Size Acceptance


© Mary Ellen Popolo

With the introduction of this site for Plus Size Women and my previous article, a discussion started about size acceptance. In reply to the questions and comments in that discussion thread I have added additional size acceptance links to this site.

While researching the subject of size acceptance it became apparent that this subject is a complex one, covering many issues. It also has many advocates. But basically it all comes down to the same philosophy - Being fat is NOT a bad thing.

To me, there are two basic areas of Size Acceptance. The fist area would be size acceptance on a personal level - accepting yourself for who you are rather than how much you weigh or what size you wear. The second area would be public size acceptance - changing the way people of size are discriminated against and looked down upon by the media, advertisers, the medical profession, and the general public, just to name a few!

Size acceptance on a personal level is the theory of learning to accept who you are, as you are. To learn how to live with the body you have, to be happy with yourself regardless of your size and to end self and body hatred because thin is considered "the norm" and you don't meet the criteria. Size Acceptance teaches you to stop dieting, because everyone else thinks you need to and size acceptance is learning to live your life to the fullest - starting right now, not waiting until you "lose a few more pounds".

Size acceptance takes the focus off of dieting and teaches people that it is ok not to diet. You do not have and should not have to be measured upon your weight or physical attributes. Don't judge a book by its cover, so to speak. Size acceptance teaches overweight people "self" acceptance something most of us are unfamiliar with. It is hard to imagine being overweight and not doing anything about it. Why? Because society tells us fat is wrong/thin is right. Will you really be a different person when you are thin? Isn't who you are inside what counts? Size acceptance turns our traditional way of thinking (fat is bad) around and let's us like and even love ourselves - just the way we are.

On a public level size acceptance is the fight against discrimination based upon size. There are many groups and organizations taking up this fight. Here are two of the dozens I came accross:

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

3.   Oct 8, 2003 9:44 AM
I agree with many of you about loving yourself but its so hard to deal with the world hating you based on your fat. Its just like someone hating someone cause of the color...
Diets are h ...

-- posted by giggles13


2.   Apr 30, 2000 5:51 PM
Cindy -

You shouldn't feel badly about yourself. Many of us are unsuccessful at our attempts to diet, yet we know that we would prefer to be thinner, although maybe not THIN.

Check out the mes ...


-- posted by Sadie426


1.   Apr 28, 2000 1:01 PM
Thank you for the article. it is very good and thought provoking.

I wish that I could say I lovingly accept myself at the size I am...but I constantly berate myself sith all my negative self-tal ...


-- posted by AuntCinders





For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Mary Ellen Popolo's Plus Size Women topic, please visit the Discussions page.