Pondering Fat Acceptance

Kater Carlo
Originally uploaded by pixel_unikat /away for a while

Is fat political? Does fat-ism exist? As a long-term student of politics I have a tendency to see everything as political. And I would also say, yes fat-ism does exist. I worry I may have been guilty of fat-ism myself at times. Even at my largest (which these days does not seem that big) I was guilty of thinking harsh thoughts about people's size, or their size combined with their outfit, even if they were slimmer than me.

Part of the reason so many people want to lose weight, I think, is because of this judgement that they would make of others, and are aware of others making of them. Even though I had a thyroid problem, and so knew first-hand that for some people weight gain is not the result of endless sofa-bound eating, I still had that knee-jerk reaction about myself and others.

Anyway, the reason I am blathering about this is because I have recently been reading Fatshionista which often touches on fat acceptance, as well as great fashion.

But for the first time I understood that Fat Acceptance was about more than just not berating yourself about the extra pounds. There is no one definition, but fat acceptance includes the idea of being healthy at any size, like eating right and exercising. When I think of my insane yoyo dieting and some of the dumber diets I have tried, this is an appealing and sensible idea. It is also about doctors not seeing the health problems of the overweight as all linked to their size - which is something I have experienced.

Perhaps most importantly, fat acceptance makes the case that discrimination against overweight people should end. Sometimes, especially watching some comedy shows, it feels like larger people are the last group that people can laugh at without feeling guilty. Which strikes me as odd. When shows and films feature fat characters that get cast or suited-up for laughs (e.g. Monica from friends in her fat suit) how are the 20% of obese people (here in the UK, and 32% in the US) supposed to feel?

So, why aren't I casting my lot in with the fat acceptance movement? I have thought about it. And I envy people who are able to accept their fat, or at least decide to work their way towards accepting it. But I know that for me, it would be a lie. I don't accept being overweight, and I don't like it. I have been overweight, I have lost the extra pounds and regained them. I hate yoyo dieting. This blog is about ending that. I am not clear I will succeed for good. After all 95% of dieters have a relapse. BUT I feel I have to try because I don't like the alternative.

Also, if I were to move towards accepting my fat I am not sure I would be able to be healthy at any size. It is fighting the flab and maintaining any loss that stops me from being the carb-monster. As much as I appreciate that fat acceptance is about freeing yourself from this hyped-up dieting spiral, it is not something I feel I can do. I would like to think this opinion covers only me, but I'm as guilty of the next person in making a snap judgement about someone because of their size.

This is not to say I am anti-fat acceptance. On one level I kind of envy that level of self-belief. Anyone being happy with their size is great in my opinion. Although, having said that, there are possibly limits. I think deliberately getting larger and larger is sort of worrying. In this case a woman is deliberately trying to reach 1000lbs. Her husband's encouragement seems troubling to me. If someone's partner was encouraging them to get thinner and thinner to the point of anorexia it would be equally troubling, but because she is large I feel I should censor myself.

What about you? Anyone out there consider themselves part of the fat acceptance movement? And can you be a slim fat activist?

Edited to say: I just realised that Fatshionista's logo features a plump cat - the choice of the photo above was accidental, or subliminal because I was thinking about it. Either way it is a homage, not a copy. Also cats are brilliant.