The 'f' word: reclaiming 'fat' from fatphobia

The descriptive word ‘fat’ has long been used in a derogatory sense. But why? Here, we explore the realities of being fat in the 21st century, and if it truly should mean as much for your health as the keyboard warriors seem to think…

For as long as most of us can remember, the word fat has been loaded with meaning. From a descriptive word used to bully, to one that causes rising fear in many, it causes an emotional response in us all.

But why is this? Why do we allow it such meaning, when truly all it does is state a fact about one’s physicality?

This is the questions a number of self-proclaimed fat women are trying to answer, just in time for May’s Mental Health awareness month. In doing so, they’re taking back the negative power of the word for themselves.

In an article published by the Huffington Post, Kitty Stryker, an online editor and the wearer of a size 24, laid the realities of fatphobia – the condition in which we’ve internalised society’s messaging on weight gain and believe fat to be the worst thing a person could possibly be – out clearly.

As a woman existing in the West in such a body, she lists just a few of the things she faces daily: “Despite the fact there’s more women over a size 12 than not, clothing retailers refuse to cater to plus sizes, fat people are considered fair game for humiliation [and] the medical industry regularly risks fat people’s health by refusing to take them seriously.”

Stryker finds “the belief that ‘personal preference’ exists above and beyond cultural norms is ignorant.”

The systematic oppression, fear and hatred of fat people only serves to make their body image that much worse. According to Eating Disorder Hope’s website, “fatphobia can draw attention to an individual’s weight which, when compounded by mistreatment directly relating to it, can increase body image concerns and negative self-image. The aforementioned mistreatment might also lead to a desire to lose weight, which can trigger various forms of disordered eating and related mental health issues.”

It almost seems impossible for those existing in fat bodies to navigate the world without being hurt by its cruel stigma. And what does that stigma truly exist for?

From the growing worth of the diet industry – which is estimated by Reuters to be worth more than £214 billion by 2023 – to its behind-the-scenes funding of medical studies to support its cause, the powers that be are noticeable in their control of our bodies and our understandings of health. Even Nestle, one of the biggest food brands in the world, came forward in a formal report by JAMA Network to say this: “Is it really true that food companies deliberately set out to manipulate research in their favour? Yes, it is, and the practice continues.” It’s clear to see there’s money to be made from keeping us fearful of fat, food and in the cycle of ongoing dieting.

But here’s the thing. Diets don’t work.

What starts off as a seemingly simple diet can often evolve, triggering eating disorders, negative body image and a yo-yo relationship with weight for life.

In 2011, a study conducted by The Council on Size and Weight Discrimination found that 95% of diets fail, and for the 5% they work on most will regain the weight in under a span of five years. Since then, many studies have produced the same results in support of this.

Speaking to Ashlee Bennet, a psychotherapist specialising in the fields of body image, internalised fatphobia and self-acceptance, she understands these statistics fully, having seen the reality of this with her patients. “When we view fat bodies as the disease, especially when it’s framed as something you can ‘catch’ (like the ‘O**sity Epidemic’), diet culture is seen as the solution – both prevention and cure.”

“Even for the 5% of people diets may work for, many report it consuming their lives beyond what is reasonable, with some going on to develop other health issues” as a result of this, she says.

Trained dietitian, food counsellor and Health at Every Size advocate, Devrie Pettit, believes we all need to hear one truth. Posting to her social media, she said: “Here’s the truth… bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Bodies experience weight change. Weight gain doesn’t have to be associated with poor health, or something bad.”

“Kids store fat before they go through puberty, they gain weight through puberty” she continued, adding that “people recovering from disordered eating, or battling depression, gain weight. Growing a human requires weight gain.”

“So”, she ends, “let’s practice – fat isn’t bad.”

This statement may still seem bold to some, but becomes any every day, fundamental belief when you start to value a person’s humanity above their size.

On her website, Pettit shares: “As human beings, surrounded in diet culture, it is completely normal to desire weight loss. I haven’t found a single person who hasn’t been impacted by the diet mentality. However, being smaller does not translate to health and happiness.”

“The research is clear: a long-term solution demonstrating how to maintain weight loss longer than two years simply doesn’t exist”, the dietitian states. “Instead, a desire to be as fit and healthy as possible will only lead to obsession, confusion and frustration.”

After discovering these statistics, and the bourgeoning conversations around them, we consulted more of the diet and health industries leading specialists and social commentators.

Bennett discusses with us the damage this culture of fat-hatred and slim idealisation can really do. “Fixating on the thin ideal takes up a lot of mental, emotional and social space”, she states: “It’s not just an individual ruminating on it in their own head – it bonds us in our social groups. There’s so much talk in social settings about how we’re trying to control our bodies, and the time and mental space it takes up is a distraction from things – other life ambitions and aims.”

In a world so obsessed with being thin, and seeing it as the true epitome of health when medical study bias suggests it could be otherwise, it’s become a truly revolutionary act to reclaim the word fat. To use it to describe yourself, and to remove all its negative coding when doing so, is liberation at its finest.

Meghan Kacmarcik, a registered dietitian and leading specialist in the field of Health At Every Size – a movement among those practicing healthcare to remove body size as a factor from their assumptions on any patient – sees the need for this change.

“I absolutely believe that we need to challenge our perceptions of the word fat”, she says confidently, stating: “There is nothing wrong with people in larger bodies and society's assumptions about them are inaccurate and harmful. Beyond that, subjecting people in larger bodies to stigma and shame has serious negative consequences on health. Decreasing stigma for all bodies is health-promoting in itself.”

So, how do we get there? How do we unlearn the toxic teachings of society around health and size, both aa people inhabiting larger bodies and those around them?

Kacmarcik believes that “seeing increased representation would make a huge difference. I would love to see more people across the size spectrum, including people in larger bodies, represented on television, in magazines, and in all media.”

“Our current beauty ideals are harmful and don’t at all consider body diversity. Increased representation would make such a difference in the way society views fat people, and people at other intersections as well” – which, in turn, aides in the ways people will view themselves.

For Lindsey Hall, a speaker on eating disorder recovery and body acceptance, the best advice she could give on unlearning the stigma is to find your community. “Whether it’s in person or online, find the community of people who are willing to go through this long haul with you. Who will empower you to feel confident and attractive no matter what size you are.”

“The more community that builds around this, the more other women will feel accepted”, Hall finds, adding that they’ll also feel “the freedom to ask the questions they may not want to ask to a doctor still biased against weight and body image issues.”

Returning again to the words of Bennett, she advises taking your time with this. “It takes a while to unlearn the beliefs you have about bodies, health and beauty ideals. Recognising it and beginning to name it when you see it, instead of partaking in it, can be really helpful. It’s normal to feel some resistance at the start, especially when you’re shifting social conditioning that’s very engrained”

Perhaps, take the primary focus off of your body, she says. By doing so, “we allow room for healing in a way that goes beyond being skin deep.”

“Health is not a moral imperative to exist in this world”, and size does not equate to health.

After all, why should any life be lived in fear of the body it calls home?

Representatives for a number of diet product companies were contacted, but all declined to comment for this article.