Fat Activists

Katey12891
Katey12891 Posts: 41 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I found this on my daily news website a few weeks ago. Don't know what to make of it...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/8940435/Fat-activists-fight-back

If you look in the comments section as well there are a lot of people saying thy are proud to be fat and are disgusted at how their fatness is not acceptable in society.

What do you think, people of MFP?
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Replies

  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    I think there are already a bunch of threads about this.......
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,409 Member
    I think there are already a bunch of threads about this.......

    ^^
    This.
  • Katey12891
    Katey12891 Posts: 41 Member
    Really, when I searched there were none on this article.
  • lsmsrbls
    lsmsrbls Posts: 232 Member
    What a great article. Thanks for sharing.
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    The fact that any type of body has an "activism" movement just annoys me.
  • peachfigs
    peachfigs Posts: 831 Member
    I dont really know why 'fat activism' is considered so outrageous or hard to understand.

    All fat folks are advocating is that they are not demonised or discriminated against for being fat.

    They aren't saying that fat is the ideal body type for everyone, that fat is healthy, that fat is better than being thin, etc.

    They are just advocating acceptance. It's really that simple.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Re: the pictures.

    It's dumb. Most of the people supposedly staring and giving her nasty looks are just looking because she's having her picture taken in a public place. Give me a break.

    She's also supposed to be happy with herself? Then why is she portraying herself as gloomy in all the pictures?

    They chose exactly what they wanted portrayed in the pictures. It's not even close to real life.
  • SoViLicious
    SoViLicious Posts: 2,633 Member
    This topic means nothing to me. Let people live!
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Accept it? Ok. Think it is a good thing? Nope.
  • Zaniejane
    Zaniejane Posts: 329 Member
    I dont really know why 'fat activism' is considered so outrageous or hard to understand.

    All fat folks are advocating is that they are not demonised or discriminated against for being fat.

    They aren't saying that fat is the ideal body type for everyone, that fat is healthy, that fat is better than being thin, etc.

    They are just advocating acceptance. It's really that simple.

    Well said!:flowerforyou:
  • allifantastical
    allifantastical Posts: 946 Member
    They are just advocating acceptance. It's really that simple.

    ^^ Yes
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    what am I missing? the people in those photos don't seem to be looking at her in any particular way, maybe they just suffer from *****y-resting-face.
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    I think firstly that if she has the camera on auto, she probably took hundreds of shots, so those pulling faces etc could (probably are) very well be in the minority, not the majority. If fat is that judged against then how does something like "Va Va Boombah" even exist. Not to mention that that kind of thing suggests to me they are proud to be fat, which I don't think is a healthy thing.

    Secondly, I would probably be caught pulling a strange face at someone setting up a camera and then stepping back to take bizarre "candid" photos of themselves in (I can only guess purposefully) unflattering clothing.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Secondly, I would probably be caught pulling a strange face at someone setting up a camera and then stepping back to take bizarre "candid" photos of themselves in (I can only guess purposefully) unflattering clothing.

    Also, she's in the damn way for a lot of the photos. Stopped in the middle of busy foot traffic areas. Of course she's getting some looks.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Secondly, I would probably be caught pulling a strange face at someone setting up a camera and then stepping back to take bizarre "candid" photos of themselves in (I can only guess purposefully) unflattering clothing.

    Also, she's in the damn way for a lot of the photos. Stopped in the middle of busy foot traffic areas. Of course she's getting some looks.

    Most of the people aren't even looking at her or if they are it's because she's bending over in the middle of a busy sidewalk!
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    Yeah that to, who stops in the middle of the street to eat a can of tuna or whatever it is?!
  • FatAttorney
    FatAttorney Posts: 17
    I've read articles written by Fat Activists claiming that being fat is not necessarily unhealthy...which is utter nonsense. When they start advancing dangerous ideas like that, then I think it is time to speak out against them.

    That said, everyone deserves respect. I wouldn't give someone a hard time for being fat. I might raise an eyebrow if they seemed really enthusiastic about being overweight, but that's about it.
  • sub10orbust
    sub10orbust Posts: 706 Member
    Strong Self Confidence
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    Something tells me if she stopped looking for attention she'd get a whole lot less.
    I bet if she was thin she'd be one of those people who think they get discriminated against because they are to pretty and everyone is jealous lol
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    This is in New Zealand, the country that deported a man, who had been losing weight, because he still weighed too much? More power to the fat activists.
  • Mslmesq
    Mslmesq Posts: 1,000 Member
    I found the swim cap reason to stare enough. :tongue:
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    To me all that stuff is a hyoooge waste of time better spent on figuring out how to lose weight or executing it. There is really no "natural" or "healthy" state of overweight.
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    This is in New Zealand, the country that deported a man, who had been losing weight, because he still weighed too much? More power to the fat activists.
    Its a NZ website, however the article says she is in Memphis, and the photos were taken all over the world.

    NZ has a weight problem anyway, I would say if anything its to accepted that thats a normal healthy way to be.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    A couple pictures struck me... this one.. the girl is obviously looking at something in the display window not at her. Making everything about yourself much?

    lipstick.jpg


    And this one. Who sets their purse down in the middle of a busy sidewalk and digs through it? No wonder people are staring at her.


    red-scarf.jpg


    And also honestly, she picks out clothes that are unattractive and do nothing for her. Being fat doesn't mean you have to dress funky. I judge her for wearing this blouse.

    blue-shirt.jpg
  • lilbearzmom
    lilbearzmom Posts: 600 Member
    So someone who happens to be laughing as they walk by her, it automatically means they are laughing at her? Out of the ten people who maybe looked in her direction while the camera was snapping, 1000 probably walked by and paid no attention. She picked out the pictures where it LOOKED like people were looking/laughing. Doesn't mean they were or were even giving her a second thought. These pictures prove nothing.
    Not saying that fat/overweight people are not discriminated against wrongly, but you cannot base that on her photos.
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    I've read articles written by Fat Activists claiming that being fat is not necessarily unhealthy...which is utter nonsense. When they start advancing dangerous ideas like that, then I think it is time to speak out against them.

    That said, everyone deserves respect. I wouldn't give someone a hard time for being fat. I might raise an eyebrow if they seemed really enthusiastic about being overweight, but that's about it.

    This.

    As a previously extremely obese person, it is my opinion that one cannot be obese and healthy. Nor is being extremely thin healthy-though our society bombards us with those images of the "ideal" body. However, I do not blame people for being over-weight, I blame our society, government agencies, food/pharma corps, the diet industry, etc. Most people are trying very hard to follow the status quo of nutritional advice and for me, that advice was completely wrong. Until I found better information, I remained obese and sick and was convinced that I was lazy slob lacking willpower. NOT. That's what those activists should be screaming about; the dietary misinformation that is so prevalent in our society.
  • RonnieLodge
    RonnieLodge Posts: 665 Member
    I think the snickering, shock and scorn from strangers was less about Memphis photographer Haley Morris-Cafiero being overweight and more about her obviously setting up a camera to take selfies - but then she isn't looking at the camera.

    If I am walking past someone who has set up a tripod to take their photo and then they aren't even facing the camera, I would be having a strange look on my face. If they are pouting and posing at the camera I would look at them sideways.

    Hell, when I see people taking photos in public and I could be in shot, I generally put my hand over my face because I prefer not to have random people take my photo without asking first.

    As for Fat Activists - if a person is getting sweaty & puffed by walking for 15mins/going up a flight of stairs it is time to lose some weight.

    A high waist circumference and too much abdominal fat (men over 4oinches/102 cm & women 35inches/88cm) putting a person at high risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease - means it is time to lose weight.

    I agree with the above comments that the energy would be better spent getting healthy than fighting against any perceived discrimination.
  • megsmom2
    megsmom2 Posts: 2,362 Member
    I agree with fat activists that there should not be discrimination. I agree that every size can be healthy and beautiful. I agree that people who are fat are as entitled as the rest of the world to respect, and that no one should wait to live a happy life until they fit someone else's idea of what they should look like. However...I also know that being fat tends to lead to health problems, not inevitably, but statistically. I know that being fat makes many things more difficult...things that most of us really do want to do. I know that being fat can lead to a shortened life span and aches and pains that thinner people don't suffer as much. And I know that in this society, discrimination does exist. Some folks are overly sensitive...like the woman in these pictures...she cant know that anyone is reacting to her at all...but these things do happen, and they hurt. I choose to be happy with myself at any size, but my health and well being need me to remake my body in a smaller size.
  • franceslynn
    franceslynn Posts: 10 Member
    I'm fine with it. But half those people (me included) switch to "I wish I was skinnier"... but that isnt fat acceptance is it.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    As long as they're not hurting anyone, I don't give a damn. If someone is lucky enough to be happy with themselves then good on them.

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