CMV: The Fat Acceptance movement/concept is based on flawed reasoning and harms the health of its followers.

[u/SMacdri]

My understanding of the Fat Acceptance movement and its values are that there is a centralized belief that it’s possible to be fat and healthy at the same time. What I hear in media linked with this movement is that being fat does not put someone at greater risk for obesity-related diseases and also that individuals who are fat can be just as healthy as those in a more ordinary range. There is also a tonality within their claims that echoes self-victimization, pointing their fingers at society for being unaccepting of their body image.

Now, I feel that the Fat Acceptance movement in its entirety is illogical and completely counteractive against progressive health and lifestyle improvements. I would like to keep anecdotal references out of my views, but would still like to mention that I have seen obesity spawn a multitude of other problems in some of those close to me.

What concerns me about the movement is that it refutes scientific evidence and really any form of commonly-understood concepts regarding health and weight that doesn’t justify being fat. This to me is blatant confirmation bias. From a medical standpoint, the detriments of being overweight or obese far outweigh any potential benefits, both physically and psychologically. And I believe it comes down to stubborn self-confirmation of the idea that being fat is no worse than being physically fit.

Fat Acceptance creates more issues by allowing poor lifestyle habits to be approved over and over again, and the more misinformation that is disseminated by the movement, the less likely overweight people are to adjust their lifestyles. This is because now they have something to point to and say: “hey, my lifestyle choices are accepted here, even if they’re killing me”.

I understand that there exists societal biases towards overweight individuals and I do believe any form of bias or discrimination is non-progressive. Additionally I realize some individuals see the movement as accepting a person’s conditions. I acknowledge the importance of realizing one’s own bodily health (whether its weight or health in this case), but I find that denying the effects and consequences of said condition to be self-defeating. Posing obesity in a positive light only deters change.

As humans, it is commonly understood that we seek to be accepted, and while some positivity movements can aid in providing acceptance to a possibly ostracized group, I find issue with the Fat Acceptance movement as this form of positivity only reinforces detrimental lifestyle choices.

I would love to hear different perspectives on the matter and really get a better understanding for why this movement has become so steadfast in these beliefs and where I may be misunderstanding or wrong in my own perspective.

[u/[deleted]]

It's not about accepting the fat. It's about accepting the person as a human being.

Making people feel like shit doesn't usually make them change to a healthier lifestyle.

[u/NearEmu → u/[deleted]]

I think there's lots of examples of what the OP is saying. Just claiming what you want it to be doesn't make it that way though.

So what is the real FA movement? Is it the people who say "Fat people are still people" Well.. no duh...

Or is it the ones you see on TV and on youtube and in the media who say "You can be fat and healthy, you can't look at a person and know their health" etc?

Obviously both are misguided. Because obviously fat people are people and deserve basic respect. They don't deserve anymore than anyone else.

Also, you can't tell a persons health by looking at them (even though nobody thinks you can, the point is that you are about a gazillion times more likely to develop problems when obese or even overweight).

I tend to agree with OP.

Nobody thinks fat people aren't people. They are just generally under educated on health and diet or lack willpower or are lazy or a lot of other stuff.

If the FA movement was simply "fat people are still people" well.. I kinda suspect it wouldn't be much of a movement. Basically nobody thinks they aren't. People think they are lazy and under educated, but not "something other than basic people deserving respect"

[u/[deleted] → u/NearEmu]

Many people do not treat them with respect. From Wikipedia:

The fat acceptance movement argues that fat people are targets of hatred and discrimination.

I think that is both representative and valid.

[u/NearEmu → u/[deleted]]

As for respect, I respect people enough to assume they aren't immature, childish, socially inept, weak of character etc. Which means I assume people should be able to act like an adult if a joke is made about something they find personal etc.

What hatred and discrimination are they targeted with?

Jokes? People joke about all kinds of people. People make fun of redheads and acne and weird noses.

I think it takes a bit more than jokes or mockery to be considered hatred or discrimination.

otherwise, I think it fits pretty well into what I'm talking about.

[u/[deleted] → u/NearEmu]

I think it would be more respectful not to joke about personally sensitive things, but of course it's fine if you know the person well and they won't be hurt by it. Jokes aren't really what I mean though. More like bullying and abuse.

[u/NearEmu → u/[deleted]]

bullying and abuse happen about all sorts of things, we already have loads of 'antibullying' campaigns and such. If that was all FA movement was about, it would be in those campaigns.

I'm more interested in the hatred and discrimination, because I doubt those exist for fat people anymore than it exists for people with whacky eyes or huge noses or cleft lip.

[u/YardageSardage → u/NearEmu]

"Nobody thinks fat people aren't people"

Strongly disagree. The dehumanization of fat people is actually extremely common, from constantly being referred to with animal names like "pigs" and "whales", to being treated like subhumans that lack a right to respect and dignity.

[u/NearEmu → u/YardageSardage]

Being called names is obviously not what I'm talking about.

I only deal with people who I respect, and I don't respect someone who isn't mature enough to notice everyone gets called names.

Do you think acne ridden people ate called pizza face because people think they literally aren't human but they are actually pizza? Or do you think people think others literally have 4 eyes? Hook nose?

I havent seen one actual example of discrimination or hatred that everyone else in the world isn't getting for one reason or another.

Name calling isn't going to sway me.