I have mixed feelings on it myself. On the one hand, I want everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin. I don't think anyone should feel ashamed of their size. Everyone should be able to find flattering, comfortable clothes in their size. We should educate people who have never had a weight problem that obesity is not a choice. We should fight the lazy/clumsy/stupid stereotypes of obese individuals... all that I support.

But there is something about it that rubs me the wrong way... I think it's the push to ignore medical advice and tell doctors they're being fat-shamed for being told to lose weight.

I'm just curious. Do you think it's ultimately harmful or helpful to obese folks?

Discuss

13 hours ago, kbsleeved said:

I'm a fan of the FA movement and I prefer it over "body positivity" because I feel like the latter is too often co-opted by straight-size people and take the focus away from prioritizing the people who are actually being marginalized because of their bodies, i.e. fat and disabled people.

However, if I'm putting in a vote it's for the real focus being on body NEUTRALITY, because that's what is really needed -- deconstruction of personal and social attitudes that assign moral value to body size, which then leads to social, employment, and medical discrimination. Part of this is deconstructing the attitude that fat automatically equates to unhealthy.

If anyone else is interested in exploring more of this idea, I highly recommend the podcast Maintenance Phase, which does deep dives into diet and wellness culture and most importantly, talks about all the ways that statistics have been misinterpreted and twisted to spread and reinforce myths about fat bodies.

I LOVE Maintenance Phase. They give fantastic information and Michael and Aubrey are hilarious.