National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

[James]

http://www.naafa.org/

Will wonders never cease.

The purpose of NAAFA is to:

* Work towards providing equal opportunity for fat people wherever obstacles and/or discrimination exist.
* Disseminate information about the sociological, psychological, legal, medical, and physiological aspects of being fat.
* Advocate and sponsor responsible research about the various aspects of being fat.
* Empower the large number of people regarded by the medical profession as "obese" to accept themselves, to live more fulfilling lives, and to promote acceptance of fat people within society.
* Serve as a forum where issues affecting fat people can be discussed in an unbiased setting.

NAAFA fights society prejudice against fat people through education.

* NAAFA works to dispel the common myths that are used to justify treating fat people as second-class citizens: "If they really wanted to, they could lose weight;" "It's not healthy to be fat;" "Fat people are ugly."
* NAAFA reaches out to national and community groups through our Speakers Bureau, literature displays at community fairs, and traveling exhibits. "The Diet Deception" is a memorial exhibit commemorating those who have died from dieting, weight loss surgery, and prejudice-affected medical care. NAAFA "Hall of Fame" honors fat people throughout history who have contributed to society.
* NAAFA works extensively with the media, and NAAFA representatives have appeared on such programs as 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Larry King Live, Donahue, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. NAAFA's message has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and many other well-known newspapers, radio programs, and magazines.
* Information on health, legal issues, and the progress of the size acceptance movement is provided by the NAAFA Newsletter, as well as by publications of local chapters and special interest groups.
* At regional gatherings and conventions, discussion groups and workshops are held to bring supporters up to date on the latest size-related issues.

[sageofages]

Reminds me of a "group" aka clique I belonged to in HS (in Redlands, CA)...

The "Fat Is Where It's At" club.

All female, all not really fat, all thinking they were.

And now I *really* am fat....if I had only known.....

[AKA_Monet]

Remember that 80's rap song entitled: "More bounce to the ounce"... from Roger and ZAPP.

[AlphaFrog]

This is a great place for me to post my PSA.

Dear Girl on South Blvd, and anyone else who needs the reminder:

If any of the following apply:

Bigger than a 10 or 12 (Depending on how you "carry" it)
Muffin Top
FUPA
Stretch marks
Funky belly button

YOU SHOULD NOT WEAR A MIDRIFF/HALTER TOP. Especially when all of them apply, girl on South Blvd. I am not skinny, so I cover myself, please do the same.

Thanks,
The Rest of Charlotte and Surrounding Counties

[OneTimeSBX]

ok, now, i agree that obese people are not all gluttons who sit around at buffets and stuff themselves. hell, more of us would be in that boat if it werent for good genes. i do believe people should be more educated in sensitivity issues. the discovery health channel has a show on at least once a week about obesity/health problems that are totally not the persons fault.

but to embrace your obesity if it is truly a problem you have not attempted to solve? im not so sure...

[RU OX Alum]

it is unhealthy for anyone to be overweight

[raggann03]

I really don't understand why people feel the need to force this false sense of acceptance onto everyone else. Just be happy with who you are! If I and my friends just so happen to be P.H.A.T. women, then thats just who we are. We don't need an official name or group to force others to treat us with respect. You know there are some azzholes in the world and I'm perfectly ok with that.

[mulattogyrl]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

ok, now, i agree that obese people are not all gluttons who sit around at buffets and stuff themselves. hell, more of us would be in that boat if it werent for good genes. i do believe people should be more educated in sensitivity issues. the discovery health channel has a show on at least once a week about obesity/health problems that are totally not the persons fault.

but to embrace your obesity if it is truly a problem you have not attempted to solve? im not so sure...

I'm with you on this one. I mean, some people are just naturally bigger than others, and they don't lose weight easily or easily put it back on, just like there are people who no matter what they eat they don't seem to gain. HOWEVER, that's not an excuse to just sit in front of the tv & eat a quart of ice cream every night either. I think we should all be health conscious.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

the discovery health channel has a show on at least once a week about obesity/health problems that are totally not the persons fault.

Oh, so Discovery has identified that condition where people take in fewer calories than they burn but still gain weight?

Not to be a jerk, but I just hate the phrasing of "totally not the person's fault" - they may have more difficulty, but it's not like God made them fat. Eating made them fat, and work can make them un-fat.

[OneTimeSBX]

it is possible to have an obesity/weight problem with no overeating. there's that old "i have a gland problem" excuse that probably only 1% of people actually have who claim it. but it IS possible. i have a co-worker who weighed close to 330 and now weighs 145, all because of Cushings...it took treatment to help her lose the weight after all these years.
http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/p...s.htm#symptoms

now, i am not obese. i am not making excuses, because yes, there are always going to be people who self-medicate with food. there are Overeaters Anonymous meetings nationwide. some of us do it and are just blessed with good genes and it never catches up to us weightwise, but our health suffers. the focus i believe needs to be on overeating and the health issues there, because you can have a heart attack in your 30's and weigh 145 pounds!

http://media.www.westernfrontonline....-2137881.shtml

[ISUKappa]

Seriously the first thing that came to mind.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

it is possible to have an obesity/weight problem with no overeating. there's that old "i have a gland problem" excuse that probably only 1% of people actually have who claim it. but it IS possible. i have a co-worker who weighed close to 330 and now weighs 145, all because of Cushings...it took treatment to help her lose the weight after all these years.
http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/p...s.htm#symptoms

Cushing's is estimated to happen in about 0.3% of the population - and even some of those aren't glandular. I see your point, but these sort of problems are exceedingly rare, so much so that in the absence of any additional information, we don't need to discuss them.

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

Seriously the first thing that came to mind.

Is . . . is that a fat guy eating the fat dead guy?

[BigRedBeta]

* NAAFA works to dispel the common myths that are used to justify treating fat people as second-class citizens: "If they really wanted to, they could lose weight;" "It's not healthy to be fat;" "Fat people are ugly."

Uhhh...if by dispel you mean you're going to try to tell me being fat is a healthy condition, I'm REALLY going to have disagree. As a medical student/future medical professional, I just don't know how else to say it. The data is out there, and study after study after study, shows undeniable evidence that being overweight is associated with/causative of numerous health problems. Even when it's a glandular problem (which does happen - ie Cushing's), there are risks due just to carrying around the extra weight.

This is bullshit, and I think that for the majority of people who are obese, it all comes down to making choices. You don't even have to make tough choices - like switching from regular to diet pop, or chips to pretzles. Small things do matter. Even just going from a Venti Latte at starbucks to a tall makes a difference!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by BigRedBeta

Uhhh...if by dispel you mean you're going to try to tell me being fat is a healthy condition, I'm REALLY going to have disagree. As a medical student/future medical professional, I just don't know how else to say it. The data is out there, and study after study after study, shows undeniable evidence that being overweight is associated with/causative of numerous health problems. Even when it's a glandular problem (which does happen - ie Cushing's), there are risks due just to carrying around the extra weight.

I don't disagree that being fat is not healthy...however, studies also show that someone who exercises regularly and eats decently healthy, but is still overweight, can be healthier than a skinny person who sits around and eats junk food all day.

[mulattogyrl]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I don't disagree that being fat is not healthy...however, studies also show that someone who exercises regularly and eats decently healthy, but is still overweight, can be healthier than a skinny person who sits around and eats junk food all day.

I agree!! (coming from the overweight person who eats decently and does some exercise, but is still overweight )