The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is one of the main leaders in this movement. This nonprofit organization seeks to liberate fat people from fat shaming and body shaming, and advocate against all forms of fatphobia.

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Challenges fat people face:

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Fat people face oppression and difficulty in many walks of life, including the workplace, public spaces, healthcare settings, and their portrayal in mainstream media. Fatness often coincides with microaggressions and assumptions about laziness, poor willpower, carelessness, or inattentiveness. This is harmful, as stereotyping people who are overweight based on their looks causes others to miss out on getting to know an individual’s unique personality and traits.

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Unique challenges that fat people face in modern society include:

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• Healthcare discrimination

  • Fat people often feel dismissed, judged, or shamed by doctors for their health concerns. This discrimination can make seeking healthcare treatment feel incredibly anxiety-provoking, and it may contribute to medical trauma

       

• Workplace prejudice:

  • ​Weight discrimination is a rampant issue in the workplace.

       

• Fat tax:

  • ​Plus-size clothing and items for fat people typically cost more than the same items for straight sizes.

       

• Travel difficulties:

  • ​Cars, planes, and trains do not always accommodate fat people. Extra comforts typically require extra Fees.

       

• Direct bullying:

  • ​Many fat people are bullied due to their size. Children can be especially prone to direct bullying, violence, and group exclusion.

       

• Dating difficulties:

  • ​Fat people often report challenges with dating. Valid fears about feeling dehumanized or fetishized pose significant barriers when meeting new people.

       

The core principles of fat empowerment involve:

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1. Acceptance and Respect: Recognizing that bodies come in diverse shapes and sizes, and promoting respect and acceptance for all bodies, including those that are fat.

2. Self-Love and Self-Care: Encouraging individuals to cultivate a positive body image and prioritize their mental and physical well-being, regardless of their size.

3. Challenging Weight Bias: Advocating against weight-based discrimination, prejudice, and societal biases that perpetuate negative stereotypes and harm individuals based on their body size.

4. Health at Every Size (HAES): Emphasizing that health is not determined solely by body weight and that individuals can pursue holistic health goals irrespective of their size.

5. Body Autonomy and Representation: Promoting body autonomy and the visibility of diverse body types in media, fashion, and other public platforms, advocating for inclusivity and representation.
 

Fat empowerment movements aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society that values and respects individuals of all body sizes, challenges harmful societal norms, and encourages self-acceptance and well-being.

People who may benefit from a fat-friendly therapist include:

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1. Fat individuals seeking support for body acceptance and self-esteem

2. Those struggling with weight-related shame or discrimination. Fat-friendly therapists can provide a safe space to address experiences of weight bias, explore emotional well-being, and develop strategies for coping with societal pressures.

3. Individuals with disordered eating or body image concerns. Therapy can assist in healing relationships with food, promoting intuitive eating, and challenging harmful societal messages about body size.

4. People seeking support for weight-neutral health behaviors. A fat-friendly therapist can help individuals develop sustainable health behaviors, such as engaging in joyful movement, prioritizing self-care, and making informed decisions about their well-being.

5. Those with mental health concerns unrelated to body size: A fat-friendly therapist can address a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship difficulties, without focusing on body weight or prescribing weight loss as a solution.

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