Is Our Society Too Fat-Friendly?

While we're still confronted with images of too-thin models and unrealistic physical ideals every day, the range of "normal" body types in the U.S. has definitely skewed towards a heavier-and some say more realistic-physique in recent years. Plus-sized models like Crystal Renn are no longer relegated to Lane Bryant ads, there are clubs and dating sites especially for overweight people, celebrities who openly admit they love their "curves," ad campaigns featuring heavy (and proud) women like Dove's Real Beauty campaign and V magazine's recent "Curves Ahead" photo spread, of which photographer Solve Sundspo said: "I loved the opportunity to show that you can be beautiful and sexy outside the narrow interpretations that normally define us."

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There is even a National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) that wants people to know:

The fat acceptance movement champions a new kind of beauty that is not defined by the size of your waist. Supporters of the fat acceptance movement work to fight size discrimination. Most people in the fat acceptance movement have an issue with the words "obese" and "obesity," which seem overtly prejudiced and negative. We prefer the words "fat" and "fat power."

NAAFA even offers scholarships to encourage fashion design students to think about obesity-related designs and consider going into the plus-size fashion world.

But with obesity rates at epidemic levels in the U.S., all of this begs the question: Are we too fat friendly? Is our acceptance and encouragement of overweight and obese people establishing an unhealthy precedent of what is now the new "normal" body type? Do these types of movements prevent people from focusing on weight loss for their health?

Frances White, co-chair of the NAAFA says no:

We in the fat acceptance movement believe that people of all sizes and shapes should strive for fitness and good health. Even though I'm fat, I make healthy food choices and get movement into my life. There is too much blame placed at the door of fat people in the war on obesity. Fat people are blamed for increased health care costs, even though people who are not fat also get heart attacks, have high blood pressure, and develop diabetes. The fat acceptance movement promotes health at every size. This means that everyone should pursue optimum mental and physical health regardless of physical appearance, obesity, or size.

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But at least one blogger, Stuart McDonald, disagrees:

I know that gluttony can apply to all sizes of people, not just fat ones. I also know that it would be very hard to become obese or overweight without being, at some point, gluttonous. Now, go ahead, make the excuse that it's not your fault you're fat. I'll wait… Done? Ok. Here's the thing - ultimately, it is your body, is it not? You live in it? Move in it? Keep it alive? Every day? So how is it not your responsibility?

We spoke to body image expert and author of Good Girls Don't Get Fat, Dr. Robyn Silverman, who says that all of this talk about appearance just shows we're missing the point:

I think it's pretty funny that some people think being plus-sized is like saying its OK to be unhealthy-the two have nothing to do with one another. Being plus-sized doesn't mean you're unhealthy, just like being thin doesn't mean you're healthy. Many thin people are not healthy at all, and by constantly harping on the fact that we need to be thin we send the message that people need to do whatever it takes to be thin, even if its unhealthy like dieting, plastic surgery, etc..

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As for people who are clinically obese and at-risk for being unhealthy, Silverman agrees that extremes may have something going on health-wise. A good lesson is to separate health from appearance. If our health is being compromised, we need to do whatever we can to get healthy. We can still love ourselves and who we are, but it may mean we need to change our bodies because our insides are suffering.

The important takeaway here is that loving your curves doesn't mean saying you don't respect your health. It's simply saying: This is my body, and I think I'm beautiful.

When asked about plus-sized models like the one in the photo here, Silverman said they portray the typical female size:

It's a common misconception that plus-sized models are overweight, because they're not. They're beautiful women. To say that putting them in magazines makes us think being heavy is acceptable is pretty absurd. What's absurd is putting extremely thin models in magazines and saying that's what the typical American female looks like when 95% of women will never achieve that.

We agree. We also agree with her final point that too many of us equate being fat, overweight or obese with negative personality traits and unfounded health assessments: We assume that someone is out of control, unhealthy, ugly or not worthy solely on the basis of their looks. It's time we see people for who they are instead of what they look like.

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Photo: Huffington Post, V Magazine