You can be forgiven for thinking that when it comes to the fat acceptance movement, parts of our society have lost their minds. This magazine cover perhaps illustrates it best.
It started with a reasonable premise—don’t be cruel to overweight people. No one should be mocked or bullied for their size. That’s basic decency.
But that simple concept morphed into an extreme ideology that claims obesity is healthy. It’s a message that does real harm to the very people it claims to protect. The fat acceptance movement doesn’t just demand kindness but insists you can be healthy at any size.
Worse, this fringe thinking has now infected mainstream institutions we used to trust. It’s not just magazines celebrating obesity. It’s doctors avoiding the word ‘obese’ to not offend patients. It’s medical schools teaching about “metabolically healthy obesity.” It’s hospitals removing scales from waiting rooms. “Doctor’s Office Survival” workshops for overweight patients.
The results are tragically predictable. The movement’s icons are dying young. A New Zealand fat studies professor died at 42. TLC “My 600-Lb. Life” reality star Coliesa McMillian died at 39. Jamie Lopez, the 500-lb star of “Super Sized Salon” died at 37. All from obesity-related conditions.
But their stories get buried under the avalanche of body positivity posts and glamor shots of plus-sized models. Social media influencers rake in sponsorship deals to promote ‘fat acceptance’ while followers absorb the toxic lie that obesity can be healthy.
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The body positivity movement exploded in the 2010s, spawned by anti-bullying campaigns and fueled by social media. Influencers with millions of followers promoted the idea that you can be healthy at any size. Companies jumped on the bandwagon by using plus-size models in their ads to show how inclusive they were.
In the rush to be body positive, science got left behind. The very real health risks of obesity were downplayed or outright denied. Anyone who pointed them out was labeled ‘fat phobic.’
If you want to dive deeper, watch my video on how society lost its mind over body positivity.
But the core message bears repeating here: celebrating obesity isn’t progressive; it’s a toxic message. And it needs to stop before it cons more people into an early grave.
Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. Follow Ken on Substack