Fat Is Beautiful
by Crystal Hartman Author
Thoughts, articles, and reprints about America's fat-phobic, sizism, and pointing us toward fat acceptance. A beautiful jumping off point for those interested in the subject—articles from Marilyn Wann about embracing yourself and reclaiming the word fat, personal health, some thoughts about the learning (and unlearning) processes of fat acceptance, numerous surprising facts, historical quotes about fatness, as well as an excerpt from Nomy Lamm's Big Fat Revolution, and information about fat women being more likely to enjoy sex even! A fat liberation manifesto! Statistics of fat women based on their class background! There is a true wealth of information on the subject and Crystal promises there is even more on the way! Let us unlearn our media-induced responses to fatness! Uplifting and empowering.
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Comments & Reviews
I received this in the Body Love subscription box recently, and loved it so much that I ordered 3 more copies for the community centre I volunteer for. this is a super compilation of thoughts, art, articles, and resources and is great to show people who are new to Fat Activism. Thanks for making this and sharing it with the world!
Julian, I noticed that a lot of what you've said about overweight people also applies to people who are a "normal" weight. The vast majority of people in America, thin or fat, have a poor diet that consists of a lot of junk food with high calorie intake. I think you don't understand the problem our society has when associating body type with health. To us, thin = healthy and fat = unhealthy. But common sense should tell you that many thin people have poor diets, usually eating high-fat foods with not enough fruits and vegetables. I have a friend who is probably a size 1 in jeans, but her diet consists of pizza, soda, cookies, chocolate and not much else. I know many overweight, or "obese", people who eat much healthier than she does AND exercise. That is what fat-positive activism tries to make clear and that people of all sizes should be respected. There's a lot you can do to keep people healthy without dissing fat people.
Of course some fat people are unhealthy, people of all sizes can be unhealthy, but fat in and of itself is NOT unhealthy. Misconceptions about fat (such as written in the comment by Julian) are exactly why this zine is so important. There has been more recent research proving that fat is not unhealthy and many health problems originally thought to stem from fat - actually are caused by dieting and eating disorders. You should read this zine before you decide to criticize it.
I take issue with the fat-centered activism that is gaining in popularity as the worlds waist band grows. I feel it necessary to preface this comment with the fact that three years ago I was an unhealthy 350 pounds and lost that through excersize to find myself to be a happy 179.
While I agree that their is a problem in the way the public views size, and that the rail thin beauty standard is ludicruous. But to embrace an obese or even overweight body beauty standard is just as ludicruous. As well as just as unhealthy.
I understand that there is a small percentage of people who suffer from glandular issues, but the vast majority of people do not. These people eat poor diets of trash and nutrient devoid food and food substitutes. Or, if not diets stated as such, they eat entirely too much with calorie intake at astronomical proportions with little to no excersize. This is unhealthy.
The health care costs of people who are overweight to obese are astronomical, as these people pay more for health care for health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. In the U.S., doctors' visits, hospital visits, medicine, and other health care treatments related to being obese and/or overwieght cost $51.6 billion in 1995. So, an anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist activist or theorist has to come to terms with the idea of perpetuating the division of labor that is the health care industry.
On average, obese people had $585 in prescription costs for a year, compared with $333 for non-obese people. (1995 statistics) People found to be obese are more likely to be hospitalized, and at younger ages. Their hospital stays tend to last about as long as those of non-obese people however obese people had an 80% higher chance of having a claim for professional services (like doctor visits).
I believe that heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke are not beautiful, regardless of the inner beauty found in these people.
I find the fat-as-beautiful movement to be a reaction to the low self esteem of people suffering from from obesity, and in despiration they wish to feel at ease with their bodies.
Shapely people are wonderful. If that is healthy for them and their bodies. I am a proponent of the idea that Healthy Is Beautiful.
I have not read this zine, but I have read items like this.
I loved this zine, and I'm not afraid to say so. I really hope another issue comes out soon.