187: DEI's Big Fat Problem: Fat Discrimination at Work

Let me ask you a question: have you ever had diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training that was focused on size inclusion or anti-fat bias? Has anti-fat bias even been a footnote in any DEI training that you’ve had or seen? I asked these questions to company leaders, DEI professionals and my audience on Instagram and the answer was a resounding big fat ‘no’. This is a problem, a big one. Today we talk about weight bias at work, DEI efforts and fat people’s stories. Want me to train at your workplace? Go to: www.weightbiastraining.com Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/187 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Dismantling ​Anti-Fat ​Bias in The ​Workplace: https://fiercefatty.my.canva.site/understanding-and-dismantling-anti-fat-bias-in-the-workplace DEI’s Big Fat Problem:https://www.weightbiastraining.com/blog/dei Is your organization legally required to protect fat folks from discrimination?: https://www.weightbiastraining.com/blog/legal Unfit for Work: Weight Discrimination in the Workplace: https://obesitycanada.ca/weight-bias/unfit-for-work-weight-discrimination-in-the-workplace/ Unfit for Work: Weight Discrimination in the Workplace: https://obesitycanada.ca/weight-bias/unfit-for-work-weight-discrimination-in-the-workplace/ Median earnings for women in 2021 were 83.1 percent of the median for men: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/median-earnings-for-women-in-2021-were-83-1-percent-of-the-median-for-men.htm Research: How Americans’ Biases Are Changing (or Not) Over Time: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sDcVL8ooZ9ZsEzNBNIWktvOi4bHDAKnWsmgO7C00tu4/edit The Health & Retirement Study: https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-06/health_and_retirement_study_0.pdf The weight bias against women in the workforce is real — and it's only getting worse: https://www.npr.org/2023/04/29/1171593736/women-weight-bias-wages-workplace-wage-gap Fat peoples experience: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UqQGE4RuJMnUBe_fmAVg7spzlXYYEC2gpY0DEFlSgmw/edit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10KAblZ_oR5CQUvOsrtHWsInfh7d33Iru?usp=sharing

We allllll know that fatness is spreading like wildfire and is contagious and who is going to think of the CHILDREN?!!? ERMGHED!” Is it true that we are in an epidemic and everyone is getting fatter? Do fat people need to hurry up and lose weight in order to save the economy and the lives of children and baskets of kittens from burning flames? Let’s talk about it in today’s episode! Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/186 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers https://www.instagram.com/p/C5PaOx7ya4s/?img_index=1 The obesity ‘crisis’ is a myth by Harriet Brown: https://nypost.com/2015/03/22/why-dieting-doesnt-work/ America's Moral Panic Over Obesity By Megan McArdle: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2009/07/americas-moral-panic-over-obesity/22397/ Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of “ob*sity”: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6964496/ Letter to the Editor: Response to Singh et al. (2018). Is there more to the equation? Weight bias and the costs of “ob*sity”. Canadian Journal of Public Health: https://link.springer.com/article/10.17269/s41997-019-00223-2 “Ob*sity” In Canada: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/migration/phac-aspc/hp-ps/hl-mvs/oic-oac/assets/pdf/oic-oac-eng.pdf New “ob*sity” treatments and technology to save the NHS billions: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-obesity-treatments-and-technology-to-save-the-nhs-billions#:~:text=Obesity%20costs%20the%20NHS%20a,spent%20on%20key%20frontline%20services

Seemingly there are non-stop stories and notifications of celebrities and influencers being on a new “weight loss journey” after starting on weight loss drugs. Now, Oprah is among that cohort and it has had an impact on her relationship with WeightWatchers. But hang on a minute, doesn’t WW sell weight loss drugs? Let’s dig into it! Bonus: I also share my favourite purchases under $100 that have positively impacted my life! Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/185 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Oprah's Top 20 Moments: https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/oprahs-top-20-moments When Oprah Met Bob: https://www.oprah.com/health/when-oprah-met-fitness-expert-bob-greene/all Conscious Eating: What I Learned on the 21-Day Cleanse: https://www.oprah.com/omagazine/what-i-know-for-sure-oprahs-vegan-cleanse Oprah Buys 10 Percent Share In Weight Watchers, Will Join Its Board: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/19/449929140/oprah-buys-10-percent-share-in-weight-watchers-will-join-its-board Oprah Winfrey reveals she’s using a weight-loss drug: ‘Not about willpower’: https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/oprah-winfrey-weight-loss-drug-rcna128714 Oprah Winfrey to Exit WeightWatchers Board After She Announced Use of Weight-Loss Drug: https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/oprah-winfrey-leaves-weightwatchers-board-weight-loss-drug-1235926484/ My IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/C38_HrFJX-g/ Weight Loss Drugs Part 3 - Wegovy and Tirzepatide: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/weight-loss-drugs-part-3-wegovy-and Reader Question - What Do You Think Of Obesity Medicine?: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/reader-question-what-do-you-think The Truth About The Obesity Action Coalition: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/the-truth-about-the-obesity-action Weight Watchers Expands Their Harmful Model - Adding Prescription Drugs: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/weight-watchers-expands-their-harmful WeightWatchers Clinic: https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/clinic Noom Announces: We’re Not a Diet – We’re a Pill Mill?: https://weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/noom-announces-were-not-a-diet-were So WW bought Sequence. Here is what it's like on Sequence.: https://www.reddit.com/r/weightwatchers/comments/13ynjs8/so_ww_bought_sequence_here_is_what_its_like_on/ Oprah Winfrey Reveals She Uses Weight-Loss Medication as a ‘Maintenance Tool': ‘I’m Absolutely Done with the Shaming’ (Exclusive): https://people.com/oprah-winfrey-reveals-weight-loss-medication-exclusive-8414552

The villainous tricksters behind the veiled push to “advance fat rights” (when in reality they just want to sell weight loss drugs) are at it again. Tigress Osborn from NAAFA is here to stop them though! She joins me on the show to talk about what new games anti-fat organizations are getting up to and why it’s a load of BS. Plus we discuss the fat community, fat joy, and fat history. TW: lots of use of the O words as we are covering shit O word organizations are doing. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/184 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers What tomfuckery is Right 2 Ob*sity Care up to with the O Bill of Rights? https://right2obesitycare.org./#our-purpose Follow NAAFA and Tigress: http://naafa.org Campaign for Size Freedom  Follow NAAFA @naafaofficial and Tigress @iofthetigress Right 2 Ob*sity Care up to with the O Bill of Rights: https://right2obesitycare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/A-National-Call-to-Action-The-Obesity-Bill-of-Rights.pdf Endorsing orgs: https://right2obesitycare.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/List-of-Supporting-Organizations-01.30.2024-1.pdf  

Have you ever read the “Am I The Asshole” questions on Reddit? If you don’t know what AITA is: People ask the internet if they were in the right or wrong about a situation that happened in their life. Well, these questions are a source of endless entertainment for me! I brought my friend Summer Innanen from Eat The Rules podcast to get her verdict on four AITA posts that I picked out around weight and diets. Some of these AITA question askers are grade-A donkeys and also there are some grey areas where things are less clear. TW: anti-fatness, ableism, gender A-Hole behaviour. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/183 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Potato recipe: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz6-TUWozwf/ When You Don’t Believe Your Partner Is Attracted to You: https://fiercefatty.com/153 IG roundup on above podcast episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnntWYqSf_r/?img_index=1 AITA for telling my SIL she wasn’t invited due to her weight. https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/173rk9a/aita_for_telling_my_dil_she_wasnt_invited_due_to/ AITA for putting my 9yo on a diet and 'emotionally damaging' her? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/f6eejv/aita_for_putting_my_9yo_on_a_diet_and_emotionally/ AITA for embarrassing my friend’s obese boyfriend by making him sit on a chair different from everyone else’s at dinner? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/q4yjm5/aita_for_embarrassing_my_friends_obese_boyfriend/ WIBTA for imposing a diet on my wife if she wants to travel with me? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheEx/comments/12i22oz/wibta_for_imposing_a_diet_on_my_wife_if_she_wants/ AITA for covertly losing weight as a bridesmaid & refusing to be set up with her friend after overhearing the bride call me fat? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/r05kk3/aita_for_covertly_losing_weight_as_a_bridesmaid/ AITA for telling my girlfriend to lose weight? https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/yeflsb/aita_for_telling_my_girlfriend_to_lose_weight/

Woah nelly, can family be trying or what? Especially if you’re the only one talking up about bad behaviour and feel like the black sheep or are being told you’re “tooooo sensitive”. If we want to (or have to) spend time with family, having some tactics in our back pockets is a great idea. Sharing your stories, an analogy with a donley and different word tracks in this episode will help you join family celebrations with a little more ease. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/182 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Boundary Boss: https://2-victoria.systeme.io/page-bb Fatphobic family and the holidays: https://www.reddit.com/r/PlusSize/comments/17zqz7b/fatphobic_family_and_the_holidays/ My boyfriends fat phobic family and their sly comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/inlaws/comments/13uozs4/my_boyfriends_fat_phobic_family_and_their_sly/ SASSY COMEBACKS FOR WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING SHIT ABOUT YOUR BODY: https://fiercefatty.com/blog/sassy-comebacks-for-when-people-are-throwing-shade-about-your-body Nice Ice Spice: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz6ZZj1LfOF/?img_index=1 Hard and soft boundaries: https://www.kcresolve.com/blog/boundaries-and-relationships#:~:text=Unlike%20a%20hard%20boundary%2C%20a,drive%20your%20car%20for%20you. Signs someone doesn’t respect your boundaries: https://psychcentral.com/relationships/signs-boundary-violations#discomfort Boundaries kids song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSFvJbSQdA4 Oh Boundaries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ0ZUVXqJc4 Leslie Jones funny vidoes: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz_5cpFOI3S/

Some folks can come in contact with fat liberation and turn away shaking their heads at the things that we believe. The thing is, often what they understand about fat liberation is incorrect, a misunderstanding or just plain false. First I talk about the core tenets of anti-fat beliefs and then I debunk the misconceptions that people have shared on the internet. Big TW for this episode as I am talking about actual anti-fat beliefs and the content of those beliefs so there is talk of anti-fatness and ableism throughout. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/181 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers

Today we are talking about the the truth about reality television and how devastating it can be to the lives of those featured. There have been incredible numbers of reality TV stars who have died by suicide and I was almost a part of that statistic. If you didn’t know, I was on a 2 part BBC show where I lived in a house for 9 days with people who either hated fatness or were fat positive and some inbetween. This is a deeply vulnerable episode where I am revealing exactly what happened and the resulting shame and grief I experienced culminating in active suicide ideation. A massive trigger warning as I will be playing clips of me talking about my ideation from the time after the show aired. If you are struggling like I was, please reach out for help. You are loveable and not alone. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/180 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers Suicide in reality TV: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/27/why-suicide-is-still-the-shadow-that-hangs-over-reality-tv-hana-kimura-terrace-house Suicide ideation levels: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxBubUPOXd9/ How shame works: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-scientific-underpinnings-and-impacts-of-shame/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/emotional-intelligence/202102/what-is-shame-and-how-does-it-show-in-your-life-and-work Reality TV union: https://time.com/6314118/reality-tv-unions-protection/

http://www.fiercefatty.com/179 How the heck do you feel more confident in your body anyway? In this episode, I go through step by step the actions to take. Get ready to make some notes, or not, I ain’t the boss of you. Plus, the story of someone making me cry in Starbucks last week after shaming my beverage choice, fun! Also, there’s an update on the Wegovy saga at the beginning so skip to 21.38 mins if you don’t want to hear that. Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/179 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers News from the Wegovy saga: https://www.instagram.com/p/CyO3dPru4CI/?img_index=1 Link to my IG channel: https://ig.me/j/AbaT5mRE9LD96thB/https://fiercefatty.com/179

Listener questions! Questions include: My mum blames her poor health on her weight and won’t listen when I tell her about anti-fat bias, what should I do? Help, I have just been diagnosed with diabetes! Is it actually unhealthy to be fat? Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/178 Support me on Ko-Fi and get the Size Diversity Resource Guide: https://ko-fi.com/fiercefatty/tiers https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship/helpcentre/glossary.html#excessive_demand 165: “Weight Loss” Surgery Stats and Stories (part 3): https://fiercefatty.com/165 126: Stories from Weight Loss Surgery Survivors Part 2: https://fiercefatty.com/126 122: Stories From Weight Loss Surgery Patients 8 Years Post Op: https://fiercefatty.com/122 90: Will "Weight Loss" Surgery Make You Thin, Healthy and Live Longer?: https://fiercefatty.com/090 Weight loss surgery facts: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrfAJxwSVLj/?img_index=1 Stories from bariatric surgery survivors: https://www.instagram.com/p/CcoU5cqPv7e/?img_index=1 Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4855514/ The obesity ‘crisis’ is a myth By Harriet Brown https://nypost.com/2015/03/22/why-dieting-doesnt-work/ Diet-free Talk for Diabetes/Insulin Issues:https://www.facebook.com/groups/221981691163510/ Fat Positive Intuitive Eating Diabetes Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fatpositivediabetes/ I attend a free virtual weight inclusive diabetes support group here: https://www.laurennewmanrd.com/groups 25+ Weight Neutral and Health at Every Size Resources for Managing Diabetes https://bodyliberationphotos.com/2019/08/30/masterpost-haes-based-resources-for-intuitive-eating-diabetes-and-living-with-chronic-illness/ HAES Healthsheets: https://haeshealthsheets.com/type-2-diabetes/ Don’t weigh me cards: https://more-love.org/resources/free-dont-weigh-me-cards/ https://www.instagram.com/fatpositivefertility/ for community and she probably has resources. Do you have a fat Facebook group in your area or a facebook group on Obgyn’s? As I am in Canada this is where I find my people.  List of Anti-Diet, HAES, and Intuitive Eating Providers via Christy Harrison https://christyharrison.com/haes-anti-diet-intuitive-eating-providers-eating-disorder-recovery Fat Friendly Health Professionals List http://www.fatfriendlydocs.com/ Fat Friendly Healthcare Providers https://www.self.com/story/find-fat-friendly-doctor https://www.instagram.com/p/CtLARDESZtE/?img_index=1