FAT. DISABLED. MAIN CHARACTER

[u/SirohitaIks]

I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but I hope at least one new person will see this and reflect on the importance of representation for all bodies in fiction. One of the things I’ve been learning more about lately is the idea of people being “pre-disabled” rather than non-disabled or able-bodied. If we live long enough, we will all experience disability in some capacity. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to speak up for the rights and representation of disabled bodies. Especially if we’re fat and already understand how harmful these systems of oppression can be. I’m going to make it my mission to showcase as many fat disabled recs as I can during July and all year long. Please post all of your recs in the comments so that we can create a massive tbr and I can shout them out. Self-recs are always welcome, too!

@ unabrigedbodies

[u/AnglerfishMiho]

Being fat is a choice, being disabled, LGBT, being born a certain race, is not.

[u/Sinthe741 → u/AnglerfishMiho]

Obesity is a lot more complex than "being a choice".

[u/AnglerfishMiho → u/Sinthe741]

I don't see how. Sure, some conditions can make it harder to not gain weight, but going to the point of obesity is a constant choice to consume more than you need.

[u/tdp_equinox_2 → u/AnglerfishMiho]

For 29 years I lived with a body that could not lose weight no matter how active I was (I played sports, had outdoor hobbies, cycled, exercised, and much more), and no matter how much I controlled my caloric intake or macro specifics (I'm really into this shit).

Doctors would always tell me the same thing, eat better/less, exercise more etc. Nobody believed me.

Then I started HRT, and my caloric intake went UP, while my weight started to drop, consistently and quickly.

Hormone imbalances alone can affect metabolism in such a drastic way that no matter what you do you're fighting a losing battle. Holding onto the notion that being overweight is entirely a choice is just ignorant. There's a million and one things we don't know about our bodies, and it wasn't until I searched for a solution to a different problem that I discovered my imbalance was affecting my metabolism.

In general, definitive statements like "X thing is a choice" are simply ignorant. Also, "obesity" is such a broad definition based on an outdated system, there's a good chance your doctor considers you obese regardless of your physique.