September 1, 2006

NAAFA Convention 2006: Health at Every Size

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Big Summer Fun is what the NAAFA Convention is more usually known by and this year the “fun” was happening in greater Boston, MA. Several hundred plus-sized, super-sized and big-and-tall people converged on the conference for a mixture of seminars, pool parties, friendship, shopping and dancing in an atmosphere of acceptance and powerful activism. A little bit more serious in tone than the purely party bash events like the one in Vegas , NAAFA (National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance) is the leader in the activist movement of fat acceptance. Founded in 1969 as a non-profit human rights organization, NAAFA works to eliminate social discrimination based on body size and to provide tools for self-empowerment to people of size. But, that doesn’t mean they don’t have fun too!

After several years of media circus in the heat of the frenzied “obesity epidemic”, this year much of the conference was off-limits to the press in an attempt to reclaim the privacy of the attendees who come for a week of workshops, social acceptance and friendship - not a week of microphones and cameras looking at the “fat lady” under the big top. Those with press passes were permitted to attend the press conference, fashion show and vendor fairs only. That didn’t stop a vivacious, chic and curvaceous journalist writing for Jane Magazine from taking part in all the conference had to offer, or keep the voluptuous, independent documentary film maker from conducting taped interviews for her project “The BBW World: Under the Fat“ .

Big Moves Dance performs “Big Spender”
number at the NAAFA 2006 Convention

Mainstream media was actually lower key and more scarce this year, probably due to some world events that were larger than life stories requiring their attention. This is too bad because NAAFA unveiled a new initiative that addressed the continued media and cultural focus on weight and health that only tells half the story and encourages discrimination against people of size. Distinctly anti-diet and anti-weight loss surgery in its position, NAAFA instead advocates a focus on proper diet and exercise for health and not weight-loss. The press packet distributed to the media contained information on studies conducted on the diet and pharmaceutical industries while dispelling some common myths about fat people. Recognizing obesity as a complex issue determined by a number of factors including but not exclusive to food, some of which are beyond the control of the individual, forms the basis of their stance.This radical departure from common thinking is summed up in an excerpt from the NAAFA literature:

“MYTH: It’s not healthy to be fat.

FACTS: The issue of fat and health is a complex one, with many factors to consider. Medical research has raised more questions than it has answered. It seems that, while there are health risks associated with being fat, there are also some health benefits. It has been shown to be healthier to remain at a stable high weight than to yo-yo diet.

Added to questions raised by medical research, we also must consider that, in our society, it is very difficult for fat people to stay healthy and become fit. Due to prejudicial medical treatment and harassment by healthcare professionals, many fat people do not receive adequate preventative health care, and put off seeking treatment when there is a medical problem. In addition, many fat people do not feel comfortable participating in activities that would lead to a greater level of fitness. Due to the harassment they face, fat people rarely feel comfortable using public pools or health clubs, or participating in recreational exercise. Given that permanent weight loss is elusive to most fat people, the issue of fat and health is irrelevant. The only true option available is to be as healthy as you can, regardless of your weight.”

NAAFA Convention attendee models
Fashion Overdose at Fashion Show

One of the rare groups in our thin-obsessed nation that is proving that larger bodies can actually be active, fit and healthy is the dance troupe Big Moves which has been reviewed by us before. With both West and East Coast branches, this group is comprised of many dancers who due to their size have not been accepted in the mainstream dance world, but are talented, fit dancers nevertheless. Slightly over-the-top and fat activist in their approach, the Boston branch headed up by the group’s founder, Marina Wolf Ahmad, was a perfect match for NAAFA’s message. Providing some of the entertainment for the week, they performed excerpts from some of their tours, like the jazz and Broadway style infused “Big Spender” numbers and the always popular hip-hop pieces.

In keeping with NAAFA values of promotion of empowerment, self-esteem and size-acceptance, the annual fashion show uses convention attendees as the models. Considering that the mainstream plus-size fashion world is populated by 5′10″ and taller goddesses in sizes ten to eighteen, having a professionally staged show like those reviewed often reviewed at Elegant Plus would send the wrong message to their membership. Especially considering that the average woman is 5′5″ or shorter and larger than a size 14 and their own membership, larger still. The use of “real” models serves two purposes. First to advocate the beauty in all of us. And, second as an empowerment tool for the individual women (and men!) who are up there strutting their stuff, receiving cheers and claps, and having the flash of cameras going off all around them. It’s the kind of attention many never

NAAFA Convention attendee models Big on Batik at Fashion Show

expected to receive at any point in their lives because of their body size and shape, yet craved because of their personality types. BBW bashes across the country have adopted this format, shunning the slick professional fantasy productions that still showcase, even at plus-size, a beauty standard out of the reach of many or shows meant to “sell” and make large corporate bottom lines. Like NAAFA, many of the social groups that host bashes nationwide are formed in direct response to exclusion from mainstream culture as NAAFA Press Liaison, Peggy Howell’s documentary resulting from her nationwide ChunkENation Tour, “Not in It for the Money” illustrates. NAAFA may be more overtly activist and the leader in the “fight”, but the Boston convention proved why it is such a respected part of a broader social movement that often expresses itself through dances, parties and fun.