The Fat Acceptance Movement… Thoughts??

Natashia524
Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey all,

This was sparked by another thread I was a part of but I’d like to get your thoughts on “fat acceptance”… Do you all see the current movement as revolutionary and pioneering -OR- just an excuse for fat people to remain over-weight and unhealthy??

**Only mature and respectful comments please!** :smile:

~Tasha~
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Replies

  • tyoung8
    tyoung8 Posts: 115 Member
    Personally I think it is just an excuse. There is nothing comfortable or acceptable about being overweight. I would not go as far as to say that everyone should follow BMI calculators but I do feel that people should be at a healthy weight in close relation to the calculators. Its really just an excuse to be lazy and not worry about the health issues that come with bearing extra weight.
  • Valera0466
    Valera0466 Posts: 319 Member
    Maybe not acceptance but at least decency and compassion. I am tired of being treated differently than the skinny person i happen to be hanging out with. Most of the time it's as if they just plain don't see you but sometimes they are just rude.
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    Caution language

    http://beastmodaldomains.com/2011/11/09/fat-acceptance-is-unacceptable/
  • msliu7911
    msliu7911 Posts: 638 Member
    As with everything else that is becoming increasingly acceptable.. I believe this is following- however not in a good way. This is something that is very unhealthy and people need to realize that. There shouldn't be shows out there glorifying an 800 lb woman who eats three cheeseburger meals for lunch and has no intention of ever losing weight because she LOVES food too much (I watched the show last night). This just makes it easier for people who are morbidly obese to accept it and think they can continue the path they are on and be fine.

    I'm all for empowering women (and men) to feel good in their skin and be confident.. however there's a fine line between encouraging the problem and really helping someone out in making a change for the better and long run.

    That said- I LOVE THAT SHOW EXTREME MAKEOVER WEIGHT LOSS EDITION! :)
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    I'm pretty against it. Of course no one should be judged solely on their weight/appearance, and being overweight doesn't make anyone a bad person, but advocating for staying fat is not even remotely ok. I have a hard time believing anyone who is obese is truly happy with their body (in my experience, happy people don't usually walk around demanding everyone recognize how happy they are).
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660
    I think that there shouldn't be a question that we accept people no matter their size, race, gender, sexual preference, marriage status, religious preference, and on and on. Whatever happened to there just being human acceptance? Why are we so hell bent on making ourselves different from others and then exploiting it? I was just raised in the concept that all people deserve respect until they do something heinous.

    As far as the movement, I don't have a problem with it, but I will admit I don't understand people who want to be obese and choose to live their life that way and exploit themselves (specifically, I'm thinking of a Dr. Phil episode recently when a 500lb woman wanted to be the biggest person in the world). I think that calling unneccesary attention to yourself gives the impression of low-self-worth and desperation.
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    Yeah, see I am on the fence about it... I think that the underlying goals/mission of the movement is awesome (and touch on a lot of what Valera0466 talked about) but I think that, as with everything, we are going to have those people who take the movement out of context and in fact do choose to use it as an excuse to be fat. I think it's A LOT easier to say that you "accept your fat" and that you are comfortable in your skin than it is to actually get out there every day for the rest of your life and make that change! So I think that those people who use "fat acceptance" as a crutch are tainting the true mission of the movement and are making everyone associated with it look bad.
  • BAMFMeredith
    BAMFMeredith Posts: 2,810 Member
    Well considering the majority of the US population is overweight, with an alarming large amount of those being obese, I think, at least in the US, we've accepted it pretty well.

    If it weren't "accepted" it wouldn't be the majority.
  • fbmandy55
    fbmandy55 Posts: 5,263 Member
    I've seen alot of this on my sister's facebook page. I think it's great. They post pictures of girls of ALL different sizes and shapes saying "I'm beautiful" or something along those lines and then they get 10,000 likes. If people can look at a girl who is a size 20 can accept her as beautiful and give her confidence, I'm all for it!

    I don't think it's an excuse to stay overweight and certainly hope it doesn't become that. But people being happy and confident is a good thing. Espcially in children and teens.
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    I'm pretty against it. Of course no one should be judged solely on their weight/appearance, and being overweight doesn't make anyone a bad person, but advocating for staying fat is not even remotely ok. I have a hard time believing anyone who is obese is truly happy with their body (in my experience, happy people don't usually walk around demanding everyone recognize how happy they are).

    Good point!
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    To each their own. Let them lie in their choices.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    What are you hoping to get out of this thread that wasn't covered in a few others that have been posted? Forgive the question if it seems a little direct, but someone could interpret this as an attempt to stir the pot.
  • andymf85
    andymf85 Posts: 18 Member
    I'm for accepting the PEOPLE who are fat and being able to look past it at who they are... it's the FAT that I can't regard as acceptable, not with a national health crisis arising from it.

    We do have a dual problem in the US, on the one hand we are becoming too materialistic, shallow, superficial... but on the other hand too many of us are also becoming overweight and obese. Both are severe problems, it's just that one is spiritual in nature and the other is physical. We have every ability to fight both battles at the same time, and we should.
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    I've seen alot of this on my sister's facebook page. I think it's great. They post pictures of girls of ALL different sizes and shapes saying "I'm beautiful" or something along those lines and then they get 10,000 likes. If people can look at a girl who is a size 20 can accept her as beautiful and give her confidence, I'm all for it!

    I don't think it's an excuse to stay overweight and certainly hope it doesn't become that. But people being happy and confident is a good thing. Espcially in children and teens.

    Yeah, see and I think that's what the movement is supposed to be about... Everyone finding their inner beauty and not letting either their own or society's pressures and standard of beauty dictate the way they think and feel about themselves-- I love that as well!! I just know that there are many, many men and women who have learned about this and have taken it to a whole 'nother level... In that they have used this as a way to justify their weight and unhealthy lifestyle by saying, "Well I love myself and the way I look so forget the fact that I have all these medical illnesses associated with my weight, I'm happy being me!"
  • piexcore
    piexcore Posts: 85 Member
    I feel like acceptance is the wrong word. I don't think we should accept obesity or encourage it, (do we really want to teach our children that obesity and poor health is totally cool, and that their life will be as totally rad and fulfilled as a normal sized healthy person? Probably not.) but we should treat those who are overweight with the same respect and dignity and any other person and not just assume that they're weak willed/ stupid/ wastes of life.
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    What are you hoping to get out of this thread that wasn't covered in a few others that have been posted? Forgive the question if it seems a little direct, but someone could interpret this as an attempt to stir the pot.

    I haven't seen other posts on here with this topic so forgive me if I am being redundant. And no, I wouldn't say that I am trying to stir the pot but more so just facilitate a discussion. Like I said, this topic was brought up on another thread I was on but due to the number of other comments and conversations that were going on at the same time, it was hard to keep it going.
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    I feel like acceptance is the wrong word. I don't think we should accept obesity or encourage it, (do we really want to teach our children that obesity and poor health is totally cool, and that their life will be as totally rad and fulfilled as a normal sized healthy person? Probably not.) but we should treat those who are overweight with the same respect and dignity and any other person and not just assume that they're weak willed/ stupid/ wastes of life.

    Agreed!
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    I haven't seen other posts on here with this topic so forgive me if I am being redundant. And no, I wouldn't say that I am trying to stir the pot but more so just facilitate a discussion.
    Like I said, this topic was brought up on another thread I was on but due to the number of other comments and conversations that were going on at the same time, it was hard to keep it going.

    I'm confused. If the thread still exists, you should still have access to it via a search if nothing else?
  • Natashia524
    Natashia524 Posts: 35 Member
    I haven't seen other posts on here with this topic so forgive me if I am being redundant. And no, I wouldn't say that I am trying to stir the pot but more so just facilitate a discussion.
    Like I said, this topic was brought up on another thread I was on but due to the number of other comments and conversations that were going on at the same time, it was hard to keep it going.

    I'm confused. If the thread still exists, you should still have access to it via a search if nothing else?

    Okay... You can either comment on the post or not- it's your choice.
  • tripitena
    tripitena Posts: 554 Member
    I think that there shouldn't be a question that we accept people no matter their size, race, gender, sexual preference, marriage status, religious preference, and on and on. Whatever happened to there just being human acceptance? Why are we so hell bent on making ourselves different from others and then exploiting it? I was just raised in the concept that all people deserve respect until they do something heinous.

    As far as the movement, I don't have a problem with it, but I will admit I don't understand people who want to be obese and choose to live their life that way and exploit themselves (specifically, I'm thinking of a Dr. Phil episode recently when a 500lb woman wanted to be the biggest person in the world). I think that calling unneccesary attention to yourself gives the impression of low-self-worth and desperation.

    Pretty much
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    I think that it is a decision that a large part of society is hoping to make that will result in bad behavior being glorified and ignorance and stupidity (in their true definitions, not as insults) becoming preferable to knowledge, action and personal betterment.

    I will always believe in survival of the fittest, so tis actually doesnt worry me at all, since I wont suffer from their delusions.

    But if smokers have to pay more for insurance, so should lazy overeaters <~ i say that to differentiate between those with actual real live legitimate disorders that prevent them from moving.

    I dont mean we shouldnt love them, I mean we shouldnt accept it as OK.
  • KBGirts
    KBGirts Posts: 882 Member
    Most people here seem to be saying that no one should be judged on appearances, everyone loved for who they are, etc. Which is true, but that is not what the fat acceptance movement is about. It's about being FORCED to make accomodations for large peopl. Example: Airlines being required to have larger seats. It's kinda like ADA but for large people who are not "disabled".

    So the question here should be: How do you feel about that?
  • sktllmdrhmz
    sktllmdrhmz Posts: 1,799 Member
    **Only mature and respectful comments please!** :smile:

    Oh, sorry. *picks up hobo gear and marches on*
  • tehpounce
    tehpounce Posts: 64
    I think everyone should be accepted for who they are and the choices they have made. Just because I am not happy with myself, doesn't mean I should push my beliefs on someone else about weight loss. It's no different than race, or religion. We all have to come to terms with the choices we make in life whether good or bad. Yes, being fat is unhealthy - we all know this. Some of us remedy it, some of us don't but aren't we all here to support each other when we do make that choice to better ourselves? We can't fix everyone, but we can at least accept them.

    Also on this note, accommodations will always be made whether skinny or over weight for trivial things. Best to just get over it and let it not affect you. Would you REALLY complain about having larger airline seats? I fly a lot and I would definitely not mind that at all!
  • tanyaleighcummings
    tanyaleighcummings Posts: 105
    I have known and loved many in the fat acceptance movement. I like strong, powerful people.

    Weight is not the be-all of health. These are individuals that swim marathons in the ocean! Individuals who eat clean, delicious food they cook themselves. Despite my years boxing, and the belt on my wall - these are individuals who could take me down in a heartbeat if such was their whim. These are individuals who love themselves and thier bodies.

    And yes, these are individuals who still are capable of feeling stung when they are judged, belittled or verbally attacked.


    No, shoveling junk into your body is not healthy or a act of self-love. But there are those that do that and are skinny. Size isn't the issue. Eating well, exercising often...these are indications of health. Not size.
    The woman who wants to be the largest in the world is as sad a case as the one who wants to have the most children.

    And many heavyweight boxers can be judged as 'fat' as well.
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    I don't accept fat for myself. It doesn't bug me if someone else wants to feel good about himself/herself, as long as I don't end up paying for healthcare for any lifestyle-related illnesses.
  • Amo_Angelus
    Amo_Angelus Posts: 604 Member
    I think it's good that people are accepting more natural figures. Curves are good and overweight is still bad, but there's more understanding for people with disabilities (seen or unseen) being overweight. And that's a good thing, so many girls (boys too, but it's mainly girls) have NO body image, they're shown from childhood that women are skinny with big breasts and sexy, they're shown air brushed images of women who have eating disorders or have been air brushed and told that's attractive, that's how you should be, and then they can't live up to it! It's disgusting! Hell the number of suicides based solely on medias portrayal of women is diabolical! So yes, I fully support larger love. I believe that the body was never meant to be as skinny as the media pretends is sexy and I think larger was always nicer. I also think that if you're over weight to a degree then that's ok too, being slightly overweight is healthier than underweight. And if you have a disability that prevents you from loosing weight (I don't know technical things but preventing you from excercise, and there's also something that stops the body from digesting properly?) the last thing you want is nasty hate for being overweight because of something you cannot control. So power to it.

    I do, however, think that the lazy fat *kitten* who like to eat and are too lazy to even accept responsibility will see this as acceptance of them. I don't think that's right. But then, these people are the ones who coasted through anyway, usually saying things like "Big is beautiful" or "I'm not fat" or, my all time favourite "They're just jealous that there's more to love about me" so no, I don't really think public perception was ever going to make a difference to those people, and the change in it isn't going to make any difference anyway.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
    I haven't seen other posts on here with this topic so forgive me if I am being redundant. And no, I wouldn't say that I am trying to stir the pot but more so just facilitate a discussion.
    Like I said, this topic was brought up on another thread I was on but due to the number of other comments and conversations that were going on at the same time, it was hard to keep it going.

    I'm confused. If the thread still exists, you should still have access to it via a search if nothing else?

    Okay... You can either comment on the post or not- it's your choice.

    Very well. I accept that you don't want to answer the question for unspecified reasons. Enjoy your day...and thread.
  • KBGirts
    KBGirts Posts: 882 Member

    Also on this note, accommodations will always be made whether skinny or over weight for trivial things. Best to just get over it and let it not affect you. Would you REALLY complain about having larger airline seats? I fly a lot and I would definitely not mind that at all!

    Yes! Less people on the plane = higher fairs.
  • tehpounce
    tehpounce Posts: 64
    I have known and loved many in the fat acceptance movement. I like strong, powerful people.

    Weight is not the be-all of health. These are individuals that swim marathons in the ocean! Individuals who eat clean, delicious food they cook themselves. Despite my years boxing, and the belt on my wall - these are individuals who could take me down in a heartbeat if such was their whim. These are individuals who love themselves and thier bodies.

    And yes, these are individuals who still are capable of feeling stung when they are judged, belittled or verbally attacked.


    No, shoveling junk into your body is not healthy or a act of self-love. But there are those that do that and are skinny. Size isn't the issue. Eating well, exercising often...these are indications of health. Not size.
    The woman who wants to be the largest in the world is as sad a case as the one who wants to have the most children.

    And many heavyweight boxers can be judged as 'fat' as well.


    This. Most of my "skinny" friends eat nothing but crap and lounge around all day. One of them has high cholesterol. Where here I am busting my butt to get in shape and eating healthy and it's a struggle. Skinny does not mean healthy, fat does not necessarily mean unhealthy. Everyone is different.

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