Letters

We are shocked and disappointed to see the cover image and cover story of the December issue of the APA Monitor on "preventing obesity." We deplore the depiction of fat boys (on page 6 and pages 58–59) shown at the swimming pool looking miserable. Fat people are told to exercise, but when they do, they are ridiculed. This is particularly offensive since body fat aids in flotation, and so fat children and adults have a natural buoyancy that helps them stay afloat. It is ironic that so much of the Monitor article focuses on increasing fitness and exercise for children when the message in the photos is that these very children will be uncomfortable when they do participate in sports. We support the Health at Every Size® (HAES) movement, a public health initiative that focuses on health for all people, regardless of body weight (see Bacon, 2010; Bacon & Aphramor, 2010; Burgard, 2009, for overviews). HAES emphasizes improving nutrition and enjoying food, and also the joy of movement. HAES clinicians strive to end bias against fat people and underscore the fact that we cannot tell people's health or fitness level just from looking at them. Health is defined as physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, and HAES clinicians focus on everyone appreciating their bodies and their appearance. HAES practitioners de-emphasize weight and dieting, and argue that because diets don't work in the long run, we are doing people a disservice by promoting such failure experiences.

Esther Rothblum, PhD
San Diego State University

This letter was co-signed by the following 87 others:

Please send letters to Sara Martin, Monitor  Editor. Letters should be no more than 250 words and may be edited for space and clarity.