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From: [email protected] (Stef Jones)
Newsgroups: soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated
Subject: Big Folks Publications Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Date: 15 May 2001 22:50:45 -0700
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Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions (and
their answers) about publications for fat people. People interested in
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FAQ about Publications for Big Folks

This document contains information about publications (magazines and
books) that promote size-acceptance or exist specifically for fat
people. If you don't find what you're looking for here, try one of
the related FAQs (see question B1 for a complete list).

============================================================

Updated October 00

============================================================
Contents

SECTION A: FAQ about publications that promote size-acceptance or
exist specifically for fat people

A1) What publications are there in Australia?
A2) What publications are there in Canada?
A3) What publications are there in Europe?
A4) What publications are there in New Zealand?
A5) What publications are there in the U.K.?
A6) What publications are there in the U.S.?
A7) What books are there?

SECTION B: Information about this FAQ
B1) Are there other related FAQs?
B2) Posting information
B3) Contributors

============================================================
============================================================

SECTION A: FAQ about publications that promote size-acceptance or
exist specifically for fat people

A1) What publications are there in Australia?

Life Size
c/o Women At Large
12 Chancery Ln
Hawthorndene, SA 5051
Phone: 278-6499 (Ask an operator for the area code.)

============================================================

A2) What publications are there in Canada?

Canada Wyde
PO Box 511
99 Dalhousie St.
Toronto, Ontario M5B 2N2
Phone: (416) 861-0217
Web site: http://www.interlog.com/~cdawyde/
Rates: Canada $21.40 (incl. GST. US $25 US. International $30 US.
Glossy quarterly magazine for large Canadians and their admirers.
Includes clothing resources and personal ads. Available on some
newsstands.

Hugs International Newsletter
Linda Omichinsky, RD
Box 102 A, RR #3
Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada R1N 3A3
Work Phone: 204-428-3432
Home Phone: 204-428-3432

On The Plus Side
Paige Garnett
9292 134th Street
Surrey, British Columbia, V3V 5S2
Email: [email protected]
$10.00 for four issues (includes free personal ad)
Quarterly newsletter dedicated to self acceptance for the large
woman. Successes, challenges and personal triumphs. Recipes,
horoscopes, fashion listings, and personal ads for large women
and the men who love them. (New Jan 97)

============================================================

A3) What publications are there in Europe?

An interesting book in Dutch:
Dik voor Mekaar, handreiking voor een breed draagvlak. by Marja
Visser, published by De Toorts, Haarlem in 1995.
============================================================

A4) What publications are there in New Zealand?

NZ Bella
Kennedy Mayne Communications Ltd.
1st Floor, 177 Parnell Rd or
P O Box 37-421
Parnell, Auckland, NZ
Phone: (09)309-8416
Fax: (09) 308-9134
Email: [email protected]
Quarterly magazine. Subscriptions $25 US dollar a year, includes
postage from NZ. Payable by credit card.

Women Unlimited Newsletter
PO Box 16143
Wellington South
New Zealand
Celia James
Email: [email protected]
Shel Hancox
Email: [email protected]

============================================================

A5) What publications are there in the U.K.?

Db Magazine
c/o Diet Breakers
Mary Evans Young, Editor
Church Cottage
Barford St. Michael
Banbury Oxon England OX15 OUA
Fax: 0181 693 7177
10 pounds for five issues within the UK, 15 pounds outside.
UK currency (money order) only.
News, fashions, opinion, personal stories, research reviews,
politics.

Fat News
Fat Women's Group
London Women's Centre
4 Wild Court
London WC2B SAU England
In U.K. 1.50 - 2.30 pounds / year (sliding scale)
In Europe 2.50 pounds / year
Elsewhere 3.00 pounds / year
Quarterly newsletter.

Freesize magazine
Published by the SIZE size-acceptance organization
Suite 147
58 Gloucester Road
London SW7 4UB
Fax (US): 1-011-44-171-581-9213

============================================================

A6) What publications are there in the U.S.?

Ample Shopper
PO Box 116
Bearsville, NY 12409
Phone: (914) 679-3316
Fax: (914) 679-1206
1 year $12 in U.S., $15 elsewhere
Quarterly consumer newsletter. They run articles on things such
as fat-friendly cars, fat-friendly airlines, and so forth. Back
issues are available.

BBW -- "The New" BBW Magazine
Web: http://www.bbwmagazine.com
BBW Magazine, exclusively for the size 16+ woman, has been
acquired by Aeon Publishing, and will resume publication in May
1999. Sally Smith is the new editor.

Bear
2215-R Market St. #148
San Francisco, CA 94114
A zine for bears and their admirers.

Belle: the Premier Magazine for Confident Full-figured Women
Starlog Entertainment, Inc.
475 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (800) 877-5549
1 year sub is $12.97 in the US
One woman writes: "it's much more of what we'd all want a
plus-sized fashion/woman's mag to be than BBW has been for
years. Another writes: "The earlier issues, esp, feature models
who are larger than most from the old BBW, and certainly much
bigger than anyone in MODE. Recently they also publish: Belle
Presents Love and Lingerie. It's very size-positive."

Big Options
Lora White
Birmingham, AL
Phone: 205-520-9468
Newsletter with lots of information about organizations, reading
materials, tapes, clothing stores.

Body Image Task Force Newsletter
Mary Atkins, Director
PO Box 934
Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0934
Home Phone: 408-426-1821
Quarterly newsletter. See also the entry for the video *Killing
Us for Our Own Good: Dieting and Medical Misinformation*.
Purchase of the video includes the right to show it publicly for
educational purposes. 105 minutes. $19.95 plus $5 shipping and
handling. All proceeds go to BITF for further distribution of
the film.

Chic Full Figure Fashion
Phone: (800) 34-STILE
Email: [email protected]

Dimensions (Where Big is Beautiful)
PO Box 640
Folsom, CA 95763-0640
Single issue $6.50
1 year sub (6 issues) $24 in U.S., $30 in Canada, $36 elsewhere
Web sites:
http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/
Bimonthly men's magazine for men who prefer their women very
large. Women also read it. Big section of personal ads from men
and women, and the ads provide good leads to sexy large-sized
clothing (among other things). ... [blb]
Columns on fashion, health, relationships, activism, and
size-acceptance issues. FA oriented fiction. Large-size
products/services marketplace. Their fashion column on the web
is a good source of leads for supersize clothing (which many
other periodicals gloss over).

Fat Admirers News (FAN)
I.Y.Murphy
Box 148222
Chicago, IL 60614-8222
$10 for 1 year subscription
Bi-monthly newsletter for large-size women and their admirers.

Fat!So? A zine for people who do not apologize for their size.
Marilyn Henrietta "Hank" Wann, Editor.
PO Box 423464
San Francisco, CA 94142
$3.50 for 1 issue.
1 year sub is $12.
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: http://www.fatso.com/
Filled with great writing, poetry, photos, and commentary on
being fat. "Anatomy lessons" focus on a different part of the
body each issue, photos of 20 very different sizes and shapes.
Issue 1 was butts. Issue 2 was bellies. Fat!So? has gained the
attention of the mainstream media with articles in USA Today and
the San Francisco Chronicle. The web site was chosen as Cool
Site of the Day.

Girl
Published by same folks who put out Mode magazine. However, they
don't seem to show many images of plus-size kids.

The Goddesses Newsletter
Nancy Esposito
PO Box 1008 J A F Station
New York NY 10116
Work Phone: 718-456-9119
Home Phone: 718-789-3894
Newsletter with size-activism articles and personal ads.

Grand Touch
NAAFA
PO Box 188620
Sacramento, CA 95818
Massage video for large and supersize women. $30.

Healthy Weight Journal (formerly Obesity and Health)
Frances M. Berg, editor and publisher
402 S. 14th St.
Hettinger, ND 58639
Phone/Fax: (701) 567-2646, (800) 663-0023 (US and Canada)
Journal reports latest obesity research, news, size-related
issues. Also see *Afraid to Eat* in the Books section.

ISFB (I'm So Fucking Beautiful)
Nomy Lamm
1505 NW Groves Ave.
Olympia, WA 98502
Issues #1 and #2, send $1 each plus stamps.
Written by Nomy Lamm - who hopes she is fermenting the "fat
grrrl" revolution.

Killing Us for Our Own Good: Dieting and Medical Misinformation.
A video presentation by Dawn Atkins, Sponsored by the Body Image
Task Force. Includes a lecture by Dawn Atkins and music, "The
Losing Game" by Cosy Sheridan. Covers success/failure rates of
dieting, possible side effects of weight loss, theories of
weight and metabolism, manipulation of medical research, effects
of discrimination, and ways to effect change. Purchase of the
video includes the right to show it publicly for educational
purposes. 105 minutes. $19.95 plus $5 shipping and handling to
Body Image Task Force, PO Box 934, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0934.
All proceeds go to BITF for further distribution of the film.

LFAN Newsletter
Laura Tisoncik
PO Box 635
Woodstock, NY 12498
Phone: (914) 679-9019
Email: [email protected]
$20 ($5-$10 low income)
Monthly newsletter of the Lesbian Fat Activist Network, a NAAFA
special interest group. Includes column for fat bisexual women
called "Bi and Large."

Largesse, The Network For Size Esteem
Karen Stimson, Editor
PO Box 9404
New Haven CT 06534-0404
Phone/Fax: 203-787-1624
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.eskimo.com/~largesse
"Food for Thought" quarterly newsletter. Bimonthly "Size
Esteem" bulletins. Periodic action alerts. "Affirmations For
Size Esteem" guide to empowerment for people of size, "Don't Be
A Yo Yo" anti-diet brochure, sourcebook on the fat underground,
and The Size Diversity Empowerment Kit. Sponsors of
International No-Diet Day.

Living Large
Kathleen Madigan
PO Box 1006
Elgin, IL 60121
For a sample issue send $3.
APA by and for fat people and their supporters, for discussion
of all matters related to weight -- and everything else, as is
usually the case with APAs.

Loving You Large
Phone: (800) 200-1099
Free newsletter for large women and men who admire them.

Lovin' Plenty
Publication for large singles and their admirers. This
publication seems to have folded.

Mode Magazine
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.modemag.com
Glossy fashion magazine featuring models on the very smallest
end of plus-size (size 12-16), although some of their feature
articles are about larger (celebrity) women. Many plus-size
boutiques advertise there. One reader was disappointed because
the models were so much smaller than her that it was difficult
to tell what the clothes would look like on her. She was also
disappointed that many cosmetics ads featured skinny models.

NAAFA Fat Feminist Caucus
Judy Freespirit (Judith L. Ackerman) -- new coordinator
407 Orange St. #101 Oakland, CA 94610
Email: [email protected]
To receive a newsletter and information on the Caucus, email
your postal address.

Nothing To Lose
Shira Stone And Gail Horowitz
Fat Is A Lesbian Issue
225 C King St
Princeton NJ 08540
Work Phone: 609-924-9321
Email: [email protected]
Susan
718-892-7375
Newsletter.

On a Positive Note
Carol A. Johnson, M. A., Pres.
Largely Positive, Inc.
PO Box 17223
Glendale WI 53217
Quarterly newsletter associated with the Largely Positive
support group.

oooO Baby BABY Magazine
Maureen Parke, Editor
1448 Fullerton Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533
Web site: http://www.oooobabybaby.com
Email: [email protected]
$24 for 12 issues
Quarterly. Sample on website. Promotes fashion, activities,
dancing and events, and operates a plus size modeling agency.
Welcomes article, submissions and inquiries. Offers classified
ads.

The Overcoming Overeating Newsletter
Jane Hirschmann, MSW
Director, The National Center For Overcoming Overeating
315 West 86th. Street, Suite 17B
New York NY 10024-3180
Work Phone: 212-875-0442
Fax: 212-874-6596/5820076
Email: [email protected]
UPDATE Jan 97: The newsletter is no longer being published. Jane
Hirschmann is seeking someone willing to take the newsletter
over.

Pasty
Sarah-Katherine
734 20th Ave. E.
Seattle, WA 98112
$1 an issue
Zine by a fat bi-dyke from Seattle

Radiance: The Magazine for Large Women
PO Box 30246
Oakland, CA 94604-9937
Phone: (510) 482-0680
Fax: (510) 482-1576
Email: [email protected]
Web page: http://www.radiancemagazine.com/
$5 for 1 issue (4 issues/year)
1 year sub is $20 in U.S., $26 in Canada, $34 elsewhere
2 year sub is $35 in U.s., $47 in Canada, $63 elsewhere
Overseas subs are airmailed.
Send U.S. funds or international money order.
Quarterly magazine. Excellent source for fashion information and
catalogs, this magazine also contains photos, poetry, and
articles on topics from exercise to motherhood, all for large
women. Has an appealing air of energy, acceptance, self-love,
and optimism. Highly recommended. [blb]

Rump Parliament
Lee Martindale: Editor
PO Box 865137
Plano, TX 75086-5137
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://web2.airmail.net/lmartin/
Single issue $6.
1 year sub is $24 in U.S., $28 in Canada and Mexico, $35 elsewhere
Bi-monthly. Rump Parliament is dedicated to size-acceptance
activism. Articles, discussion columns, activist-oriented
fiction, and news of interest to people who believe that "fat"
is not a four-letter word. Size-, gender-, color-, sexual
preference-, and politically inclusive. Bestows annual "Rumpies"
awards, both positive and negative. Offers buttons, mugs, and
notecards with activist slogans.

Saffir Newsletter
Diana Mackin
4649 Sunnyside Ave N, Rm #222
Seattle, WA 98103
Work Phone: 206-784-1004
Home Phone: 206-632-8547

Seeds of Change Newsletter
Jennifer Carney, RN
2865 So. Colorado Blvd, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80222
Work Phone: 303-691-8919
Say No To Diets -- Say Yes To Life

Sisters of Size
Robin
710 28th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98114
$5 - $10 for a subscription.
Lesbian fat activist newsletter from Seattle.

Superwoman
Sherry Collins-Eckert
NAAFA Super Sig
PO 25083
St. Louis, MO 63125-0083
Email: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.pencomputing.com/dim/dimtext/SuperSIG/info.html
Dues are $17.50 ($22.50 Canada, $25 other foreign). You must
be a member of NAAFA.
Quarterly publication of Super Sig, NAAFA special interest group
for women size 48 or larger. Compiles information on yearly
confidential surveys of members.

Weight-Loss Survivors' Sig
Karen Smith
P.O. BOX 7441
Albuquerque, NM 87194-7441
Phone: (505) 247-4359
Email: [email protected]
Quarterly newsletter.

Zaftig: sex for the well rounded
Zaftig! is explicit, pan-sexual and woman-friendly.

============================================================

A7) What books are there?

This is a list of books dealing with body-image, clothing, eating
disorders, fitness, size-acceptance and more. Much material contributed
by Bernadette Bosky ([email protected]).

Acolyte, J. *The Big Bang: The Birth of a New Plus-sized Universe*.
Honor the Circle Astrology Expressions, 1999. $19.95 at http://members.aol.com/Bestastro.
Spiral bound book examines the politics of body size and
oppression of fat women in our culture. Factual manifesto that
challenges the current medical view of "fat".
Ample Opportunities
PO Box 8095, Victoria, BC, V8W 3R8.
Disseminates information and resources to and about women of
size in Canada. Paper based directory of stores, mail order
sources, products, publications and events for large women in
Canada is available for $2

Atrens, Dr. Dale M. *Don't Diet*. New York: William Morrow and
Company, Inc., 1988.
A very clear, detailed (but, oddly, un-footnoted) scientific
study of post-dieting findings about why people are obese, what
obesity does (and doesn't) mean to our health, and what can and
can't be done about it all. Also some sound comments about
societal aesthetics and attitudes about fat, including an
interesting critique of Susie Orbach's *Fat is a Feminist
Issue*. Recommended. [blb]

Beller, Anne Scott. *Fat & Thin: A Natural History of Obesity*. New
York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1977.
The best summary of older studies that pointed all along to
causes of obesity other than simple overeating. Some of the
studies have since been refuted, others may not seem totally
relevant--but all of it is worth knowing about, and the
cumulative effect is strong. Sensible arguments and detailed
reference to specific medical studies. Excellent bibliography.
[blb]

Bennett, William and Joel Gurin. *The Dieter's Dilemma: Eating Less
and Weighing More*. New York: Basic Books, 1982.
The first book about anti-dieting findings concerning set-point
and other metabolic considerations. A source of accurate
scientific information about what does and does not define one's
appropriate weight, it is clearly written and fully explanatory.
Highly recommended. Part of this book was reprinted as "Do Diets
Really Work?" by Bennett and Gurin, *Science 82*, March 1982,
42-50. [BLB]

Berg, Frances M. Health Risks of Weight Loss.

Berg, Frances M. *Afraid to Eat: Children and Teens in Weight Crisis*.
Healthy Weight Journal, 1997. ISBN 0-918532-55-5. $24.95
(includes postage and handling) to Healthy Weight Journal, 402
South 14th Street, Hettinger, ND 58639. Fax: (701) 567-2602.
E-mail: [email protected].
"Berg summarizes the current weight and eating crisis in a model
that demonstrates how parents and others work at cross-purposes,
giving out conflicting messages and allowing the negative
aspects of culture to exert a more powerful influence on our
children....The second half of her book is devoted to how we can
rectify this situation." -- Joanne P. Ikeda. Recommended.

Bernell, Bonnie. *Bountiful Women: Large Women's Secrets for Living the
Life They Desire*
Wildcat Canyon Press, Circulus Publishing Group, Berkeley, 2000.
http://www.bountifulwomen.com.
"Celebratory book of the psychological and practical strategies
large women have found to deal with challenging situations such
as securing good medical care, handling self-deprecatory
feelings, and inviting romance into their lives. As a
psychologist of many years, I offer the perspective that living
now rather than "weighting" until one is thin enough, rich
enough, loved enough, spiritual enough, is a bountiful life."

Blank, Hanne. *Big Big Love: A Sourcebook on Sex for People of Size and
Those Who Love Them*
Greenery Press, 2000. http://www.bigbiglove.com

Bordo, Susan. *Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture & the Body*.
University of California Press, 1993.
Heavily theory-oriented feminist analysis.

Bovey, Shelly. *The Forbidden Body: Why Being Fat is not a Sin*.
Pandora Press, 0-04-440871-4, $12.00.

Brown, Laura S. and Esther D. Rothblum, Ed. *Overcoming Fear of Fat:
Fat Oppression in Psychotherapy*. Harrington Park Press,
0-918-393-71-X, $14.95.
Articles by feminist therapists.

Brownmiller, Susan. *Femininity*. New York: Fawcett Columbine, 1984.
About societal expectations and the symbolism in/behind actions
and appearance that are considered to be stereotypically
"feminine," with some parallel material about masculinity.
Especially good material about size and shape in the first
chapter, but all the material is thought-provoking and often
useful in understanding the impact of gender on how we feel
about our bodies. [blb]

Brumberg, Joan Jacobs. *Fasting Girls: The History of Anorexia
Nervosa*. New York: New American Library, 1989.
A detailed and copiously documented, yet very readable book,
covering the history of this phenomenon from the 1300s to the
present. Brumberg shows that our views of the body and of
fasting are shaped by a number of cultural factors, from
religion to economics; some connections are made between the
pathological fasting of any era and its "normal" view of the
body. Interesting reading for everyone. Documentation in
endnotes. [blb]

Bruno, Barbara Altman, Ph.D. *Worth Your Weight*. Rutledge Books,
1-800-278-8533 (1-800 2 RUTLEDGE).

Cannon, Geoffrey and Hetty Einzig. *Dieting Makes You Fat*. New York:
Pocket Books, 1987.
Argues against calorie-reduction dieting and in favor of a
whole-foods diet, high in fiber and without refined white flour
or (especially) sugar; also proposes that exercise may decrease
weight and certainly will increase health and energy. Good
discussion of social attitudes about weight, fat- directed
hatred and self-hatred, including praise of strength and freedom
in women. Definitely has its own dietary axe to grind, but
presents much valuable information. Some in-text documentation.
[blb]

Carlson, Nancy. *I Like Me*. Puffin Books, 0-14-050819-8, $3.99.
Children's book. A little pig talks about how much sie likes
hirself (including hir curly tail, hir round tummy, and hir
little feet). [skw]

Chapkis, Wendy. *Beauty Secrets: Women and the Politics of Appearance*.
1986, South End Press, 0-89608-280-2, $12.00.
Addresses looksism in general.

Chernin, Kim. *The Obsession: Reflections on the Tyranny of Slenderness*.
New York: Harper and Row, 1981, 0-06-092505-1, $12.00.
A ground-breaking feminist study of the demands which society
makes on women to be thin, and the ways in which this is both
cause and effect of woman's alienation and disempowerment; an
examination of what eating and appetite mean in our society,
using and critiquing a number of texts. Footnote documentation.
Highly recommended. [blb]

Chernin, Kim. *The Hungry Self: Women, Eating, and Identity* New York:
Times Books, 1985, 0-06-092504-3, $12.00.
A feminist, psycho-sociological study of eating disorders,
especially in the context of expectations of and for women
today. Interesting discussion of eating and the mother-daughter
relationship. Some footnote documentation. [blb]

Charlotte Cooper. *Fat and Proud: The Politics of Size*
(The Women's Press, 1998). ISBN 0 7043 4473 4.

Deckert, Barbara. *Sewing for Plus Sizes*. Taunton Pr; ISBN: 1561582840.
Instructions on adapting patterns and designs for
larger sizes. Designed for the basic sewer. How to select
designs, colors, and fabrics. Author is a plus-size woman Photos
of plus-size models.

Ehrenreich, Barbara and Dierdre English. *For Her Own Good: 150 Years of
the Experts' Advice to Women*. (New York: Anchor Books, 1978).
A classic feminist analysis. Not about fat per se, but about
general attitudes toward women and women's bodies.

Emme, et al. True Beauty : Positive Attitudes and Practical Tips from
the World's Leading Plus-Size Model

Erdman, Cheri, Ed.D. *Live Large!* ISBN 0-06-251345-1.
Affirmations and activities for size esteem.

Erdman, Cheri, Ed.D. *Nothing To Lose: A Guide to Sane Living in a
Larger Body*. Harper San Francisco, 0-06-251253-6, $18.00.
Erdman is a professor and counselor at the College of DuPage in
Illinois. *Nothing to Lose* describes practical ways to move
toward a healthier, happier life as a fat person.

Epstein, Diane and Kathleen Thompson. *Feeding on Dreams: Why
America's Diet Industry Doesn't Work--And What Will Work for
You*. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co, 1994.
Noteworthy both for a highly detailed critique of American
commercial diet programs and for a stunningly middle-of-the-road
discussion (unusual in such a polarized field) of healthily and
happily lowering setpoint and living better, without all the
"dieting" effects including self-hatred and obsession with food.
Good discussion of self-acceptance, learning true hunger needs,
and enjoying movement. Highly recommended. [blb]

Ernsberger, Paul and Paul Haskew. *Rethinking Obesity: An Alternative
View of its Health Implications*. Monograph issue of *The
Journal of Obesity and Weight Regulation*, v. 6 n. 2 (Summer
1987).
A well-researched, well-reasoned refutation of the NIH statement
"Health Implications of Obesity," arguing that the health risks
of obesity may be less than often supposed, that there may be
some health benefits to obesity (as seen in less risk of some
kinds of cancer, for instance), and that effective and/or unsafe
attempts at lowering weight pose a hitherto largely
unacknowledged health risk. Recommends increased emphasis on
nutritional counseling and exercise training rather than any
more extreme treatments. Covers all the bases. Highly
recommended. [blb]

Estroff, Hara. *Style Is Not a Size: Looking and Feeling Great in the
Body You Have*. New York: Bantam Books, 1991.
Second to Nancy Roberts' book in *joie de vivre*, but more
detailed in historical background and in analysis of the visual
effects of various pieces of clothing. Her aesthetics are more
traditional than Roberts's, emphasizing slimming lines and so
on, but *not* self-hating or anti-fat. In fact, there is a good
section on how to improve appreciation of one's own appearance.
Highly recommended. [blb]

Fallon, Patricia. Feminist Perspectives on Eating Disorders.

Farro, Rita. Life Is Not A Dress Size. Available from
Nancy's Notions,
800-833-0690. $16.95
Tips on how to dress with style, regardless of size. Color
photos. Appendix on sewing clothing and accessories.

*Fat Underground: The Original Radical Fat Feminists*, Largesse Presse,
PO Box 9404, New Haven, CT 06534, $7.50.
Sourcebook with historical information about the Fat Underground.

Fraser, Laura. *Losing It: America's Obsession With Weight and the
Industry That Feeds on It.* Dutton: 1997. ISBN 0-525-93891-5.
$25.00.
History and expose of the weight loss industry and medical field.
Very highly recommended.

Foster, Patricia, ed. *Minding the Body: Women Writers on Body and
Soul*. Anchor Books, 0-385-47167-X, $11.00.
A book of writings by women on the physical nature of their
bodies. Three essays are of particular interest: a fat-positive
essay by Sallie Tisdale, an essay about growing up thin (and
therefore ugly) in Beirut by Hanan Al-Shaykh, and an essay about
anorexia by Jenefer Shute.

Freedman, Rita. *Beauty Bound* Lexington Books, 1986.
Addresses body size, make-up and beauty pageants. More political
than Bodylove.

Freedman, Rita. *Bodylove: Learning to Like our Looks and Ourselves,
A Practical Guide for Women*. New York: Harper and Row,
Publishers, 1988.
How to change our psyches in order to truly love our physical
selves as we are. The book is both theoretical and practical,
examining why women are so critical of their bodies and
presenting specific ways to remedy that, including general
approaches and exercises, both physical and psychological. It
addresses all-over issues of self-concept and sensuality, and
specific problems of bodylove such as weight or age. Highly
recommended. [blb]

Friedman, Sandra Susan. *When Girls Feel Fat: Helping Girls Through
Adolescence*. Toronto, Ontario: HarperCollins, 1998. $20.
Helps girls deal with the underlying feelings that prompt them
to feel fat. Advice for parents and others is practical. Ends
with a well-organized list of resources for further assistance.

Gaesser, Glenn A. *Big Fat Lies: The Truth About Your Weight and Your
Health*. Ballantine Books, 0-449-90941-7 (hardcover).
Debunks the myth of the height/weight chart and turns upside
down the standard belief that fat causes heart disease with
evidence that fat in some areas of the body actually protects
from heart disease. Advocates a new definition of fitness that
focuses on insulin sensitivity, light to moderate physical
activity, and a low-fat diet (not for weight loss).
Note: Big Fat Lies is out of print, but you may be able to order
it from the author for $20 plus $3 shipping. Contact Glenn
Gaesser at [email protected].

Garrison, Terry Nicholetti. *Fed Up! A Woman's Guide to Freedom from
the Diet/Weight Prison*. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers,
Inc., 1993.
Some good research, but mainly a self-help book for people who
want to feel good about themselves, at any weight, instead of
inadequate and guilty. The tone may be a bit cute for some, but
the material is solid and important (and the energy is nice).
Advocates learning the facts about anti-fat prejudice,
confronting it in ourselves and others, and seeking mutual
support. A good book for beginners at size acceptance, but will
provoke new thoughts in anyone. Good list of resources.
Recommended. [blb]

Goffman, Erving. *Stigma: Notes on The Management of Spoiled Identity.*
Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1963.
Classic sociology text with some relevance to fatness.

Goodman, W. Charisse. *The Invisible Woman: Confronting Weight
Prejudice in America*. Gurze Books.
Analyzes modern fat-negative writings and (among other things)
compares them to attitudes about Jews in Nazi Germany. You will
be angry when you finish this book.

Gossett, Harry. *Fat Chance!*. Alexandria, VA: Independent Hill
Press, 1986.
Some personal history and a nice general summary of revisionist
(fat-acceptance) views concerning societal anti-fat pressure,
how to feel good, and most of all weight and health. Frustrating
lack of bibliography and even footnotes, but does mention books
and articles in the text. Good to see a book like this from a
man, also. Recommended. [blb]

Grosswirth, Marvin. *Fat Pride: A Survival Handbook*. New York:
Harper & Row, Publishers, 1971.
This "non-diet book for a more attractive, confident,
successful, and happier you" is almost impossible to find, but
worth it. Lots of practical advice on grooming, dress, career,
self-esteem, and even sex; some material on what does (and does
not) cause obesity. I just loved the waspish tone of this book.
Mr. Grosswirth is a snob, as concerned with appearances as any
slender person, mincing no words when it comes to what is or is
not appropriate in behavior or dress. Since many fat
liberationists reject other traditional snobberies as well, this
is refreshing. Bibliography. Highly recommended. [blb]

Hall, Lindsey, ed. *Full Lives: Women Who Have Freed Themselves from
Food & Weight Obsession*. Carlsbad, CA: Gurze Books, 1993.
The focus of the pieces here are more on eating disorders than
on dieting or fat, but it contains ideas of use to anyone, about
realistic body image, acceptance, and a healthy attitude about
food. Only one contributor (Marcia Germaine Hutchinson) writes
about coming to terms with these issues as a fat woman. [blb]

Head, Sandy Summers. *Sizing Up: Fashion, Fitness, and Self-Esteem
for Full-Figured Women*. New York: A Fireside Book, Simon &
Schuster, 1989.
Most traditional of the plus-size fashion books, including much
more material about makeup and an endorsement of dieting for
weight-loss (though sanely). Some good material about positive
attitude and sound advice on building a wardrobe. Strongest
point is copious, often lovely photos of larger women (from XL
to maybe XXXL). More for the feminine than for the feminist.
[blb]

Herman, C. Peter and Janet Polivy. *Breaking the Diet Habit*.

Higgs, Liz Curtis. *One Size Fits All and Other Fables*. Nashville:
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1993.
Simple but entertaining and inspiring debunking of myths,
including "all fat people are lazy," "you'll never get a man,"
"you'll love yourself more if you lose weight," and "all it
takes is a little willpower." Also interesting personal history,
including an admirable confession of her days leading a
Christian dieting group (and a good explanation of why the Bible
is actually in favor of you enjoying your food). [blb]

Hillman, Carolynn. *Love Your Looks: How to Stop Criticizing and Start
Appreciating Your Body*. Simon & Schuster, 0-684-81138-3, $12.00
US, $16.00 Canadian.

Hirschmann, Jane R. and Carol H. Munter. *Overcoming Overeating*
Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company,
Inc., 1988.
A self-help/psychology book that should be of interest to
everyone and of most help to those who have mild-to-moderate
problems with overeating due to emotional causes and previous
deprivation. The authors provide a program of freeing oneself
from dieting, feeding oneself on demand, and finding out what is
true hunger and what eating is based in needs that might be
better met in other ways. Some discussion of self-image and
body-image. A moderate, useful approach. Recommended. [blb]

Hirschmann, Jane and Carol Munter. *When Women Stop Hating Their
Bodies*.
Encourages feeding on demand.

Hirschmann, Jane R. and Lela Zaphiropoulos. *Are You Hungry? A
Completely New Approach to Raising Children Free of Food and
Weight Problems*. New York: Random House, 1985.
Hirschmann's (and Munter's) idea of demand feeding applied to
children, so that hunger and satiation are learned and food is
made a practical issue rather than an emotional or ethical one.
Useful for anyone, perhaps necessary reading for parents or
prospective parents. [blb]

Hutchinson, Marcia Germaine. *Transforming Body Image: Learning to
Love the Body You Have*. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press,
1985.
Physical and psychological exercises for exploring body image
and changing it, by a bodyworker (Feldenkrais Method). Some
material specifically related to weight (including discussion of
cultural attitudes), but mostly general advice about enjoyment
and appreciation of the body, useful to everyone--including
people who are and/or feel fat. Recommended. [blb]

Hutchinson, Marcia Germaine. *200 Ways to Love the Body You Have*
Companion to Transforming Body Image, above. Not about size
acceptance as such, but about ways to appreciate our bodies
regardless of their outer forms.
http://www.crossingpress.com>

Ikeda, Joanne, RD, and Priscilla Naworski, MS. *Am I Fat? Helping
Young Children Accept Differences in Body Size*. ETR
Associates, $14.95. (800) 321-4407

*International No Diet Coalition Directory of Resources*. Willendorf
Press, PO Box 407, Shady, NY 12409. $10 + $2.50 postage.
200 entries with contact information and descriptions of groups
in the anti-diet, size-acceptance movement.

Jasper, Karin. *Are You Too Fat, Ginny?* Is Five Press.
Self-acceptance book for girls.

Johnston, Joni E. *Appearance Obsession: Learning to Love the Way You
Look*. Health Communications, Inc., 1994.
Not about fat per se, and uncritically accepts standard
definitions of obesity, but useful for examining the ways social
conditioning affects people's feelings about their bodies.

Johnson, Carol. *Self Esteem Comes in All Sizes*.
Written by the founder of Largely Positive, a fat-acceptance
group in Wisconsin.

Kano, Susan. *Making Peace with Food*. New York: Harper and Row,
Perennial Library, 1988, $13.00.
Readable, practical, inspiring--subtitled, "Freeing Yourself
from the Diet/Weight Obsession," this book helps the reader
"overcome yo-yo dieting, binge eating, food anxiety, body
anxiety, and self-defeating guilt." It contains a summary of
anti-dieting, setpoint findings, then proposes methods for
increasing one's self-esteem and living in accord with one's own
natural and healthy hungers, complete with step-by-step workbook
format. Good list of suggested further readings and
resources--the latter ranging from programs for those with
eating disorders to a listing for NAAFA, the National
Association to Aid Fat Americans, an activist and educational
group. Highly recommended. [blb]

Kaplan, Jane Rachel, ed. *A Woman's Conflict: The Special Relationship
Between Women and Food* Prentice-Hall, 1980.

Kaufman, Miriam, M.D. and Teresa Pittman. *All Shapes and Sizes*.
Harper Collins, 0-00-638020-4.
A sensible book about kids and weight.

Klein, Richard. *Eat Fat*. 1996.
Klein is a French professor who writes books about personal
pleasures that annoy other people. His last book was called
"Cigarettes Are Sublime." *Eat Fat* is about society and
attitudes towards fat people (especially women). The book
discusses, in a wandering, personal, semi-poetic way, cultural
references and publications such as *FaT GiRL*, *Bulk Male*,
*Plumpers*, and *Big Women*. It includes a history of fat and
attitudes toward fat, discussions of the scientific literature
on weight, fat beauty, fatphobic doctors, and the "Fat-Free"
craze. Some folks are suspicious that this book is some kind of
elaborate joke against fat people. Others value it and say Klein
has good fat-acceptance credentials.

Lamb, Wally. *She's Come Undone*. Washington Square Press, 1996.
ISBN: 0671003755. $14.
About a girl who is fat, but weight is not a central issue in
the book. "How she deals with her weight is just another part of
her neurosis. Now, does the author touch on some pretty intense
weight-related feelings that I as a fat person have experienced?
Hell yes. Does he paint a fairly three-dimensional character
whose life *does* include a weight issue? Yes again. Does he
limit her to it? Thank god, no."

Langer, Stephen with James F. Scheer. *Solved: The Riddle of Weight
Loss*. Rochester, Vermont: Healing Arts Press, 1989.
Completely believing that one must weigh the "normal" amount, it
grinds its axes without any self-consciousness. I include this
book here because it does at least mention some of the major
possible causes of unnecessary weight gain now being
investigated: thyroid disorder, yeast (Candida albicans)
infestation, hypoglycemia, food allergies, adrenal stress. Take
this book as a starting point for your own investigations. [blb]

Lewis, Mark. with a foreword by Les Dawson. *The Roly Polys : fit, fat
and fruity.* London: W.H. Allen, 1986. ISBN/ISSN: 0491031750.
The Roly Polys are a British dance troupe, all middle aged and
older, and beautifully plump.

Lidell, Lucy. *The Sensual Body*. New York: Simon and Schuster,
Inc., A Fireside Book, 1987.
In the opening section, the author explains that although
various cultural trends alienate us from our bodies, bodily
experience actually is the source of some of the most important
things in life. The rest of the book discusses and presents ways
to recapture bodily experience, awareness, and identity, from
massage and breathing techniques (outlined in detail) to
teaching systems such as aikido, t'ai chi, African dance, chakra
breathing (from kundalini yoga), and others. Exercises in
listening, looking, voice, touch, smell, and taste are also
included, as are discussions of ways to think and communicate,
to experience trust or release tension in the "bodymind." Highly
recommended, especially as a sourcebook of possibilities to
investigate further. [blb]

Lippincott, Catherine. *Well Rounded: Eight Simple Steps for Changing
Your Life...Not Your Size*
By a plus-size model. Recommended self-acceptance book.

Logue, A. W. *The Psychology of Eating and Drinking*. New York:
W. H. Freeman and Company, 1986.
I suppose this might be a textbook. It certainly reads like a
textbook--but then I *like* reading some textbooks. The book
covers basic research on all areas related to psychology and
food or drink, from what might be the primary odors (much more
debated than primary colors or tastes) to genetic elements in
taste-preferences, or the effects of food and non-food
substances on hyperactivity. Good sections on eating disorders
and on obesity, with current research and fair discussion of the
different sides of any controversy. Copious footnote
documentation. (Did you know there's a medical journal called
*Appetite*?) Highly recommended. [blb]

Louderback, LLewellyn. *Fat Power*.
Respected work from the early days of the size acceptance movement.

Lynn, Thom N. et al. "Prevalence of Evidence of Prior Myocardial
Infarction, Hypertension, and Diabetes with Obesity in Three
Neighboring Communities in Pennsylvania." *The American
Journal of the Medical Sciences*, October 1967, 385-391.
A study of a geographical area in which obesity is prevalent but
is not accompanied by the expected frequency of health problems
usually associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure.
Along with Stout (see below), these findings suggest that in
places in which fat is not stigmatized, it may not be
accompanied by as many health problems; in other words, some of
the health consequences of obesity may come from the stress of
being discriminated against. [blb]

Lyons, Pat and Debby Burgard. *Great Shape: The First Fitness Guide
for Large Women*. Bull Publishing Co, 0-923521-01-1, $14.95.
(800) 676-2855
Notes: Excellent, excellent, excellent. They talk about fitness
and movement as a right. They talk about barriers that keep
people (particularly fat women) from exercising. Probably also
applicable to men. [skw] More of a theory and encouragement book
than a how-to book, but covers everything from bicycling to
martial arts.

Mann, Dr. George. "The Influence of Obesity on Health." *New England
Journal of Medicine*, July-August 1974.
Suggests that obesity may not be the health problem that it is
thought to be, and that weight loss certainly is not as
advantageous as it is often said to be. [blb]

Marano, Hara Estroff. *Style is Not a Size*.
Notes: Practical clothing tips, brand names. Highly recommended.
[eb]

Mayer, Ken, *Real Women Don't Diet!*. Silver Spring, Maryland:
Bartleby Press, 1993.
An opinionated and sometimes wonky, but basically good-hearted,
discourse on why our society suppresses fat women--whom the
author is attracted to and also admires/respects. Also
everything else wrong with the world. Some lovely photos of
large women (clearly fat, but midsize rather than supersize).
Enjoyable. [blb]

Millman, Marcia. *Such a Pretty Face: Being Fat in America*. New
York: Berkley, 1981.
Painful, angry, wise, strong--these are very moving analyses and
memoirs of what it means to be fat in America, from the hungry
embarrassment of summer diet camp to accounts of finally making
peace with oneself in NAAFA. Issues discussed include sexuality
and obesity, compulsive and non-compulsive eating, alienation
that fat people experience from themselves and from a society
that rejects them. Accompanied by wonderful photos of lovely,
beautiful fat people. Highly recommended. [blb]

Milne, A.A. *The World of Christopher Robin*.
Notes: Contains a charming poem "Teddy Bear" written from Pooh's
perspective about being short and fat and handsome. [skw]

Morrison, G.L. *More: Polyfidelitous Bisexual Love Poems*,
*Gertrude Stein Has a Cow*, *Two Gentile Women Make Love*, *Having*,
*Wanting*, *Losing*, *Weighing Desire*
Fat-positive poetry chapbooks. PO Box 208 Eugene OR 97440.
[email protected]

Murray, Linda. *Larger Than Death*. ISBN 0-9642949-0-7. Orloff Press
(1-800-724-8078). $23.00.
Size-acceptance mystery novel. Lee Martindale of Rump Parliament
called it a "tightly-paced, well-crafted page turner."

Naidus, Beverly. *One Size Does Not Fit All*. Aegis Publications, 1449 W.
Littleton Blvd, #200 Littleton, CO 80120. (303) 730-6232. $15.
Notes: Original art and collage exploring women's struggles with
weight and food.

Nanfeldt, Suzan. *Plus Style: The Plus-Size Guide to Looking Great*.
1996 Penguin Books, 0-452-27596-2, $19.95 (softcover).
Guide to career-appropriate dressing for mid-sized women who
mostly conform to several standard body types (e.g., "pear,"
"apple"). Includes a list of clothing and fat-acceptance
resources.

Newman, Leslea. *Fat Chance*. 1994 G.P. Putnam Sons, 0-39-922760-1,
$15.95.

Newman, Leslea. *Some Body to Love*. Third Side Press, 1-879427-03-6,
$12.95.
Writing exercises plus an anthology of writings.

Newman, Leslea, ed. *Eating Our Hearts Out: Personal Accounts of
Women's Relationship to Food*. Freedom, CA: The Crossing
Press, 1993.
Poetry, fiction, and (mostly) personal essays by women on topics
from anorexia to fat-acceptance, love of good food to deep
psychological issues like family or sexuality. Many voices, all
clear and distinct, often deeply moving. Recommended. [blb]

Newman, Leslea and Michael Willhoite. *Belinda's Bouquet*. Allyson
Wonderland, 1-55583-154-0, $6.95.
Notes: Children's book. Belinda is teased for being fat, decides
to go on a diet, and later decides she's fine just the way she
is. [skw]

Northrup, Christiane, M.D. *Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating
Physical and Emotional Health and Healing*.

Notkin, Debbie and Laurie Toby Edison. *Women En Large: Images of Fat
Nudes*. Books in Focus, P.O. Box 77005, San Francisco, CA
94107. (800) 463-6285, (510) 297-4012. 1-885495-00-5, $24.95
plus $2 shipping (Californians add $2.10 tax). Canada $33.95
plus postage.
Notes: Photographs of nude fat women, accompanied by radical
text. Essays by and photos of several a.s.b-f regulars. [skw]

O'Gaden, Irene. *Fat Girl: One Woman's Way Out*. Harper San
Francisco, 0-06-250727-3, $12.00.
Notes: I found the description of O'Gaden's relationship with
food and with her body painful to read. I suppose it is supposed
to be. I really liked the sketches of O'Gaden at different
weights (she's beautiful at all of them). She subscribes to the
"you overeat for protection, once you stop overeating you will
be thin" school of thought, which I don't agree with. [skw]

Ogden, Jane. *Fat Chance! The Myth of Dieting Explained*. London
and New York: Routledge, 1992.
This well-researched, readable book is entirely about dieting,
but manages to cover all the bases: why it mostly doesn't work,
why we do it anyway, and how to be happy without it. Some gender
analysis, including a much-needed chapter on men and dieting.
Unfortunate lack of notes or full bibliography, but does give
author and year of studies in the text. Recommended. [blb]

Orbach, Susie. *Fat Is a Feminist Issue*. New York: Berkley Books,
1978.
There are ways in which more recent books have superseded this,
but they may not have been possible without it. Most of all,
this book sometimes confuses compulsive eating with (possibly
metabolically- or genetically- determined) overweight, and still
assumes that a lower weight is automatically desirable. On the
other hand, the book offers an examination of what fat means
socially and psychologically, especially to women, which is
universally useful, and does promote self-acceptance in both
weight and eating. Footnote documentation and bibliography of
further readings. Recommended. [blb]
Notes: More concerned with eating disorders than size
acceptance. She seems to say that if you don't eat compulsively,
you won't be fat. Which is questionable. [skw]

Orbach, Susie. *Fat Is a Feminist Issue II: A Program to Conquer
Compulsive Eating*. New York: Berkley Books, 1982.
A more narrow focus than its predecessor makes the book more
accurate (by not pathologizing all fat people) but may lessen
its force as a radical social critique. Promotes self-love and
freedom from guilt as a way to non-disordered eating, much like
Hirschmann and Munter's work (all three of them worked together
in the past). Some good exercises to enhance feelings and
acceptance. Recommended. [blb]

Pinkwater, Daniel. *The Afterlife Diet*.
Notes: Sci-fi, humor, fat-positive book. Great reading!

Poulton, Terry. No Fat Chicks: How Big Business Profits Making Women
Hate Their Bodies-How to Fight Back. ISBN: 1559724234. Birch
Lane Press, 1997. $21.95.
Journalist Terry Poulton focuses on the huge profits of the diet
industry, the glorification of emaciation, and the weight loss
struggles of famous women.

Roberts, Nancy. *Breaking All the Rules*. New York: Viking Penguin,
Inc., 1987.
A guide to feeling good, and above all looking good, for large
women. Part personal memoir, part historical-cultural
discussion, and mostly a fashion and beauty guide--this book
just bubbles over with disregard of senseless rules and regard
for oneself, with life and style. Highly recommended. [blb]
Notes: A delightful book with a lot about looking good *and*
fat. Also includes information about exercise.
Rodin, Judith. *Body Traps: Breaking the Binds that Keep You from
Feeling Good About Your Body*. New York: William Morrow and
Company, Inc., 1992.
Not a book of specific exercises, but much material to help one
re-think one's body-image and feelings about the body. The book
combines social critique, cultural analysis, and concrete
psychological advice, perhaps better than any book on body image
I've seen. By a founder of the Eating Disorders Clinic at Yale,
this book is for anyone. Especially will appeal to those who
often find self-help books too cloying. Highly recommended.
[blb]

Rose, Laura. Life Isn't Weighed on the Bathroom Scales; Don't Be a
Victim of the Thinness Conspiracy.

Roth, Geneen. *Breaking Free from Compulsive Eating*. New York:
Signet, 1984.
A recovering compulsive eater and then anorexic herself, Roth
presents a moving, insightful study of what it means to eat
compulsively and how it is possible to reclaim a natural and
properly hunger-based approach to eating. She presents exercises
from her Breaking Free workshops which one can often try
oneself; this book is an excellent depiction of the experiences
and feelings of others, but also a way to discover one's own
experiences and feelings more fully. Specifically helpful to
those with eating disorders, the book also holds insights
regarding weight and eating for all. Recommended. [blb]

Roth, Geneen. *Feeding the Hungry Heart: The Experience of Compulsive
Eating*. New York: Signet, 1982.
Some very moving writing, by Roth and others, about the personal
experience of compulsive eating--and also of normal eating,
overweight, dieting, and other experiences which I can't help
wishing Roth had distinguished from compulsive eating just a bit
more carefully. Still, a moving and interesting set of
documents, no matter how you look at them. The contents include
memoir, poetry, prose-poem, fiction, and even a dialogue between
a woman and her fat. [blb]

Rush, Anne Kent. *Getting Clear: Body Work for Women*. New York:
Random House, 1973.
Almost exclusively by and for women, this is a great sourcebook
on how to be fully human. The grounding in theory is evident,
but the presentation is practical: exercises in body-awareness
and body-acceptance, relaxation, relating well to food, sensual
enjoyment of all kinds, communication, self- love in both the
euphemistic and non-euphemistic use of the term. Highly
recommended. [blb]

Sabo, Sandie. *Sandie's Clothesline*. $15.95 to Sandie Sabo, PO Box 257,
Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007.
Small clothing and fashion resource guide for plus-sized and
supersized women (compiled by Dimensions magazine fashion
editor). Retail stores, outlet stores, catalogs, manufacturers,
designers, vendors and specialty item sources. Focus on small
and independent store/company. 200 listings.

Sabo, Sandie. *So you want to be a model!*. $14.95 to Sandie Sabo, PO
Box 257, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007.
Short guide on how to break into plus- and supersized fashion
and "adult" modeling. Includes agents.

St. Paige, Edward. *Zaftig: The Case for Curves*. 1999. ISBN: 1883211174.
Coffee table book of art and quotes in praise of fat and
curvaceous women.

Schoenfielder, Lisa and Barb Wieser, Ed. *Shadow on a Tightrope:
Writings by Women on Fat Oppression*. Aunt Lute Books,
1-879960-25-7, $9.95.
A collection of some of the strongest writings to come out of
the early feminist fat-liberation movement. Some of it is too
imbued with radical anger for my tastes; on the other hand, the
experiences are all real, fierce, and important. Good first-hand
accounts and studies of all sorts of aspects of oppression of
fat people, and some examination of how things could be better.
Also, some good, well-documented presentations of revisionist
views of fat and medical issues. Footnote documentation in some
articles; bibliography for further reading. Highly recommended.
[blb]
Notes: A fantastic collection of essays. One of the first fat
activist works. [skw]

Schroeder, Charles Roy. *Fat Is Not a Four-Letter Word*.
Minneapolis: Chronimed Publishing, 1992 .$14.95. ISBN 1-6561-000-8.
A Ph.D. physiologist discusses mostly medical aspects of weight,
dieting and health, but also things like fat rights and the
history of the aesthetics of fat. Excellent material on use and
misuse of statistics. Small but excellent endnotes and
bibliography. Note: coins acronyms FATISTs (Fat Abhorring,
Terribly Insulting, Sadistic Tormentors) and MAGGOTs (Money
Acquisitive, Grotesquely Greedy Obesity Tyrants). Highly
recommended. [blb]
Notes: The tone of this book is reportedly somewhat lecherous,
but it has some good information in it.

Schwartz, Bob. *Diets Don't Work*.

Schwartz, Hillel. *Never Satisfied: A Cultural History of Diets,
Fantasies, and Fat*. New York: The Free Press/Macmillan,
Inc., 1986.
Fascinating, excellently researched, and highly readable study
of American attitudes about food and weight control, from the
early 19th century to the present. Includes material on various
fads (from funny to horrific), general historical trends, and
the cultural ideas and symbolism behind these. Final chapter
leaves the voice of an objective historian to advocate some
fat-acceptance views for today's readers. Copious, great endnote
documentation. Highly recommended. [blb]

Seid, Roberta Pollack. *Never Too Thin: Why Women Are at War with
Their Bodies*. New York: Prentice Hall Press, 1989.
Excellent historical study of the quest for thinness, with some
perspective back to antiquity but concentrating on America from
1930 to the present. Impeccably researched and clearly argued,
the book both promotes accurate understanding of complex events
and offers some societal critique (including scathing analysis
of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company weight-charts).
Endnotes with documentation to die for! Highly recommended.
[blb]

Seligman, Martin E. P. *What You Can Change...And What You Can't: The
Complete Guide to Successful Self-Improvement and Learning to
Accept Who You Are*.
Notes: A good chapter on weight -- supportive of many of the
arguments advanced by the fat-acceptance movement about the
ineffectiveness of weight-loss dieting, and well documented.

Shaw, Carole and Hank Nuwer. *Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are*.
Los Angeles: American R. R. Publishing Company, 1982.
By the woman who started *BBW*, this covers some of the same
ground as the magazine, but better. Includes personal history,
fashion advice (debunking many myths about what's "flattering")
including hair styling, encouragement to feel and be one's best,
how to get good health care, tips on travel, discussions of
being fat and sexy--not research or analysis, but sound advice
with a good attitude. Highly recommended. [blb]

Solovay, Sondra. *Tipping the Scales of Justice: Fighting Weight Based
Discrimination.* Prometheus Books. ISBN 1-57392-764-3. $16.95.
The first book to examine the intersection of weight
prejudice, the law, and the civil rights issue of weight-based
discrimination.

Sommers, Abigail. *Love in the Pyramid*. Rubenesque Romances, PO Box
534, Tarrytown, NY 10591-0534. (800) 211-1660. 1-888038-04-7,
$6.95.
Comes in a photocopy shop plastic binding.

Stacey, Michelle. *Consumed: Why Americans Love, Hate, and Fear Food*.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.
Detailed and interesting study of current American beliefs about
food, rational and irrational, with some background from the
late 1800s. Final chapter suggesting we should relax and enjoy
food more in a guilt-free way. The ideas are good and often
compelling, and the book is well-researched, but may have too
much food-business trivia for some. Endnotes. [blb]

Stimson, Karen. *Fat Feminist Herstory*. Largesse Presse, PO Box 9404,
New Haven, CT 06534. $0.75.
Pamphlet.

Stimson, Karen. *Room To Grow*. Largesse Presse, PO Box 9404,
New Haven, CT 06534. $5.
Booklet containing "nine poems of size" by Karen Stimson.

Stinson, Susan. *Belly Songs: In celebration of fat women*. PO Box 433,
Northhampton, MA 01060. $9.
Book of poems.

Stinson, Susan. *Fat Girl Dances with Rocks*. $10.95.
A fat 17-year-old girl get a summer job in a nursing home and
meets people with various bodies and abilities. She comes to
terms with her lesbian sexuality and her body.

Stout, Clark et al. "Unusually Low Incidence of Death from Myocardial
Infarction." *Journal of the American Medical Association*,
v. 188, n. 10, 845-849.
A study of unusually low rates of obesity-related heart-attacks
in Samoa, where fat is positively valued. See entry for Lynn,
above. [blb]

Stuart, Mary S. and Lynnzy Orr. *Otherwise Perfect: People and Their
Problems with Weight*. Pompano Beach, Florida: Health
Communications, Inc., 1987.
Short and readable, a good general guide to psychological
factors in weight and eating disorders, physiological
determiners of weight (including set-point and genetics), how to
productively make and follow through with choices to lose or to
maintain weight. Bibliography. Recommended. [blb]

Stuart, Richard B. and Barbara Jacobson. *Weight, Sex & Marriage: A
Delicate Balance*. New York: Simon & Schuster, a Fireside
Book, 1989.
This book tried to look at all sides of the issue, and does
counsel self-love rather than self-hatred, but it mostly just
assumes that fat is inherently unattractive, so the analysis of
how spouses react to fat and weight loss is perhaps too skewed
and certainly severely incomplete. If you do have issues like
those discussed here, the book could help; certainly
interesting. [blb]

Stunkard, Albert J., M.D. *The Pain of Obesity*. Bull Publishing Co.,
1976.
States that fat is not a psychological disorder. Discusses
how society needs to accept large people.

Sullivan, Judy. *Size Wise*. Avon Publishing, 1997. http://www.sizewise.com
Resources for people size 2X and up. Web site includes Size Wise
Seek size-positive search index.

Sward, Sharon. *You Are More Than What You Weigh: Improving Your Self
Esteem No Matter What Your Weight*. Wholesome Publisher. ISBN
0-9648874-0-1. $16.95.
Practical guide for improving self-esteem.

Thomas, Pattie. *Before and After: Living Fat in a Thin Society*.
PO Box 8507, Clearwater, FL 34620-8507. $5 donation requested.
Email: [email protected]
Notes: Collection of essays and poems from a feminist
perspective about the author's experiences as a big woman.

Thone, Ruth. *Fat--A Fate Worse Than Death? Women, Weight, and
Appearance* (Haworth Press, 1997). ISBN: 1560239085.

Walker, Elizabeth Neff. *An Abundant Woman* (Belgrave House, 1998).
ISBN: 0966064372.
Romance novel with a size-acceptance theme.

Wann, Marilyn. FAT!SO? Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size.
Compiled from the 'zine Fat!So? with new material.

Wiley, Carol, ed. *Journeys to Self-Acceptance: Fat Women Speak*.
Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 1994, 0-89594-656-4, $9.95.
A well-researched, brief essay by the editor introduces two
dozen short personal essays on topics from clothing to dance,
family patterns of fat to self-perception. Interesting and often
inspirational. Contains my piece "Some Painful and Healing
Words." Recommended. [blb]

Wolf, Naomi. *The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against
Women*. William Morrow & Co., 1991.
Very well known and well done feminist analysis of the way
society approaches feminine beauty.

Wooley, O. W., S. W. Wooley, and S. R. Dyrenforth. "Obesity and
Women--I. A Closer Look at the Facts" and "Obesity and
Women--II. A Neglected Feminist Topic." *Women's Studies
International Quarterly*, 2 (1979), 69-79, 81-92.
Feminist analysis of society's prejudice against fat and the
connection it has to female oppression. "Compared to non-obese
women, overweight women are much less likely to achieve a higher
socioeconomic status, and much more likely to achieve a lower
status than their parents." [blb]

Yetiv, Jack Z. *Popular Nutritional Practices: Sense and Nonsense*.
New York: Dell, 1988.
This author seems to hold only one thing sacred: experimental
research. He clearly does have his own opinions--which,
regarding eating or obesity, are more traditional than most
sources in this bibliography--but he feels duty-bound to report
all research accurately, and he is often swayed by it to
somewhat revisionist conclusions. Copious footnote
documentation. [blb]

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SECTION B: Information about this FAQ

B1) Are there other related FAQs?

There is some overlap in the topics covered by the FAQs. If you don't
find what you're looking for here, try the other FAQs.

The latest version of the following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.cat-and-dragon.com/~stef/Fatfaqs/

alt.support.big-folks newsgroup FAQ
soc.support.fat-acceptance newsgroup FAQ
soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated newsgroup FAQ
Clothing for Big Folks in Canada
Clothing for Big Folks in the U.S. (parts 1 and 2)
Organizations for Big Folks
Online Resources for Big Folks
Other Resources for Big Folks
Publications for Big Folks
Resources for Dealing With the Physical Aspects of Being Fat
Size-acceptance

The following FAQs can be found at:
http://www.sover.net/~astarte/fa/faqs.html

Big Folks and Fitness
Big Folks and Health
Big Folks and Sports
Research on Big Folks

The latest versions of following FAQs can be found at the following
locations:

Clothing for Big Folks in the U.K. at
http://www.thegrapevine.co.uk/Avalanche/FAQ-UK.htm
Clothing for Big Folks in Europe at
http://www.thegrapevine.co.uk/Avalanche/FAQ-Europe.htm

Plus-Size Pregnancy Website at
http://www.teleport.com/~rvireday/plus/

You can also find (sometimes slightly older versions of) the above FAQs
(except the plus-size pregnancy FAQs) at the following locations:

ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/fat-acceptance-faq/

(Note: The big-folks FAQ is listed separately at these locations.)

You can also get FAQs from rtfm.mit.edu via anonymous FTP or via the mail
archive server. For information about the mail server, send email to
[email protected]
with the word "help" (without the quotes) in the body of the message.

============================================================
B2) Posting information

This document is posted bi-weekly to alt.support.big-folks,
soc.support.fat-acceptance, and soc.support.fat-acceptance.moderated.

Stef Maruch ([email protected]) maintains this FAQ.

============================================================

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B3) Contributors

These are the people who contributed significant chunks to the FAQ:

Sasha Wood ([email protected])
Largesse ([email protected])
Bernadette Bosky ([email protected])

Suggestions for additions/improvements are always welcome.
Send suggestions to Stef Maruch
([email protected])

============================================================

Copyright 1995, 1996 by Stef Maruch ([email protected])
Permission is granted to copy and redistribute this article in its
entirety for non-commercial, educational use only, provided that this
copyright notice is not removed or altered. No portion of this work may
be sold, either by itself or as part of a larger work, without the
express written permission of the author. This restriction covers all
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