

An insult of "fat," such as someone calling someone else fat, is completely subjective, as everyone has different standards. For instance, a woman that has a figure that weighs 140 lbs is a babe to me, whereas in the modeling society, it would be considered "fat."

but back to the first part, I think people don't use that term on themselves because it doesn't really say anything, and it is more closely related to their emotions. That's why you will hardly ever hear a guy say, "oh man, Tommy, I am fat." There is usually humor associated with it when a guy says it, as opposed to insecurity with a woman.

Elsie_Brownraisin

I don't think so, I use the word to describe myself - I wear glasses, I have brunette hair, I am fat. No bother to me. I used it when I was obese and still now on the lower end of overweight. I see obese and overweight more as medical terms, but I'd have no qualms using those words to describe the shape of my body either.

However, I do realise that other people see it an insult, so I don't use the word to describe them.

There's no need to worry though, my boy has autism. He'll tell you if you're fat.

newdaydawning79

I think the word 'fat' has been twisted until it's become an insult rather than either a noun or an adjective. So I agree with those who say it's a matter of context.

I honestly prefer fat to obese myself, although I definitely am both! LOL

ldrosophila

fat is fat like calling someone tall or a redhead just a term if someone takes offense to it then that is his or her prerogative

opus649

phat

_Zardoz_

Soo I feel like I've been tip-toeing around the boards/feeds/blogs with this word. And, maybe I just don't notice, but I don't think I ever see people use the word "fat". I see large, overweight, husky, big and even little nicknames for their areas like flat tire and wings etc... I even see obese.

Considering the site we're on, is the word " fat" inappropriate or insensitive? Would you (or anyone else) be offended if I started using it? Obviously I'd never use it towards someone in an attacking manner. I feel like there's a secret rule no one told me about...


Stupid question? Just GIF me...

Why tiptoe around the issue. A lot of people are here because they are fat. Thats' it really pretending the word doesn't exist is what people do for years and how they get into a situation where they are morbidly obese. Part of addressing the problem is admitting that you are fat

radmack

I get a better idea of what the poster is facing or what they are asking when they use obese, overweight, morbidly obese etc since they give an idea of how overweight they are. Fat is just so vague.

lazydanthaman

Somebody say gifs?

_Waffle_

I like it when they say "curvy" instead of fat.

cassidyamymommy

I don't think it is derogatory or insensitive to use the word fat. I have had people use the word to try to insult me. The truth is...I am fat. Its not an insult. its a fact. I am fat, so when they use the word fat to try to insult me i laugh and ask them how long it took then to see the obvious. I don't understand those who are actually fat getting offended by someone calling them fat, or any form of the word really. that to me is like walking up to me and telling me im a girl..like no **** its obvious lol.

shreddedtrooper

I prefer the term "fluffy as eff"

As in, after my refeed, I'm hella fluffy, fuarrrrk!

Ftw37

I have spent decades being fat. Told I was fat by others, knew I was fat myself.

dakotababy

No. I am fat. A lot of people on this website are fat. We all have fat, we all also eat fat. Anyone who takes offence has not taken the step to acknowledge reality and what is.

People make "Fat" a bad word in their own head. It is not good nor bad. It just is.

dakotababy

I like it when they say "curvy" instead of fat.

OMG...lol Are you trying to derail this thread?? haha.

crystallynnl

I can admit I am fat.

dMonster01

It's complicated. For one thing, I think it is hard to draw a line between "fat" and "not fat". At 20 pounds overweight, am I fat? If so, is 15 pounds overweight fat? if not, is 25 pounds? 30?

Aside from that we're taught from a young age that fat is bad, and fat is not what we want to be. So even if we are considered obese many of us don't want to give ourselves that label. We're plump, curvy, "more to love", chubby, husky, plus-sized, large, etc.

Honestly, I don't really get it. Like, you can call me fat if you want. I know what my body is like, and being called fat or skinny doesn't change anything. I think as long as you aren't using the word in a hateful manner it shouldn't be offensive.

Umm.. don't think OP mean she was gonna go calling people fat.

joeboland

The word itself? No.

The derisive and negative way in which most use it? Absolutely. There's nothing positive or encouraging about using that word to describe someone.

All in all, I think it's a very subjective and grey-area word. When I look back at photos of myself, I find myself saying, "God, I was fat."

astroophys

I don't think it's an insult. If someone's body holds an excess of fat, that person is fat. But, people are oftentimes eager to be offended.

ValGogo

I personally don't like the euphemisms. They are misleading.

Let's pretend someone sets you up on a blind date and says she's curvy or thick and you're thinking Salma Hayek and Sofia Vergara and you get Roseanne or a girl from the Jerry Springer show.

fat is fat, thin is thin. Nothing wrong with honesty and more so, self-honesty.

zcb94

I think it is a matter of context. Nothing offensive about saying "my percent of body fat is. . . " or "I need to lose some fat on my . . . ". But when used to describe someone. . . then it can be insulting when used that way.

ValGogo

Since there's always someone who's offended... I tend to just not care and do what I want.

There ya go!

TheVirgoddess

Soo I feel like I've been tip-toeing around the boards/feeds/blogs with this word. And, maybe I just don't notice, but I don't think I ever see people use the word "fat". I see large, overweight, husky, big and even little nicknames for their areas like flat tire and wings etc... I even see obese.

Considering the site we're on, is the word " fat" inappropriate or insensitive? Would you (or anyone else) be offended if I started using it? Obviously I'd never use it towards someone in an attacking manner. I feel like there's a secret rule no one told me about...


Stupid question? Just GIF me...

It used to be a "bad" word in my book. But the reality is, I AM fat - and I'm okay with using that word as a descriptor for myself.

I wouldn't use it for another person, because it has the potential to hurt them - and why not avoid hurting someone when you can easily use another word?