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New Perspectives on Weight, Health, and Fat Acceptance
The Skinny on Fat: Rethinking Weight and Health
While many people assume that body fat is inherently unhealthy and that thinner people are always healthier, some researchers challenge this simplistic view (Campos 2004). In fact, scholars point out that the Body Mass Index (BMI), one common measure used to determine whether one’s weight is supposedly “healthy,” has a number of significant limitations (Kelvas 2023, Nordqvist 2022). For instance, BMI does not take bone density, muscle mass, body composition, genetics, or sex into account. For these reasons and more, professionals caution against becoming overly focused on this “inaccurate and misleading” measure.
Fatphobia, Fatism, and Body-Based Discrimination
Today in the U.S., millions of people who are larger than average encounter significant discrimination, suffer unfair treatment, and are denied equal opportunities based simply on their body size.
Weight discrimination, sometimes called “fatism,” is a serious problem with devastating consequences both for the individuals who are discriminated against and for society as a whole. It is based in assumptions that thin bodies are not only healthier, but necessary for a happy, productive life (Crane and Patterson 2024). Thus, heavier bodies are continuously scrutinized, often criticized, and subjected to varied forms of harmful stereotyping and prejudice in everything from jobs, to schools, to healthcare, to online platforms (Vafiadis 2024).
We can fight against these harmful effects by unlearning weight-based biases. Fat acceptance advocates work toward goals which promote size diversity. After all, humans come in all shapes and sizes! Part of this acceptance is the intentional and positive use of the term “fat” (rather than terms such as “overweight” or “obese”). Activists hope that by proudly reclaiming the word “fat,” it can be de-stigmatized and embraced in our culture.
The fat acceptance movement promotes love and acceptance of large bodies through advocacy groups (such as https://naafa.org/), websites, podcasts, and conferences which empower large people and give them strength to be who they are in a society. The sense of self-confidence, well-being, and better health that comes from loving and accepting their bodies frees them to live and enjoy life to the full. In the words of fat acceptance activist Monica Persson, “When we reclaim the right to eat, focus on our lives, and stop giving our money to the diet industry, anything is possible.”
Health and Nutrition
The US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services issued updated Dietary Guidelines for 2020-2025. The biggest change in the updated guidelines is a new emphasis on healthy eating patterns. While the previous guidelines still are very helpful, the authors of the new guidelines stress that patterns of healthy and nutritious consumption and exercise must extend over a lifetime.
It is important to note that everyone’s body is unique, with different nutritional needs and preferences—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to food. Eating should be both nourishing and enjoyable, and all foods can have a place in a balanced lifestyle when enjoyed in moderation.
What is a “Balanced Eating Pattern?”
According to the USDA and HHS, a balanced eating pattern includes:
A balanced approach also means being mindful of added sugars, sodium, and saturated or trans fats, while allowing flexibility for individual needs and preferences.
Tips for Shifting to a Balanced Eating Pattern
Tips to Combat Stress
More Information
The Body Project