The Fat Acceptance Movement… Thoughts??

I have met very very few smokers that don't know that smoking is bad for you.

I have met very very few fat people that don't know that being fat is bad for you.

I have met many people that feel the need to share with fat people that they are disgusting and that they are unhealthy. If we're going to crusade against the fat people being unhealthy we better also pack up and start letting the smokers know that they are going to die and the *kitten* need to be informed that their sport-****** is going to lead to HIV and death as well.

It's similar to religious people telling other people that if they don't read their holy book and accept their holy dogma that they will burn in a pit of fire for all time.

To anyone who feels the pressing need to tell fat people they are unhealthy, unless you are their doctor or unless they specifically asked you for your opinion on being fat, please kindly STFU. I can pretty much guarantee you that being fat carries with it an entire package deal of ridicule and social issues and that they have probably been told by a good many non-fat people how unhealthy they are, so even the dimmest of fat people knows that being fat is probably not the best thing for them if only because people treat them like feces on a day to day basis.

I think it's sad that wonderfully talented, kind, loving and accomplished people are regarded as "less than" because their waistline is "more than'.

Let me introduce you to my older sister: She double majored in math & chemistry and minored in physics. . .graduated with one of those "laude" superlatives that smart folks get (note...I did NOT!). She nearly finished a master's in mathematics until a difficult pregnancy side lined that. She went back to school when her, then, youngest went to Kindergarten and got an accounting degree. The girl is FANTASTIC with numbers. She's a wonderful teacher. As a G.A. in her master's program, kids would be on waiting lists to take her college math class! She's taught nursing students chemistry. She has been married to the same (and only) husband for 21 years. She doesn't much care for make up or hairstyling so she can look a little less polished than some ladies at times. She had a late-in-life baby at almost 46. She held my hand and kept me sane while I went through my divorce. She loves and serves the Lord regularly.

She's 5' 3" and roughly 275.

I'm 5'5" and 133...guess who has it easier in life?

She's smarter, kinder, and much more accomplished in things that have REAL value in life. I have my successes as well, but I seem to get more compliments, more recognition, and generally a more positive vibe from folks. I mean, is running a half marathon at age 40 in under 2 hours REALLY that much more impressive than maintaining a rock solid marriage for 21 years and raising 3 brilliant and gifted daughters and being a loving example of Christ's love? REALLY? I get all kinds of praise for running accomplishments and my sister stands by with a smile on her face.

I don't ACCEPT my sister's weight as the totallity of who she is. It's unhealthy. She's smart enough to figure that out. I love HER and accept HER regardless of what the scale says. I think if we could have that sort of acceptance for PEOPLE regardless of physical characteristics they have or don't have, we wouldn't need many of the "movements" or "clubs" that seek to elevate the status or positive qualities of any particular group.

That was so sweet! I wish my sister would tell me something like that!

Here's the bottom line, guys. It is not YOU job to police anyone's body or their choices. It doesn't matter what they are doing. IT. IS. NOT. YOUR JOB. You have no business telling anyone how they should be eating.

If you wouldn't accept it for yourself, that's fine. Then don't do it yourself. You're not some great hero who's come in and giving this overweight person brand new information. Chances are, they've heard it before.

But again, and I can't say it enough. IT IS NOT YOUR JOB.

It is extremely important (as is the Health at Every Size movement).

There are a couple of key reasons:

1. There is a lot of fat discrimination, it is the only kind that is acceptable. Most of it is dependent on our stereotypes of fat people. We have basically associated all of the "bad" traits to being fat. And we have also labeled it as something fixable, like being poor. It is very much tied into the American identity.

"Fat people are slothful, lazy and over indulgent. If they would just get some self control and pick themselves up by the bootstraps they will be thin and normal." (Doesn't this sound a lot like what we say about poor people, and black people and other non-Asian ethnic people. As if society has zero role in circumstance and opportunity.)

2. The generally accepted message is, if you are "fat" you can't be happy, confident, have nice hings or live your life until you are "normal and thin."

People with positive self images generally treat themselves better, (and are more likely to adopt healthy habits) and our society makes it very difficult to have a positive self-image if you aren't "normal." Unfortunately normalcy applies to size, stature, race, wealth, class and virtually every attribute. Why is "nude" the color beige? Does this mean if I am not "beige" then there is no nude tone that matches me, because I am "abnormal." Or there are "normal" stores with "regular" sizes. And if you don't fit into this "normal" size, you are banished to the deep dark basement where the "abnormal" plus sized clothing goes.

3. We have confused weight with health. There is a loose correlation with weight and health, but people can be healthy at many weights, and unhealthy at the same weight. The biggest problem is that we are so focused on losing weight and not GAINING health, people will resort to ridiculously unhealthy methods in order to see the right number on the scale. These habits are not maintainable and the weight comes back with interest. Causing even poorer health. Focusing on improving health, will help more than losing weight will. And improving health might have a side effect of weight loss. The more we tell people that weight - health, the more people will resort to fad diets, pointless supplements, and remain as unhealthy as they were before.

4. There is no one standard of a healthy weight. My healthy weight might be "fat" or "skinny" or "unhealthy" on someone else.

5. Loving yourself as you are now, doesn't mean that you have to stop improving. Do parents stop loving their kids when they do something bad? Should you stop loving and caring for yourself because you don't have a perfect body/perfect health right now? Of course not, so why are we trying to force this message that you are "less than" and not deserving of love or respect or sympathy because of your current appearance.

VERY WELL SAID AND I THINK YOU ARE MY NEW HERO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ :drinker:

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?

As an overweight person who travels very frequently I think it is ridiculous that they would force airlines to make there seats larger. If I am uncomfortable that is on me. I am not disabled, in my situation I have chosen to focus on other things and let my health go.