How do we talk about fat?

I’ve been grappling with this question for a while. Covering the health-and-wellness beat for years, I’ve come across multiple voices in the mix, all with their own opinions: those that are fat, writing about being fat; those that used to be fat, writing about being fat; those that have never been fat, writing about being fat; and, this might be just me reading into things, those that are desperately afraid of getting fat, writing about those that are fat.

There are multiple sides to the giant Rubik’s Cube that is our nation’s “obesity problem,” a variety of public health, psychological, and social considerations. Being fat is presented as a risk to our economy, national strength, and our children’s right to a happy life. But it’s also presented with a massive shrug: those that are fat are destined to be fat, given how difficult it is to lose weight and — most importantly — keep it off. It’s something seeped into our national identity, and no matter how many Weight Watchers commercials flash across our TVs, I’m not sure that’s going away soon.

So how do I write about fat, given that two out of three US adults are considered overweight or obese? First, I’m starting with my lexicon: using “fat” instead of the popular “overweight” unless that phrase is used in a scientific or statistical sense. (It’s hard to read a study and decipher what exactly its “fat” threshold is.) “Overweight” implies that there’s a “normal” weight that can apply to all 324 million Americans; that there’s a line that, once crossed, marks you for the rest of your life.

I agree that some medical professionals have an ethical obligation to use these words and point out the health risks fat people may experience because of their weight. But so many times, ordinary people take the place of the doctor or, even worse, a jury of peers, dispensing unwanted advice and judgment. Even health journalists, myself included, sometimes cross the line — instead of reporting on a scientific study on obesity, the article routes its attention toward fat people, blaming them for their condition instead of offering solutions.

In short, I’m going to talk about fat people by focusing on the latter part of the phrase. These are people, with feelings and hopes and dreams. It seems all rainbows and butterflies to say this (not to mention f*cking obvious), but I think sometimes Americans need a reminder.