ABSTRACT
This book is not intended for those who are well-versed in Fat Studies, fat acceptance, or fat liberation. Rather, it serves more as an entry point for health care professionals and students who are seeking a way to better care for the fat individuals with whom they interact. This is one reason why some of the authors will use the word “fat” to describe individuals; these authors are working with the word as an unstigmatized and reclaimed adjective; other authors, who work in certain contexts, will still use words like “overweight” or “obese.” Even though these terms are used widely, the term “overweight” implies that there is a proper weight to be and that any deviation is unacceptable, while “obese” implies medical pathology. In this collection, outside of direct quotes from other sources, these words will be in “scare quotes” to indicate the problematic political nature of the terms. An additional note about language: the dominant paradigm that pathologizes larger bodies and focuses on weight loss as an intervention is referred to as “weight-normative” or “weight-loss centered” or “weight-loss first” with alternative approaches referred to as “weight-inclusive” or “weight-neutral.”
