Academicrigor,journalisticflair

Abigfatfight:thecaseforfatactivism
June22,201212.23amEDT

Author

JenniferLee
LecturerinCreativeWriting,Gender
StudiesandLiteraryStudies,Victoria
University

Fatprejudiceandstigmamustberecognised.StockyBodies/IsaacBrown

Fatty,goonadiet.Heydoggie,youcandoityoucanmakeitupthathill.Girlsaresofatthese
days,itsdisgracefulinmyday,wewatchedourweight.Yourebeautiful,butyoudbeevenmore
beautifulifyoujustlostsomeweight.

IfIlistedalltheinsults,Idfillapage.InotethemheretoshowthatfatprejudiceisrifeinAustralia.
Sometimesitiswomenwholookovertheirglassesanddirecttheireyesupanddownmybodyin
shopswheretheydontstockanythingoversizefourteen.Myleftwing,friendlyandkindGPsays,
Yourebiggerthanyouwerelasttimesoitsharderformetogetthisinplace,asanapologyfor
gropingaroundduringapapsmearanapologythatblamesmybodyforherlessthanperfect
technique.

Thatsasubtleexample,becauseItrytochoosemymedicalprofessionalscarefullytoavoidthe
standardfatprejudice.Itdemonstratesthatsometimeswearehitwithfatprejudiceinthemost
vulnerableorintimatesituations.Whyarentmedicalstudentstrainedtodealwithfatbodies?Why
isntmedicalequipmentgenerallymadefordifferentkindsofbodiesfatonesincluded?Fatpeople
aresentconstantmessagesthattheyarewrong,thattheyneedtochange,thattheworldaround
themisfineanddoesntneedtocaterforthem.

Iknowwhatsomereadersarethinking:Yourewrong.Loseweight.Youcancontrolyourweight.
Whyshouldwecaterforyou?Imnotfat,whyareyou?
Inotherwords,ifyourefat,yourenotacceptableasyouare.Youreasecondclasscitizen.Youdont
deservethesamerightsathinpersonhas.Doesthisremindyouofanything?Itremindsmeofwhat
wecallprejudice.Isitthesameasprejudiceagainstqueers,peopleofcolour,thedisabled?Not
exactlyallprejudiceisdifferent.Butwecandrawsomeparallels.Largeinstitutions(the
government,media,medicalassociations)aretryingtoturnusallthin.Theyarefostering
internalisedfathatredinanattempttocontrolbodies,andintheprocesstheyareauthorisingothers
hatredandabuse.

SowhycallmyselffatoralignmyselfwithporkoortheothertermsIvehadhurledatme?Thefat
communityhastakenfaton,treatingthewordasaneutraldescriptorinordertoreclaimitand
reduceitspowerasanegative.Overweightcarriesaninherentjudgement:over,abovewhatyou
shouldbe,thustheimplicationofaparticularnormalweight.ObesityisderivedfromtheLatin
obesus(havingeatenuntilfat)whichdirectlyandproblematicallycorrelatesobesitywith
overeating.

Iamfat.Notfetishisedhourglassfat,butfattyfatfatfat.Iam174centimetrestallandIweighabout
135kilograms.Iamnotonadiet.Iamnottryingtoloseweight.Ieatgreenvegetablesmostnights
butIalsoeatpotatochipsanddrinkbeersometimeswithoutfeelingmorallyreprehensible.Ifyoure
judgingme,shouldIliftmyvalueasacitizenbysayingthatIdontsmokeandIalsogotothegym
regularly,andthatIamamemberofAquaporko,afatsynchronisedswimmingteam?Doesmyrating
dropagainwhenIsaythatIdononeofthatwithweightlossinmind?

ShouldIworryaboutwhatImightcostMedicareinyearstocome?Thegovernmentandmediatellus
thatobesitywillcosttaxpayersA$58bnperyear(thougha2008estimatebyleadingactuaryGeoff
DunsfordwasA$8billion).Whateverthefigures,theyrebeingmanipulated,becauseobesitycosts
reflecttheimpactofheartdiseaseanddiabetesandthinpeoplegetthese,too.Thefiguresarealso
basedonassumedcorrelationsandfailtoconsiderthepossibleunmeasuredcostsresultingfroma
weightfocusandantifatmessages,suchasweightcycling,responsestofatstigmaandassociated
mentalhealthissuesrelatedtooppressionanddiscrimination,andthepossibledevelopmentof
chronicdietingandeatingdisorders.
StockyBodies/IsaacBrown

In2008,MelbournesBakerIDIHeartandDiabetesInstitutereleasedareportentitledAustralias
FutureFatBombthatdeclaredAustraliatobethefattestnationintheworld,aclaimbasedona
ratherdubiouscollectionofdatafrom14,000Australians.WhenyouGooglefattestcountry,the
resultsshowarticlesclaimingthattitlefortheUnitedStates,AustraliaandMexico.Likewise,
Germany,Malta,GreeceandBritainhaveallbeenlabelledthefattestnationsinEurope.Notallthose
claimscanberight.Often,thestatisticsarenotcollectedwithrigour,anddataisalsomanipulated.
Sowhyinflatestatistics,whycreatepanic?Thesearethequestionsweshouldbeasking.

Imaskingforreaderstolookbeyondwhattheyvebeentoldaboutfatalltheirlives.Itisnt
uncommonforustoblindlyacceptlongheldbeliefs.MargaretHeffernanresearchesthewayspeople
arefaithfultotheirfavouriteideasevenwhenfacedwithhardevidencethatdisprovesthoseideas.She
arguesthatourbrainstreatinformationthatchallengesourtreasuredbeliefsdifferently:

Casesofwilfulblindnessarentabouthindsight.Theyfeaturecontemporaneous
informationthatwasavailablebutignored.Whileitistemptingtopilloryindividual
villains,thecausesaremoreoftensystemicandcultural.Therearemanyreasons
psychological,socialandstructuralwhywedontseewhatwemostneedtonotice.

IexpectmanyreadersdisagreewithwhatIsayaboutweightandfat,butthatdoesntmeanIm
wrong.Checkyourkneeisitjerking?

Thefatacceptancemovementdoesntclaimthatthereisnocorrelationbetweenweightandhealth,
butitdoeshighlightwhenthoseclaimsaregrosslyexaggeratedattheexpenseofshamingfatpeople,
neglectingotheraspectsofhealthsuchasstress,sleep,mentalhealthandbalancedeating(not
starvationforweightloss).Beingclassifiedobeseoftengetsyouadifferentdiagnosisortreatment
thansomeoneinthenormalweightrange.Asideeffectisthatthinpeopleareassumedtobehealthy
whethertheyeatwellandexerciseornot,andsomaynotgetthemedicaltestsorattentiontheyneed.

Intheir2011paper,WeightScience:EvaluatingtheEvidenceforaParadigmShift,LindaBaconand
LucyAphramordiscussthemajorevidencerelatingtohealthandobesity.Theyfoundthatthe
mostcomprehensivereviewoftheresearchpooleddataforover350,000subjectsfrom26studiesand
foundoverweighttobeassociatedwithgreaterlongevitythannormalweight.Forthoseoverfifty
five,theevidenceshowsthatbeingintheoverweightorobesecategoriesdecreasestheriskofdeath.
Thesearetheresultsthatgenerallydontgetreportedbythemedia.

Youcanseethevictimsoftheobesitypanicandthefathatredwomen,evenfeminists,constantly
restrictingwhattheyeattofulfilanaestheticidealorfalsenotionofhealth.Iknowsocialistfeminists
whodontshavetheirlegsyetcountcalories.Thereareplentyoffatpeoplewhoarentvictims,who
mayormaynoteatwell,exerciseenoughorbehealthy,butwhoacceptorcelebratetheirbodies.And
therearethinwomenwhothinktheyrefatandhatetheirbodies.Fathatredisnotconfinedtothose
whoareactuallyfat.Theselfloathingisahumanrightsissueitisareactiontoantifatmessages
andweightlosscampaigns.

Whilemenundoubtedlysufferfromantifatmessages,womenarestillvaluedfortheirbeautyfirst
andaresocialisedaccordingly,whichperhapsexplainswhythemajorityoffatactivistsarewomen.
YetIbelievethatthegroupmostatriskfromantifatmessagesischildren.Acrosstheglobethereisa
possiblecorrelationbetweenobesityepidemicpoliciesandanincreaseinchildandadolescent
eatingdisorders.The2012reportofasurveyconductedbytheCSMottChildrensHospitalatthe
UniversityofMichigannotes:

therisingprevalenceofeatingdisordersandthetrendofseeingthesedisordersmore
oftenamongyoungerchildrenraisesconcernsthatsomeobesitypreventioninitiatives
mayinadvertentlypromoteanunhealthyanxietyabouteatingorweightamongcertain
children.

Theinitiativesthatareimplementedatschoolsincludeheightweightmeasurements,increased
physicalactivity,nutritionaleducationandlimitsonsweetsorjunkfood.
StockyBodies/IsaacBrown

Encouragingincreasedphysicalactivitycanbepositiveifvariousoptionsareofferedandifthe
activityisnotalwayscompetitiveandskillbased.Providingarangeoffood,includinghighly
nutritiousitemsandasmallernumberofjunkoptions,isnotaproblem.Butwhenthefocusofthe
activitiesisweightloss,restriction,regulationandforcedchangeandnotjusthealthitbecomes
somethingelse.Thehealthymessagesaremuddiedbytheweightlossmessages.Fatchildrenare
learningthattheyarenotokayastheyare,andtheyoftentakeextrememeasurestogainapproval
tobecomethinatanycost.

InAustralia,thereisanabsenceofpublishedquantitativeresearchonthelinkbetweenobesity
messagesandunhealthyeatingbehavioursinchildren.Nonetheless,ProfessorSusanSawyer,chairof
adolescenthealthattheRoyalChildrensHospital,says,

Theseadolescentshaveanorexianervosaintermsofhowunwelltheyare,thedistortedbody
imageandtheamountofweightloss,buttheyareatnormalweight.Thisisverynew.

Thesemedicalprofessionalsareatthefrontlineand,whilethisisnthardevidence,itisimportantto
investigatethecausesofthisneweatingdisorder.Thelongtermeffectsofawidespreadantiobesity
campaignhaventbeenmeasured.Yet,whilesomemedicalprofessionalsaresuggestinglessextreme
antiobesitycampaigns,theyarestilladvocatingsurveillanceandmeasurementofweight,andare
unwillingtoconsiderHealthatEverySize(HAES)principles.

HAESproposessizeacceptanceasopposedtoweightloss.Itencouragespeopletousehungerand
satiety,individualnutritionalneeds,andenjoymenttoregulatetheireating,anditdiscourages
externaldietaryrestriction.HAESadvocatesdontdiscourageweightlossbuttheychallenge
intentionalweightlossasagoalandpromotethelongtermfocusonhealthybehaviourswhetherthat
meanslosingorgainingweight.Criticsarguethatsuchanapproachwillleadpeopletoeat
uncontrollablyandgainweight.However,BaconandAphramorshowthatthishasbeendisprovedby
successfulHAESprograms:

HAESresearchshowsthatbylearningtovaluetheirbodiesastheyarerightnow,even
whenthisdiffersfromadesiredweightorshapeorgeneratesambivalentfeelings,people
strengthentheirabilitytotakecareofthemselvesandsustainimprovementsinhealth
behaviours.

Theremovaloffoodrestrictionusuallyresultsinmorebalancedeating,withlessguiltandanxiety.
WhenIrefertofoodrestrictionImnotjusttalkingaboutthenegativeeffectsoffanaticalrestrictive
dietsImalsotalkingaboutthenegativeeffectsoffoodrestrictionforthepurposeofweightloss.
NoneoftheseHAESprogramshasresultedinweightgain,andallstudieshaveshownimproved
eatingbehaviours.AsDebBurganddiscusses,whileHAESmayormaynotleadtoweightloss(thats
notthepointofit),dieting,andevenwhatisreferredtoashealthyfoodrestriction,isprovento
resultinweightgainovertimeinmostpeople.

StockyBodies/IsaacBrown

Iwasputonmyfirstdietateightyearsofage,andIdietedonandoffuntilIwastwentyeight.The
onlythingthatfoodrestrictiondidwastoenhancemyshameandcauseatwentyyeardietbinge
eatingproblemthattookfiveyearstorectify.Themillionsofwomenwhodietorengageinlifestyle
changes(thatis,foodrestriction)forthepurposeofintentionalweightlossandthenputallthe
weightbackonaretheyallinadequate?Aretheyalltoblameforbeingweakandlackingdiscipline?
Theflourishingdietindustryistheevidencethatwomendontblamethedietsforfailingthem.

Themedicalprofessionsinsistenceonanintentionalweightlossfocus,asopposedtoaHAES
approach,demonstratestheexpectationthatlongtermweightlossispossibleand,therefore,thatits
yourownfaultifyoudontloseweightandkeepitoff.YettheWomensHealthInitiativeconducted
theworldslargestcontrolleddietclinicaltrial,andfoundthat20,000womenwhomaintainedalow
fatdietandincreasedtheirphysicalactivityforsevenyearslostonlyanaverageof0.4kilograms.

ThedirectoroftheUniversityofMelbournesObesityConsortium,ProfessorJosephProietto,rightly
arguesthatdietandexercisedonotoftenreduceweightinthelongterm.Buthealsoarguesthat
weightlosssurgeryisagoodresponse:

Finally,wemusthelpthelongsufferingobeseintheirstruggletomaintainareduced
weight.Intheabsenceofsafe,effectivepharmacologicalagentsthatcanbeusedlongterm,
bariatricsurgeryisthemostsuccessfulinterventionforsustainedweightloss.Whyisitnot
moreoftenconductedinpublichospitals?

However,Proiettodoesntdisclosethehorrificsideeffects.A2005studyintheJournalofthe
AmericanMedicalAssociationfoundthat4.6%ofpeoplewhounderwentbariatricsurgerydied
withinayear.ComplicationsofweightlosssurgeryareoutlinedinLindaBaconsHealthatEvery
Size:anaemia,arthritis,bodysecretions,cancer,chestpainanderosionofteethenamelfrom
vomiting,depression,earlyonsetofdiabetes,hairloss,infertility,malnutritionandwaitforit
weightregain.

StockyBodies/IsaacBrown

Still,insomemomentsIdofindmyselfwishingIwerethin.ButIcatchmyselfandthink,"Whydo
youwanttobethininthismoment?Theanswerisinevitablyaboutthinprivilege.Iffatwasthe
soughtafterattractivebodyinthemedia,ifdoctorsseparatedfatfromdisease,ifbigclothessizes
wereavailableeverywhere,wouldIeverwanttobethin?

WhenIspeakaboutthinprivilege,IamtalkingabouttheadvantagesthatthinpeopleinWestern
cultureexperience,suchasbeingassumedhealthyandhavingawidearrayofclothesavailable,as
wellasabodythatalignswithdominantideasofwhatisattractive.Itstimetoacknowledgethin
privilegethewaytheLefthasacknowledgedwhiteprivilege,classprivilegeorstraightprivilege.Asa
whitemiddleclassperson,albeitwithworkingclassroots,itisworthnotingherethatIcantspeak
forallfatwomen,andIhavebarelybeenabletotouchontheprejudicethatfatpeopleofcolour
experience.

Consideringthemultibilliondollardietandhealthindustriesthatprofitfromfathatred,itsironic
thattheLefthas,attimes,usedthefatbodytosymbolisecapitalistexcess.Wearenotametaphor.
Pleasestopusingusasone.Thereasonpeoplehavesuccessfullyusedfatasaninsultisbecauseof
alltheotherwordspeoplethinkfatmeans:lazy,sloppy,stupid,undisciplined,greedy.Replacefat
withblackandhowdoyoufeelabouttheselongheldassumptions?

Despiteaddressingtheassumptionsthataremadeaboutobesityandhealth,itisnotmyoverall
purposetoexplainallthereasonssomeonemightbefat.Norisittojustifytheexistenceoffatpeople
whoarehealthyattheexpenseofthosewhoarenot.Nobodyshouldbejudgedforbeingfatorfor
beingunhealthy.Therearesomefatpeoplewhoarenthealthythatdoesntgiveotherpeoplethe
righttojudgethosepeople.Theideathatweshouldallbethin,asifwewerecutoutofthesame
mouldandhavethesamegenes,islikeadystopia:avisionofasocietywherewealllookthesame,
perhapswithdifferentcolouredskin.TheLefthasstooduptothatkindofhomogenisationinthepast
andrecogniseditasprejudice.

Thismightbethefirsttimethatsomereadershavethoughtaboutfatprejudice,althoughifyoulive
yourlifeasfat,youdontneedtobetoldaboutthestigma.Infact,youmighthavebeentryingto
changeyourselftoavoidbigotry.Buttherearealternativewaystorespondtofatprejudice:fat
acceptanceandfatactivism.

ThereisastrongfatsocialmediapresenceinAustralia,andthelocalfatactivistmovementhasgrown
andgrownoverthelasttwoyears,largelyduetoafewhighlydedicatedactivists.WhileAustralia
doesnthavealonghistoryoffatactivism,thereisdocumentedfatactivityintheUSfrom1967.In
2011,UKfatactivistandwriterCharlotteCooperpublishedAQueerandTransFatActivistTimeline
Zine,whichexploresthelonghistoryoffatactivisminthequeercommunity.Fatacceptancegroups
existinmanyothercountries,includingFrance,Germany,Spain,CanadaandArgentina.

Therearedifferentapproachestofatactivism,fromcommunitybuildingandtryingtochangefat
peoplesattitudestowardstheirownbodies,tochanginginstitutionalpoliciesandgettingvoices
heardinthemedia.

JackieWykes,aUniversityofMelbournePhDcandidateinFatStudies,formedtheumbrellacollective
ChubRepublicin2011.ShestressesthatfatactivitiesandeventsinMelbourneareverymucha
collectiveeffort.OneoftheChubRepublicgroupsistheMelbournebranchofAquaporko,whichJackie
formedafterhearingmembersoftheoriginalSydneygroupspeakatthefirstAustralianFatStudies
conferenceatMacquarieUniversity.AccordingtoWykes,

Aquaporkoisintrinsicallypolitical.Itsaboutvisibilityagroupoffatwomeninflowery
bathingcapsdoingsynchronisedkicksinthepoolisprettyunmissable.Itsalsoabout
movementandstrengthandphysicalskillandlearningthatourbodieswhichweretold
 overandoveragainareweakandflawedandpatheticareactuallycapable.Thatwecan
dothingsthatarephysicallydifficult,andthatwecandotheminawaythatisbeautifuland
elegantandfunandwonderful.

Myfirstpublicfatactivismactionwastococuratea2010performance
eventandartexhibitioninconjunctionwiththeMacquarieconference
andSydneyactivistgroupFatFemmeFront.Weexhibitedfatart,
includingnudes,andhadarangeofperformersfromAustraliaandNew
Zealand.Itsoldout,andIrealisedtheneedformorefatvoicestobe
heard.ThenIcoorganisedareadingeventatthe2011Midsumma
FestivalcalledDangerousCurvesAhead,whichagainsoldout.Bringing
fateventstothequeercommunityhasledtomyconclusionthatbeing
fat,andembracingbeingfat,canbeseenasbeingqueer.WhileI
encouragetheLefttotakefatonasanissue,Iespeciallyencouragequeer
groupstorecognisefatprejudiceasbodypolicingsomethingwith
whichthequeercommunityishistoricallyveryfamiliar.

ThereisanexplosionoffatactivityinMelbourneatthemoment.Amy
EspesethofVignettePresshascommissionedWykesandmetoeditFat
Mook,amagazinebooktobepublishedinthenextyear.Fundingand
publishingacollectionoffatimagesandnarrativesisanotherformoffat
activismitsempoweringtotheartistsandwriters(andtothefat
readerswhodontoftenreadorseepositiverepresentationsof
themselvesinprint)andperhapseducationaltoawideraudience.Ialso
convenetheVictoriaUniversityFatStudiesreadinggroup.Thisisopen JackieWykesandJennyLee.PhotobyGeorgiaLaughton

toacademicsandstudentsfromanyuniversity,aswellasmembersof
thefatcommunity.

KelliJeanDrinkwater,aSydneyfatactivistandperformer,ismakingadocumentary,FierceFlesh,
aboutfatactivityandactivism.InNewZealand,DrCatPauspresentstheradioshow/podcast
FriendofMarilyn,andin2012sheishostingaFatStudiesconferenceatNewZealandsMassey
University.

Inherkeynoteatthe2010MacquarieUniversityFatStudiesconference,CharlotteCooperspokeoffat
peoplewearingbright,tightfittingclothesandeatingicecreamsinpublicasfatactivism.Shesright
thattheseactivitiescanbechallenging,althoughbeingbornandbredinMelbourneInaturallyweara
lotofblack.ImafeministsoIthinkchoiceisimportant,andfatpeopledontalwaysgettochoose
theirclothesfreelybecauseofwhatisavailable.Forthisreason,Wykesalsocoorganisesfatfashion
swapstheFabulousFatshionExtravaganza.Shesays,

Caringaboutfashionisoftendismissedasshallow,butitsactuallyincrediblyimportant.
Howwedresssignifiesallsortsofthingsaboutidentity,sexuality,andculture,aboutwho
wethinkweareAnditsapowerfulexperiencetobeinaspacefullofallsortsoffatbodies,
especiallywhenyoudontoftengettoseeotherbodieslikeyours.
Viewingpositiveimagesofotherfatbodieshelpstonormaliseandcelebratebodiesthathavebeen
pathologised.Nonetheless,asAustralianFatStudiesscholarDrSamanthaMurrayargues,changing
yourmindaboutyourbodyisnotasimpletask.Fatactivismdoesntnecessarilysolvethecomplex
relationshipthatindividualshavewithourbodies.Butitcangiveusasenseofcommunity,draw
otherfatpeopletoshifttheirviewsofthefatbodyandprovideanalternatenarrativetoasociety
bombardedwiththeobesityepidemic.

WhatamIdemandingofleftwingpeople,offeminists?Thisisacalltoaction.Whatwouldwecall
victory?Forpeopletoquestiontheantifatmessagestheyreceivefromthemedia,frommedical
professionals,fromgovernmentpolicies.Allthoseexpertscantbewrong,canthey?Yes.Yes,theycan
andtheyare.

WhatdoIwantfromfatactivism?AlltheactivitiesIhavesofardescribedareincrediblyimportant.
WhatelsedoIwant?Deepdown,Iwantalltheprivilegesthatthinpeoplehave.

Iwantfatprejudiceandstigmatoberecognised.Atthevery
leastIwantleftwingfriends,feministfriends,tostop
talkingaboutdietsandacceptingthestatusquo.Iwantit
nottobeassumedthatIwouldliketoloseweightthatallfat
peoplewanttodisappearandbecomethin,likeweretoldto.
Iwantitnottobeokaytotellpeopletoloseweightinthe
mainstreamAustralianmedia,thewayits(usually)not
okayanymoretosaythatgaysandlesbiansareperverted
andshouldchangeandchoosetobestraight.Ofcourse
racisminthemediaisstillrifeweseeitlevelledat
Indigenouspeopleandasylumseekersallthetime.Butthe
Leftdoesnotthinkthatisokay.Doyouthinkfathatredis
okay?

IdliketosayIenjoyexplainingmypositiontoeducated,
StockyBodies/LaurenGurrieri
intelligent,politicallyawareleftiesoverandover,atevents,
atwork,atparties.ButIdontreallyespeciallywhenIkeep
hearing:Oh,butweightlossishealthy.Theresalongconversation,ormanyconversations,between
thatandfatacceptance.Maybemorewordsthanthisarticlecanprovide.MaybeallthesourcesIve
referredtowillhelp.Followthemup.

Thisisabigfatbattleletsfight.

Thisarticlewasoriginallypublishedintheliteraryandculturalmagazine,Overland.

Obesity Fatdiscrimination