What Fat Liberation Month Means to Anti-Diet Dietitians
Happy Fat Liberation Month!
As anti-diet, weight inclusive dietitians, we talk a lot about celebrating the body you have right now without the pressure to pursue weight loss. In August, we’re taking a moment to pause in honor of Fat Liberation Month.
Each year, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) uses this month to highlight the joyful, empowered experiences of fat people as a challenge to weight stigma and biases. Here’s what our dietitians want you to know:
Courtesy of NAAFA
1. What “Fat Liberation” means to us:
“Our culture is so focused on making bodies smaller, on erasing fatness, and that is not OK,” said Amanda. “This month is about reclaiming space, fighting back against weight discrimination, and celebrating bodies.”
A commitment
Weight inclusive practice means treating people of all sizes with equity, dignity, and respect, but we want to make ourselves clear: that includes fat bodies.
We will fight for folks in larger bodies and their right to find confidence, freedom from shame, and their personal definition of success.
As Heidi explains: “The work that we do is deeply rooted in social justice. Bodies don’t exist in a vacuum. It's so important to affirm and support folks with marginalized identities who are so often harmed by systems that weren’t built with them in mind.”
A time to listen
We also see Fat Liberation month as a time to listen to the voices of fat people who are often underrepresented and ignored, particularly in wellness spaces.
“So often the nutrition world is filled with the voices of folks who hold a myriad of privileges.” Morgan said. “This month offers space for a meaningful quieting: hearing less from those with thin privilege and more from those who exist in fat bodies that can speak to their own lived experiences.”
Be sure to follow us on Instagram where we’ll be highlighting some of our favorite fat activists and creators.
2. We asked the team: Why does Fat Liberation Matter?
“It challenges the bullshit narratives that say only certain bodies are worthy. It’s a powerful reminder that all bodies, especially those in larger sizes, deserve dignity, respect, and access to care without shame or stigma.” –Amanda
“When people feel safe and supported, they're more likely to seek care and feel empowered to take steps that support health.” –Nicole
“It represents a necessary shift toward justice, dignity, and respect for people of all sizes. As a weight-inclusive provider, I am proud to stand against the harmful norms of diet culture and weight stigma.” –Bonney
“Folks in fat bodies deserve the same care, acceptance, and respect as anyone else. With the rise of 90s/early 2000s era body ideals, it is an especially important time to make noise about fat liberation.” –Sam
3. Fat Liberation and our practice
So what does that look like in our day-to-day practice?
We believe Fat Liberation is an essential part of our commitment to equity and inclusion.
“We strive to create a safe space for folks in larger bodies where they experience compassionate care that isn’t influenced by their size,” Sam explained.
“It’s in opposition to weight discrimination and stigma,” Brooke added. “It lets those in marginalized bodies know that they deserve to be seen and heard.”
Fat Liberation is central to our definition of what health means (and doesn’t!)
“It’s about rejecting the idea that weight = health, and instead focusing on what actually supports someone’s well-being, mentally, physically, and emotionally.” Heidi said. “There's not much we have control over when it comes to our health, but our behaviors are where we have the most agency. And at the end of the day, body size isn't a behavior.”
Moving Forward
Whether you’re celebrating with us, looking for fat-positive care, or you’re brand new to the idea of Fat Liberation, we’re here for you. We work with people in all different stages of their anti-diet journeys, from curious to committed.
You can schedule a free discovery call to meet a member of our team and learn more about what we do. We want to hear your story and talk about what’s actually important to you (not just what you’ve been told!).
