Fat activists take stand against obesity ‘witch hunt’

AP ^ | 8/3

[ambrose]

Fat activists take stand against obesity ‘witch hunt’

By Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Unashamed of their size, fed up with fat jokes, and angry at the national obsession with dieting, overweight activists are mounting a feisty protest movement against the medical establishment’s campaign against obesity.

“We’re living in the middle of a witch hunt and fat people are the witches,” said Marilyn Wann of San Francisco, a militant member of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. “It’s gotten markedly worse in the last few years because of the propaganda that fatness, a natural human characteristic, is somehow a form of disease.”

The association, known as NAAFA, holds its annual convention starting Wednesday in Newark, N.J., bringing together activists for social events and workshops on self-acceptance, political advocacy and the “fat liberation” movement.

“I hope we can be a viable force of sanity in the midst of hysteria,” said NAAFA spokeswoman Mary Ray Worley of Madison, Wis. “I’ve found allies in all kinds of unexpected places, but overall there’s a lot of animosity. Some people act like obesity is the next worst thing after terrorism.”

The convention comes as the movement is scrambling to counter federal government pronouncements that obesity is a “critical public health problem” costing more than $100 billion and 300,000 lives per year.

Jeannie Moloo, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman who counsels overweight clients at her nutrition practice in Sacramento, Calif., empathizes with the activists’ fight against bias, but says they should be wary of oversimplifying obesity-related health issues.

“Some people can be overweight all their lives and not end up with diabetes or heart disease or hypertension,” Moloo said. “But the majority are probably going to develop one of these life-altering conditions.”

Fat-acceptance groups were dismayed when federal officials announced last month that Medicare was discarding its declaration that obesity isn’t a disease. The policy change will likely prompt overweight Americans covered by Medicare to file medical claims for treatments such as stomach surgery and diet programs.

“Obesity is not a disease,” insisted Allen Steadham, director of the Austin, Texas-based International Size Acceptance Association. “All this does is open the door for the diet and bariatric surgery industries to make a potentially tremendous profit.”

Most fat-acceptance activists endorse the concept of eating healthy food and exercising regularly, but they oppose any fixation on losing weight and contend that more than 95 percent of diets fail. They also decry the rapid growth of stomach-shrinking surgery; the number of such procedures has quadrupled to 100,000 annually since 1998.

Wann depicts bariatric surgery as “stomach amputation” that imposes anorexia on patients and exposes them to long-term risks. Kelly Bliss, a self-described “full-figured fitness instructor” from Lansdowne, Pa., predicts that future generations will disapprovingly look back on stomach surgery as “comparable to lobotomies.”

Bliss, who coaches clients by phone and in fitness classes, subscribes to a philosophy called “health at every size” — preaching that health, fitness and self-esteem can be achieved independent of weight.

“There’s a war on obese people, and I’m treating the casualties — people whose hearts are being ripped out,” Bliss said.

NAAFA and others have tried to combat what they see as rampant discrimination against fat people, but progress has been sporadic. Southwest Airlines, for example, resisted protests targeting its policy of requiring large passengers to purchase a second ticket if they can’t fit in a single seat.

“People want to fight for their rights, but there’s a lot of shame involved,” Steadham said. “It takes a whole lot of determination to stick through it to the end.”

A few cities, including San Francisco, explicitly outlaw weight discrimination. Michigan is the only state to do so, but its Civil Rights Department said only five of 1,696 job discrimination complaints filed in 2003 involved weight.

Walter Lindstrom, a San Diego attorney specializing in weight-discrimination cases, said overweight plaintiffs usually must prove that acts of bias against them are covered by federal laws prohibiting discrimination against disabled people.

“These cases are more difficult from a proof standpoint, and also because you’re dealing with a very unpopular class of clients,” Lindstrom said. “Juries are generally disgusted with your average size-related plaintiff. You have to get past that, and have them see the plaintiff as someone with a true medical problem.”

Many fat-acceptance activists were heartened by this year’s publication of “The Obesity Myth” by University of Colorado law professor Paul Campos, who contends that diet promoters, drug companies and weight-loss surgeons have whipped up an irrational panic over weight.

Campos shares many of the activists’ views but says their effectiveness has been limited.

“The movement has found itself marginalized by drawing its membership and leadership from the far extreme of obesity,” he said. “It will be more successful if it can attract the two-thirds of Americans who are being told by the government that they weigh too much — the I-want-to-lose-20-pounds crowd who are starting to feel a certain amount of resentment from the constant haranguing they’re getting.”

[traumer]

WWW.NOLOSE.ORG
The National Organization for Lesbians of SizE, ending the oppression of fat people and creating a vibrant fat queer community and culture
:o)

[alnick]

Did any of you even read the article? They advocate healthy eating and exercise, with the focus on health as opposed to appearance. They are against classifying obesity as a disease.

They basically want people, and the government, to stay out of their business. Seems like a conservative position to me.

[G.Mason]

I enjoy this "personal health warfare".

The anti-smokers whine is loud and constant and their army is vast.

The screaming from the SUV wars has become agonizingly loud and constant.

Now the armies of calorie counters are mobilizing.

Soon your neighbor will be spying on you. [aren't they already?] Calling that special phone number, saying your grass is too green, your painting your house too much.

In a few years we'll be issued comuter based ration cards for each and everything we purchase ..."I'm sorry Ms. Jones. You bought a sirloin steak two weeks ago." ...

Or ? ....We can all mind our own collective businesses, and tell all the "I know what's best for you" crowd to bug off!

What ever we do, we better do it quick.

[mewzilla]

Does that mean they're willing to pay more of their own health care costs?

[alnick]

What about healthy eating and exercise don't you understand?

[Snerfling]

Its hard to deny that there is a "body-worship" aspect to our culture today.

There was a rerun about the Spartans last night on PBS. Now there was a culture focused on health, beauty and the military (men and women).

Also, don't seem to recall any depictions of fat, overweight people on the walls of Egyptian tombs. Everyone looks really fit and trim.

[Straight Vermonter]

There was little obesity in any ancient cultures since Doritos and TV had not been invented yet.

[mtbopfuyn]

Back off Jack. The problem is all of you junior high schoolers who despise someone because of what the scale says. People like you disgust me. This is the same mentality as launching a national campaign against people with blue eyes. No, fat people aren't going to "eat" up the medical insurance. Illegal aliens are using it up. Smokers, alcoholics, drug abusers, and most especially the drug companies are raising your rates.

[Straight Vermonter]

Did any of you even read the article?

Yes

They advocate healthy eating and exercise, with the focus on health as opposed to appearance.

I don't think I said anything opposing that. One who eats well and exercises will not be obese. Let's try to maintain some commonsense here. I never said anything regarding appearance.

They basically want people, and the government, to stay out of their business. Seems like a conservative position to me.

Did I say something opposed to that or did I in fact defend them against those who sneer at them and deride them?

[Nick Danger]

The convention comes as the movement is scrambling to counter federal government pronouncements that obesity is a “critical public health problem” costing more than $100 billion and 300,000 lives per year.

Your Department of Primate Husbandry reminds you that your daily allotment of Purina People Chow will keep you in top working order so that you may pull the Plow of Prosperity.

Do not complain, therefore, when your federal officials occasionally withhold your daily sustinence. And remember, the Food Nazis are your friends.

Smoke Nazis in Sector R have reported seeing cigarettes — Yes, Dear Friends, cigarettes! — smuggled in handbags and even in people's socks, where highly sensitive state documents were meant to be stored. Report your neighbors, Dear Friends, when you see this happening.

The Department of Cuts and Abrasions reports that some of your neighbors are still hoarding sharp knives, when we have eliminated the need for sharp knives with healthful, filling People Chow. This must stop, Dear Friends. You can't pull the Plow of Prosperity with an owwie, now can you. Please report to the employment station in proper working order.

[Straight Vermonter]

DId you miss the part where I said, "...the idea of denying yourself the benefits of good health and vigor that come with being in shape seems stupid"?

Besides which when did we start sneering at others for their health problems?

[G.Mason]

Excellent Nick

Did you see my #23 ?

Like minds. ;)

[mewzilla]

I'm not sneering, though I have little respect for folks who lack self-discipline. I'm just tired of my premiums going up to pay for other people's bad habits.

[valkyrieanne]

Also, don't seem to recall any depictions of fat, overweight people on the walls of Egyptian tombs. Everyone looks really fit and trim.

Actually, there was a BBC News article on that very subject a few months ago (sorry, no link.) From forensic examination of mummies, the wealthy Egyptians *were* fat, oftentimes. They had themselves painted as slim because that was their aesthetic ideal. The poor of course were slim or skinny.

[BadAndy]

That pic is cruel and unusual punishment. It belongs on Rat Underground.

[valkyrieanne]

No, fat people aren't going to "eat" up the medical insurance. Illegal aliens are using it up. Smokers, alcoholics, drug abusers, and most especially the drug companies are raising your rates.

Thank you. This hysteria about fat people is ridiculous. Interesting how the population is getting heavier overall, but life expectancies are going *up,* not down. The number of heart attacks is going *down,* not up. People are living longer after heart attacks than ever before. The Wall Street Journal recently did a great article on cancer survivors.

In fact, that's a major point not considered by the "obesity makes my medical bills go up" complainers. What is also making the bills go up (besides the factors you listed) is that people *are* getting older, *are* surviving more dread diseases, and *are* getting more medical care at the end of life. Perhaps we should just kill them all, like the Dutch "solution." That would make it cheaper for everyone.

[EEDUDE]

Damn.

Mr. Mojo that's no picture to have to look at before turning in for the night.

[mtbopfuyn]

I don't know about sneering, but I don't know any slender folks with Type II diabetes. And the folks I know with Type II could control it with diet and exercise, but don't. They'd rather take the meds. And they are running up a big bill in terms of doctor visits and medication costs.

You need to get out more. I know five folks who have Type II who are far from fat and Mr. M says there are several at his work who also aren't fat who have recently been diagnosed. My theory is it's been around for years or at least since Starbucks started making fraps but the medical community didn't focus on it or most likely the drug companies weren't pushing those particular pills. Seems to me it's the doctors who are prescribing those expensive meds rather than telling their patients to limit carbs and sugar. BTW, you're argument is about carbs and sugar, not fat but whatever. Kinda reminds us it was also the medical profession that prescribed expensive antibiotics to patients with the common cold and we now have super bugs that the most potent antibiotics can't kill.

[ninadahlink]

Blaming fat people for your insurance?
Seems to me the highest users of medical care are old folks. LIke your mom and dad, your grandma and grandpa.

Should we eliminate them from the population, along with diabetics (who come in all sizes and ages), smokers, those who drink?

Fatness like everything else related to humans is complex. It's not only about twinkies and tv. We understand and accept that folks are born with blue eyes and blonde hair, that some folks are tall, or short. But because we're bombarded by an unnatural number of caucasian, size 2 models/actors, we're expecting everyone around us to be blonde, blue eyed and 101 pounds? And ridicule and/or death to the rest?

Where is the logic, and compassion, in that? Where's the human rights? Where's the respect for human dignity?

Look at your extended family. Do they all fit the same exacting mold to be applied to fat people depicted on this forum? If when the aliens come and eat the fat people first... do we offer up the people in your family who don't "comply" with the perfection standard?

[BlindGuardian]

That's just.........that's just...just very.....disturbing.......very....disturbing... Excuse me... *BARF*