naafa@naafa.org

Thank you for requesting information about NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, Inc. The following is the text of our informational pamphlet. If you would like the pamphlet sent to you through regular mail, please send us a message with your name and mailing address. If you would like to join NAAFA, membership information and the various ways to contact NAAFA can be found at the end of this text.

WHAT IS NAAFA?

Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy, and member support.

WHAT DOES NAAFA DO?

The purpose of NAAFA is to:

• Work towards providing equal opportunity for fat people wherever obstacles and/or discrimination exist.
• Disseminate information about the sociological, psychological, legal, medical, and physiological aspects of being fat.
• Advocate and sponsor responsible research about the various aspects of being fat.
• Empower the large number of people regarded by the medical profession as "obese" to accept themselves, to live more fulfilling lives, and to promote acceptance of fat people within society.
• Serve as a forum where issues affecting fat people can be discussed in an unbiased setting.

HOW DOES NAAFA WORK TO MEET ITS GOALS?

NAAFA uses a three-pronged approach to end size discrimination and improve the quality of life for fat people. The three facets are as follows:

ADVOCACY:

NAAFA fights size-related discrimination and bias at every opportunity.

• NAAFA members have participated in rallies and demonstrations in protest of Southwest Airlines' discriminatory practices regarding fat passengers, at an obesity research conference funded by the commercial weight loss industry, and in response to comments by New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
• NAAFA's Fat Activist Task Force fights offensive advertising and negative media representation through letter writing campaigns.
• NAAFA works to gain legal protection for fat people by educating lawmakers and serving as a national legal clearinghouse for attorneys challenging size discrimination.
• NAAFA represents the interests of the fat population at conferences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and obesity research conferences, in order to shift the research agenda from a focus on finding ways to make fat people thin to ways to make fat people healthy. NAAFA also represents consumers in legislative hearings to regulate the commercial weight loss industry.

EDUCATION:

NAAFA fights society prejudice against fat people through education.

• NAAFA works to dispel the common myths that are used to justify treating fat people as second-class citizens: "If they really wanted to, they could lose weight;" "It's not healthy to be fat;" "Fat people are ugly."
• NAAFA reaches out to national and community groups through our Speakers Bureau, literature displays at community fairs, and traveling exhibits. "The Diet Deception" is a memorial exhibit commemorating those who have died from dieting, weight loss surgery, and prejudice-affected medical care. NAAFA "Hall of Fame" honors fat people throughout history who have contributed to society.
• NAAFA works extensively with the media, and NAAFA representatives have appeared on such programs as 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Larry King Live, Donahue, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. NAAFA's message has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and many other well-known newspapers, radio programs, and magazines.
• Information on health, legal issues, and the progress of the size acceptance movement is provided by the NAAFA Newsletter, as well as by publications of local chapters and special interest groups.
• At regional gatherings and conventions, discussion groups and workshops are held to bring supporters up to date on the latest size-related issues.

SUPPORT:

Through NAAFA, fat people can raise their self-esteem and overcome feelings that they deserve to be treated as second-class citizens.

• Information in the NAAFA educational pamphlets and the NAAFA Newsletter helps fat people to realize that their worth as human beings is not dependent upon the size of their body.
• Because being fat can be both a physically and emotionally isolating experience, NAAFA has helped to create and sustain a fat subculture. NAAFA has several chapters in the United States that hold meetings, sponsor support groups, publish newsletters, and organize social events. NAAFA also has special interest groups for people sharing common concerns.
• NAAFA's special events and annual convention create safe space for our members to explore their own issues about fatness, and give people an opportunity to network with others who relate to their experiences.

ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NAAFA SUPPORTERS

THE NAAFA NEWSLETTER

The NAAFA Newsletter documents and analyzes events affecting the size acceptance movement, provides information on research, legal, and legislative issues, and profiles in-depth features on topics of interest to supporters. Through the NAAFA Newsletter, members are kept apprised of organizational programs and activities.

FAT ACTIVIST TASK FORCE

NAAFA's Fat Activist Task Force is a coalition of fat activists participating in organized letter writing campaigns to fight size discrimination. Members write letters of protest or praise to targets designated in quarterly Task Force alerts.

LOCAL CHAPTERS

NAAFA has several local chapters throughout the country. These chapters are run by local volunteers and carry out NAAFA's mission in their communities. Most chapters charge a nominal fee and publish bulletins, hold local meetings and activities, and sponsor workshops and support groups. In many areas not served by chapters, there are area facilitators who members can contact by letter or phone for information and support.

EVENTS

Each year NAAFA holds its national convention in a different major city. The convention enables members from around the country to network, and NAAFA's leaders to personally inform our supporters of the year's progress. Days are filled with workshops, guest speakers, rallies, discussion sessions, and sightseeing trips. Evenings bring dinner dances, special events, swim parties, and fashion shows.

Local NAAFA chapters organize regional gatherings several times each year - usually three days filled with educational and social activities. These are small-scale versions of our annual convention.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

There are several special interest groups (SIGs) within NAAFA that provide programs for members sharing common concerns. Some charge nominal dues:

• Big Men's Forum
• Couples SIG
• Diabetic SIG
• Feminist Caucus
• Lavender SIG
• Lesbian Fat Activist Network
• Mental Health Professionals SIG
• Military Issues SIG
• Mid-Size SIG
• Parents and Caregivers of Fat Children SIG
• Singles SIG
• Sleep Apnea SIG
• Super SIG
• Teen/Youth SIG
• Weight Loss Surgery Survivors SIG
• Young Adult SIG

WHY SHOULD I SUPPORT NAAFA?

An estimated 38 million Americans are significantly heavier than average, and face societal and institutional bias because of their size. Fat people are discriminated against in employment, education, access to public accommodations, and access to adequate medical care. In addition, fat people are stigmatized, and are the victims of tasteless jokes and assaults on their dignity. Despite evidence that 95-98% of diets fail over three years, our thin-obsessed society continues to believe that fat people are at fault for their size.

NAAFA is the only national membership organization fighting to end size discrimination, educating the public, and working to empower fat people. People all sizes of large should support NAAFA's work in combating size discrimination. People of average size who believe that size discrimination is wrong should ally themselves with the size acceptance movement.

BUT ISN'T IT UNHEALTHY TO BE FAT?

Just being fat does not signify poor health. In fact, research shows that the health risks once associated with weight may instead by attributable to yo-yo dieting. Because fatness is most often caused by heredity and dieting history, and because 95-98% of all diets fail over three years, it is becoming apparent that remaining at a high, but stable weight and concentrating on personal fitness rather than thinness may be the healthiest way to deal with the propensity to be fat.

We must also consider that in our society, it is very difficult for fat people to stay healthy and become fit. Due to prejudicial medical treatment and harassment by health care professionals, many fat people do not receive adequate preventative health care, and procrastinate seeking treatment when there is a medical problem. In addition, many fat people do not feel comfortable participating in activities that would lead to a greater level of fitness due to social stigma.

People of all sizes can strive for fitness by making sensible food choices, following an exercise program, and getting regular check-ups.

WHY DO WE USE THE WORD "FAT" SO FREELY?

"Fat" is not a four-letter word. It is an adjective, like short, tall, thin, or blonde. While society has given it a derogatory meaning, we find that identifying ourselves as "fat" is an important step in casting off the shame we have been taught to feel about our bodies.

HOW TO JOIN NAAFA

Membership fees are as follows: