The role of the fatosphere in obese adults' sense of inclusion and changing responses to obesity stigma

Obese adults face pervasive and repeated weight-based stigma, which has been described as one of the last remaining prejudices within Western societies. In the face of a prominent societal discourse around weight that emphasises the personal responsibility of individuals to maintain and achieve ‘acceptable bodies’, there is a growing counter-movement that questions the evidence behind this dominant rhetoric and offers alternative perspectives. This research examines the experiences of 44 individuals who are engaged with the weblog (or blog) community known as the Fatosphere – an online fat acceptance community. This online community is comprised of individuals who provide support for fat individuals, and engages in discussion that questions and critically examines the dominant discourse surrounding weight and obesity within today’s society. Encouragement for individuals to accept oneself and one’s body no matter their size and disassociate themselves from weight loss rhetoric is also provided within this space. This research focuses on individuals’ pathways into the Fatosphere and perceptions of inclusion and exclusion relating to their offline and online environments. In addition, the impact of the Fatosphere on individuals’ responses and interactions with stigma, perceptions of health and wellbeing, and effect that it had within their offline lives are also examined. The Fatosphere provides a unique opportunity for obese individuals to engage in a community removed from the dominant discourse within society and provides an alternative pathway for individuals to counter and cope with the stigma that they experience in their day-to-day lives.