October 13, 2007
Oakland, CA – The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance joins the Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education, and the Association for Size Diversity and Health in urging our government, the medical industry and the media to stop using the words "obese" and "obesity" with reference to heavy children and adolescents.
This is not a matter of political correctness. It is about the critical need to create environments in which children and adolescents do not feel shame or guilt about their bodies but, rather, are motivated to enjoy healthful eating and active living habits regardless of their body size, weight or shape. Recent research shows that the stigmatization of large children has increased by 40% over the last 30 years
Whereas, we believe that health is composed of physical, psychological, and social components, we call upon U.S. Government agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services (CDC, HRSA, and other offices) and the Department of Agriculture to REJECT the recommendation of the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity to classify certain children and adolescents as obese.
In light of documented pervasive bias and discrimination against larger individuals by people in all segments of society, including many in health care, the terms "obese" and "obesity" should be abandoned and more constructive and less value-laden descriptors developed and adopted.
For a complete copy of this joint recommendation which includes
reference material supporting our position or for an interview
regarding this call to action, please contact:
Joanne P. Ikeda, MA, RD
Nutritionist Emeritus
Nutritional Sciences Department
University of California
Berkeley, CA
jikeda@berkeley.edu
We Come In All Sizes...
Understand it.
Support it.
Accept it.
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.
On the web: http://www.naafa.org
http://www.sne.org
http://www.sizediversityandhealth.org
For more information contact:
Peggy Howell, Public Relations Chairman
National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)
e-mail: naafa_pr@yahoo.com phone: (707) 246-6116