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The role of the fatosphere in fat adults' responses to obesity stigma: a model of empowerment without a focus on weight loss
journal contribution
posted on 2011-12-01, 00:00 authored by M Dickins, Samantha ThomasSamantha Thomas, B King, S Lewis, K HollandObese adults face pervasive and repeated weight-based stigma. Few researchers have explored how obese individuals proactively respond to stigma outside of a dominant weight-loss framework. Using a grounded theory approach, we explored the experiences of 44 bloggers within the Fatosphere--an online fat-acceptance community. We investigated participants' pathways into the Fatosphere, how they responded to and interacted with stigma, and how they described the impact of fat acceptance on their health and well-being. The concepts and support associated with the fat-acceptance movement helped participants shift from reactive strategies in responding to stigma (conforming to dominant discourses through weight loss) to proactive responses to resist stigma (reframing "fat" and self-acceptance). Participants perceived that blogging within the Fatosphere led them to feel more empowered. Participants also described the benefits of belonging to a supportive community, and improvements in their health and well-being. The Fatosphere provides an alternative pathway for obese individuals to counter and cope with weight-based stigma.
History
Journal
Qualitative health researchVolume
21Issue
12Pagination
1679 - 1691Publisher
SageLocation
London, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1049-7323Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2011, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
Adaptation, PsychologicalAdultBloggingFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedObesityPower (Psychology)PrejudiceSelf ConceptSocial SupportStereotypingWeight LossYoung AdultScience & TechnologySocial SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineTechnologyPublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthInformation Science & Library ScienceSocial Sciences, InterdisciplinarySocial Sciences, BiomedicalSocial Sciences - Other TopicsBiomedical Social Scienceshealth and well-beingobesity \/ overweightresearch, qualitativestigmaPERSONAL RESPONSIBILITYSOCIAL INTEGRATIONHEALTH RESEARCHDISCRIMINATIONSTIGMATIZATIONOVERWEIGHTAUSTRALIACONSUMERSNETWORKSINTERNET
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