What Fat liberation means (TO Us)
Our Definition
Fat Liberation is a political movement demanding the complete dismantling of systems, policies, and cultural norms that oppress, marginalise, and harm fat people.
It centres those most harmed by anti-fat bias, particularly fat people living at the intersections of racism, colonialism, ableism, gender oppression, class inequality and other forms of systemic injustice. It refuses to separate fatness from these wider structures of power.
Fat Liberation is not about individual self-acceptance. It’s about collective resistance and structural change.
What We‘re Not
Not Body Positivity
The body positivity movement has been co-opted by corporations and non-fat people. It focuses on feeling good about yourself while systems remain unchanged.
Not Wellness
We reject healthism: the belief that health equals moral worth. Fat people deserve full lives regardless of health status.
Not “All Bodies”
This dilutes fat-specific oppression and centres those closest to thin privilege.
Our Fat Liberation Principles
The Fat Liberation principles that guide this project. They reflect our specific commitments around challenging anti-fatness.
No Diet Talk or Body Policing
We avoid diet talk, intentional weight-loss narratives, and commentary on the bodies of people in everyday life. Cultural discussion about public figures and media narratives around bodies may be discussed in a critical context.
Beyond Healthism
We reject the idea that health determines worth. Fat people deserve dignity, care and respect regardless of health status.
Fat-Centred Space
This space prioritises fat people and fat experiences. People of all sizes are welcome to participate in ways that support that focus.
No Respectability Politics
Fat people do not have to prove they are healthy, active, productive or “trying to change” in order to deserve dignity or rights.
Independence from Diet Culture
We do not partner with or promote organisations that profit from weight loss, diet culture, or anti-fat stigma.
Intersectional Commitment
Fat Liberation is inseparable from broader struggles for justice. Our work stays connected to movements for racial justice, disability justice, trans liberation and other forms of collective liberation.