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Guided Concept Map #13 - Coggle Diagram
Guided Concept Map #13
fatphobia
root causes:
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Capitalism profits off body insecurity (diet industry, fitness, weight loss products).
social consequences:
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They face stigma in healthcare, employment, and everyday interactions.
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definition: Discrimination or prejudice against fat people, rooted in appearance-based bias and societal fear of fatness.
ex: Calling someone unhealthy based only on size, even if there’s no context or medical history.
fatness
- Body positivity and fat liberation movements push back against fatphobia.
- Some people use their fatness as a form of embodied resistance against societal norms.
- Fatness intersects with race (e.g., Black women face different body standards), class (access to food and healthcare), and gender (beauty pressures).
- Often seen as a personal failure or lack of self-control.
- Used to measure worth, especially for women and marginalized groups.
ex: The assumption that a fat person doesn’t exercise or eat well, regardless of their habits.
health
- BMI (Body Mass Index) is a widely used tool to define health, but it’s outdated and doesn’t account for muscle mass, genetics, or other health markers.
- The article discusses the right not to know or participate in health surveillance.
- Health has become moralized—people are seen as “good” or “bad” based on health choices.
- A movement that shifts focus from weight loss to overall well-being.
- Encourages self-care, joyful movement, and body respect regardless of size.
ex: Two people can have the same BMI but very different health outcomes based on lifestyle and genetics.
systems & power
- The government and health systems use “health” to regulate behavior (e.g., diet, exercise).
- People who don't follow these rules are punished (social stigma, denied services, blamed for illness).
- Healthcare providers often treat fat patients poorly (e.g., attributing all issues to weight).
- Policies may limit access to care or insurance coverage for fat individuals.
ex: A doctor assuming a fat patient’s back pain is due to their weight instead of ordering appropriate tests.
media & culture
- “Concern trolling” happens when users disguise fatphobia as fake concern (“I’m just worried about their health!”).
- People are publicly shamed in comments sections, TikTok duets, and YouTube reactions.
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- Promotes thinness and weight loss as part of the ideal lifestyle.
- Fat characters in TV/movies are often shown as comic relief or villains.
article
Connections to BMI:
- BMI is one example of a tool used to justify fatphobic health interventions.
- The article suggests that tools like BMI allow systems to punish people for being outside of the norm.
personal connection
This reminded me of how normalized it is to comment on people’s bodies, especially online, where people act like they're being helpful by calling out "unhealthy" appearances.
key messages:
The author critiques the way society frames “health” as a moral duty and uses it to justify fatphobia.
Even when fat people are targeted “for their health,” the result is often more harm, shame, and stigma.
Petersen argues for the right not to participate in the health mandate and to live without constant judgment or forced “choice.”