"They find our bodies repulsive." Kate Manne, a philosopher and author, discusses fatphobia in our culture, questioning the validity of the BMI as a measure of health and the harmful effects of dieting. She explores the historical link between fatness and blackness, highlighting the impact of fatphobia in philosophy. The podcast also delves into the intersection of fatphobia with racism and classism, as well as the deep politicization of fatness. The speakers challenge societal stigmatization of fatness and explore misconceptions and biases surrounding weight and health.
Fat phobia remains prevalent in society despite attempts to reduce bias.
The body mass index (BMI) is an unreliable measure of fatness.
Fat phobia has historical roots in Western colonialism and white supremacist ideals.
Dieting perpetuates fat phobia and can have negative effects on health.
Deep dives
Fat phobia is on the rise
A Harvard study revealed that fat phobia is the only form of implicit bias that has worsened since 2007. The majority of people still hold explicit anti-fat biases, highlighting a lack of progress in social attitudes.
Contact with marginalized groups does not reduce bias
Contrary to popular belief, contact with marginalized groups, such as overweight or obese individuals, does not necessarily reduce biases against them. The study suggests that biases around body weight have not improved over time.
Issues with BMI as a metric
The body mass index (BMI) is a flawed and misleading metric that dominates cultural perceptions of health and weight. Developed in the 1960s and 70s, it fails to account for individual body compositions and frame sizes, making it an unreliable measure of fatness.
Fat phobia and its historical roots
Fat phobia originated in racial anthropological discourse in the 18th and 19th centuries. The association between fatness and immorality was born out of Western colonialism and white supremacist ideals. Fat phobia has since become a global export of Western culture.
The ineffectiveness and dangers of dieting
Dieting rarely leads to long-term weight loss and can have negative impacts on health. Weight cycling, the cycle of losing and regaining weight, can lead to cardiovascular risks, metabolic damage, immune function damage, and mental health issues. The book argues that dieting is morally bankrupt and ultimately perpetuates fat phobia.
The importance of bodily diversity
Embracing bodily diversity is crucial, as fatness is a natural variation in human bodies. Attempts to shrink and conform all bodies to a narrow ideal are harmful and limit the richness of human diversity. Hunger should be seen as a bodily imperative, and intuitive eating can be a moral and self-care practice.
Fatphobia and medical bias
Fatphobia in healthcare leads to misdiagnosis and inadequate medical care for fat individuals. Biases among medical practitioners result in stigmatization, less desire to help, and overlooking serious health conditions. Fatphobia negatively impacts access to healthcare and contributes to preventable medical errors.
The problematic rise of weight loss drugs
Weight loss drugs like gluco-sides may claim to offer fast and easy permanent weight loss, but they are objectionable as they reduce human bodily diversity. Weight should not be the sole focus of health concerns, and the correlation between fatness and health risks is not as clear-cut as commonly believed.
“They find our bodies repulsive.” On episode 96 of Overthink, Ellie and David bring on Dr. Kate Manne, philosopher and author of Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia. She explains the moral failures and biomedical perils of our fatphobic culture and its misleading imperative to diet. This look at the politics of fat, fatness, and fatphobia in the philosophical canon and beyond to reveal rich links to questions of accessibility, justice, and intimacy. Should we trust the BMI (Body Mass Index) as a measure of health? Is the future in Ozempic? Why are we encouraged to see our body’s biological need for nutrition as “food noise”? And what might it take to hear the music of our human bodily diversity?
Paul Campos, The Obesity Myth Ancel Keys, et al., “Indices of relative weight and obesity” Adolphe Quetelet, On Man and the Development of His Faculties Sabrina Strings, Fearing the Black Body Audre Lorde, A Piece of Light Thomas Nagel, “Free Will” Kate Manne, Unshrinking: How to Face Fatphobia Overthink ep 27. From Body Positivity to Fat Feminism (feat. Amelia Hruby)