FatPhobia – The Movement To Stop “Fat Shaming”

a fat girl with a tap measure covering her moth and doctors laughing behind her — People used to fear being overweight.

There’s a new buzzword today – it’s called FatPhobia.

Originally, FatPhobia was defined as a pathological fear of being fat, but the sign of the times today is changing this definition.

FatPhobia now means that criticizing those who are fat is a bad thing, and that being overweight is A-OK.

In other words, there appears to be a social movement to support being fat. FatPhobia now refers to the movement to stop “fat shaming.”

FatPhobia Scale

FatPhobia has now spun the creation of a FatPhobia Scale. It appears that this scale focuses less on your actual weight and health and more on the phobia of your image of being “fat.”

From what I read about the FatPhobia Scale, 60% of Americans are considered “fat” today, and the focus is moving from a treatment approach designed to improve your health to decreasing the social image that being fat is a negative thing.

The FatPhobia Scale is a 14 item questionnaire regarding beliefs and feelings towards people who are fat or obese. It’s NOT about how being overweight can compromise your health.

It is NOT about changing your diet, lessening your food intake, or exercising more. It is NOT about burning more calories than you consume daily.

Is Obesity A Disease?

a fat girl holding a plate of food and holding her side in pain — Losing weight starts with dietary changes.

Before the 1960s, obesity used to refer to someone who was severely overweight. We used to simply label someone overweight as fat.

Today, the allopathic medical community and Big Pharma label obesity as a complex disease, and instead of improving your lifestyle – your eating and exercise habits – FatPhobia is becoming a huge industry.

My experience with the politics behind aspartame and the diet sweeteners showed me decades ago that the system wants to keep you fat, sick, and buying their diet products and pharmaceutical drugs.

Don’t ignore the fact that the fundamental cause of obesity and being overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. Globally, there is now an increased intake of highly processed foods that are high in fat and sugars in combination with less active lifestyles.

People used to be considered fat if their weight was higher than what the medical system determined was in balance with their height. Many factors influence your body weight:

genes and heredity (though this effect is commonly small);
prenatal and early life influences;
a poor diet;
being sedentary;
too little physical activity and exercise;
sleep routine;
your food intake and physical activity consistency.

Back in the day, people didn’t want to be fat. Today, I don’t think most people care anymore. The children surely don’t.

a young women waving her hat while driving a John Deere tractor — Decades ago, people used to be more physically active every day.

What’s Changed

In 1960, nearly half of the jobs in the United States required physical activity. Today, only about 20% of jobs require any physical activity. Combined with our increased caloric intake in America, this decrease in physical activity has created a dangerous recipe making it more difficult for Americans to avoid excess weight.

Obesity affects children as well as adults, but the effects may be worse because they aren’t being taught any healthy alternatives.

Children are eating too much processed, microwaveable foods today. Our food choices have changed over the decades, and the food industries are mass-marketing fattening, unhealthy foods to children.

a young boy eating a fast food hamburger, french fries and a cola — We are raising children on unhealthy food that makes them fat and unhealthy.

There are many nutritional ways you can lose weight, but be aware of the latest marketing propaganda selling you on the notion that being fat is OK.

Health Effects of Being Overweight

Death (mortality)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High LDL cholesterol
Low HDL cholesterol
High levels of triglycerides
Diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease

Go to my website to find the many articles in my blog archives that I have written about ways to change your lifestyle to lose weight and keep the weight off. Even if obesity is in your genes, there are doable ways to keep the weight off – healthily.

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If you want to learn more about healthy living and disease prevention, contact me at janethull.com. Remember that you are never alone when you are looking for good health!

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Gain access to all of my online programs, ongoing support, monthly Q&A, and more by joining me on janethull.com. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to alternative health and wellness.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is educational in nature. The FDA may not have evaluated some of the statements. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please discuss with your own, qualified health care provider before adding supplements or making any changes to your dietary program.

Before taking vitamins, consult your doctor; pre-existing medical conditions or medications you are taking can affect how your body responds to multivitamins.

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