Golda Poretsky Explains How Fat Is Beautiful, Too- Sam Schwall

            I selected the story, Golda Poretsky Explains How Fat Is Beautiful, Too which was posted on October 16^thon huffingtonpost.com. This post offers fat acceptance activist, Golda Poretsky’s view on beauty and acceptance of a “fat body.” The fat acceptance movement and groups like the NAAFA, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance aren’t given a whole lot of attention in the media while they seem to have a considerable following. Founded on ideas such as our society’s demands for an unhealthily thin body and the failure of many diets, the movement encourages the acceptance of"fatness," the term proudly used by the organization.

            I’m not quite sure how I feel about these ideas. I believe that everyone is beautiful and totally valuable as individuals but obesity is a very serious issue that I feel is being ignored here. Beauty and health are two different ideas. Is it really right to urge individual’s to accept their obesity with no desire to stay healthy? What message is this sending our country? Before reading this I was aware of the fat acceptance movement but I had never heard a firsthand explanation of its values. I value personal fitness and feel that our country is going down a negative path in our obesity, however these groups don’t seems to agree that this is a dangerous thing. Do you believe that this a civil rights issue? It will be interesting to follow the NAAFA’s actions and the development of this movement.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/golda-poretsky-this-is-beautiful-too_n_4107616.html