Greta Christina's fat positive manifesto

[ciphergoth]

I froze the discussion here because I thought it deserved a top-level post of its own, rather than being under a general discussion of Greta Christina. A few weeks ago she posted a very interesting series of articles on the fat-positive movement and her own beliefs; I'd be very interested to read more about what people think of them.

"I was frankly shocked at how callous most of the fat-positive advocates were about my bad knee. I was shocked at how quick they were to ignore or dismiss it. They were passionately concerned about the quality of life I might lose if I counted calories or stopped eating chocolate bars every day. But when it came to the quality of life I might lose if I could no longer dance, climb hills, climb stairs, take long walks, walk at all? Eh. Whatever. I should try exercise or physical therapy or something. Oh, I'd tried those things already? Well, whatever."

• The Fat-Positive Diet
• The Fat-Positive Skeptic
• An Open Letter to the Fat-Positive Movement

Comments

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Can you explain in more detail why you find it depressing? I'm not sure I understand your position.

[altamira16.livejournal.com]

LJ used to have a very active pro-ana group. I find a fat-positive movement depressing for the same reason that I find the pro-ana group depressing. Specifically, these groups are allowing people who have an unhealthy relationship with food to learn even more unhealthy behaviors and preventing them to confront the root cause of the issue. This is not saying that all fat people have issues with food, but I think that a significant portion of them probably do.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

You're automatically conflating 'fat' with 'an unhealthy relationship with food' - implying that fat people are somehow mentally ill or just lacking in willpower. Which is frankly rude, and unsupported by evidence.

Yes, there genuinely are some eating disorders which cause people to compulsively overeat, just as there are those which lead to excessive food restriction or binge-and-purge behaviour. But they're not the reason why the majority of overweight people are that way. Comparing the fat-positive movement to the pro-ana movement is fatuous. (Not to mention that 'pro-ana' groups actually fulfil an important social support function, and often discourage some of the more dangerous behaviours associated with anorexia and bulimia, such as laxative and emetic abuse).

And, as I've mentioned in other comments on this thread, recent research has suggested that people in the 'overweight' BMI category don't have worse health than those in the 'normal' band, so it seems like the lines have been drawn in the wrong place anyway - so saying that everyone who is 'overweight' according to their BMI is 'unhealthy' is probably fallacious.

I really would invite you to examine your opinions on this subject further.

[altamira16.livejournal.com]

It's seems that you already have a very strong opinion on the matter and discussing it further with you would be pointless. You have already gotten offended by why I think it would be unhealthy.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Oh for fuck's sake, not this card already. It's good you feel that way because you're now barred from this journal.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Oh, you spoil all my fun!

(Yes, I know, your journal, your rules, but FWIW I wasn't actually offended and was really hoping I could persuade this person out of their kneejerk, uninformed reaction.)

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I'm not banning them for the comments on fat-positivity, but for the stupid and unimaginative get-out-of-jail-free card they tried to play when actually called on it.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

*winkles forehead* Well, yes, I do have a strong opinion. If I didn't think my opinion was robust, I wouldn't voice it. So I can only think you're suggesting one of two things:

a) your own opinion is less strong, and you are worried that engaging in honest debate will destroy it, or

b) you believe that holding a strong opinion means holding an unchangeable one - which I can assure you is the exact opposite of the case.