Exploring the Impact of Weight Loss Culture on Fat Liberation

Where Have All the Fat Folx Gone?

Has increase in weight loss culture diminished the fat liberation movement? The fat liberation movement once echoed loudly, filling spaces with voices demanding justice, visibility, and respect. But lately, it feels quieter. Have you noticed it too? The conversations seem muted, the momentum slower, and there’s a growing concern that fat community support is disappearing.

The Rise of Weight Loss Culture & The Impact on Fat Liberation

Everywhere we turn, weight loss medications and rapid transformations dominate conversations. The visibility of fat bodies is shifting, and for those of us who have fought for body liberation and fat acceptance, it can feel like we’re losing ground. Losing people. Losing the strength of our movement.

Many in the fat community feel abandoned—not just by mainstream body positivity, but by supposed allies who once championed fat liberation. If you’ve been feeling this way, you’re not alone. I feel it, too. This isn’t the first time fat people have been pushed to the margins—even within movements meant to uplift us. And yet, here we still stand.

Understanding Why Some Are Choosing Weight Loss

Let’s hold space for a difficult but necessary truth: Some of our fellow fat folks are choosing a different path. Before we judge or dismiss them, let’s pause.

Living in a fat body means facing daily discrimination, exclusion, and hostility. We know the longing for freedom, for ease, for access to the opportunities society unfairly reserves for thinner people. The desire for acceptance and love in a world that glorifies thinness is real. And if some decide that weight loss is their path to that freedom, we may not agree—but we can understand.

The reasons behind weight loss decisions are deeply personal, shaped by systemic fatphobia, survival instincts, and personal well-being. Acknowledging this complexity allows us to extend empathy rather than judgment. Understanding doesn’t mean betraying fat liberation; it means recognizing that the real problem isn’t individual choice—it’s the oppressive system that forces these impossible decisions in the first place.

The Need for Affirming Spaces in the Fat Community

This isn’t about who is still fat and who isn’t. It’s about affirming that all bodies deserve dignity, respect, and care—at any size and at any stage. Society thrives on division, making us believe that our power is in numbers rather than in our shared humanity. But the real power? It lies in community, care, and unwavering solidarity.

That’s why creating and maintaining affirming spaces for marginalized bodies is essential. These spaces must be intentionally built through support, visibility, and advocacy. Whether it’s through online communities, local meetups, mentorship, or amplifying fat voices in media, we need spaces where people can feel safe and valued. Spaces that remind us our worth isn’t defined by our size—now or ever. Because we know that weight loss doesn’t always last, and those who pursue it may one day need this community again. If we truly believe in fat liberation, then our work must be rooted in care, not conditions.

Embracing Body Peace & Fat Liberation

What matters most is that we respect everyone’s right to body autonomy and hold space for people navigating the ebbs and flows of body changes. Our bodies will constantly shift—whether intentionally or not—and body peace means accepting that. We can embrace body peace for ourselves while offering peace to those learning how to exist in a world hostile to marginalized bodies.

Most importantly, we must stay committed to the fight for body acceptance, size inclusion, and fat liberation. These are some of the solutions to our challenges. Let’s direct our energy toward dismantling harmful systems, not ostracizing individuals.

A Space for Fat Liberation & Community Support

I stepped away from actively facilitating FWOC events and activities for a while to tend to my mental and physical well-being. But even in that time away, my love and commitment to the fat community never wavered—because this is my community, too. I spent that time reflecting and praying about how to better nourish and amplify the voices of Black and Brown people of size.

I’m excited to start bringing those reflections to life and sharing new ideas and resources with you soon. For now, I want to extend a private invitation to my newsletter subscribers to participate in something new.

If this conversation resonates with you, and you’re looking for a space where you can be supported, affirmed, and surrounded by like-minded individuals, I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter here. Stay connected with Fat Women of Color™ for updates, discussions, and community on our Instagram.