Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture

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By kindergarten, most children have absorbed the idea that "fat" is undesirable. As they grow, societal pressures compel them to pursue thinness, equating body size with personal worth. A multibillion-dollar industry thrives on this belief, while a weight-centric medical system promotes "weight loss" as a solution, neglecting social determinants of health and reinforcing negative stereotypes about larger bodies. Parents, shaped by their own experiences with diet culture, grapple with concerns about their children's body image—fearing both obsession with thinness and the implications of being overweight. Sole-Smith reveals how these societal messages impact young people well into adulthood and offers strategies to combat them. She advocates for reclaiming "fat," challenging the notion that it equates to being "unhealthy" or "lazy." Through conversations with researchers, activists, and families, she highlights how the focus on the "childhood obesity epidemic" has inadvertently fueled a crisis of disordered eating and body hatred. By addressing internalized fatphobia, Sole-Smith emphasizes the need to shift from "preventing obesity" to supporting children in their own bodies. This groundbreaking work encourages parents to confront their biases, recognize diet culture, and empower their kids, promoting a more weight-inclusive world.