What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat

In the United States, people talk about being fat a lot: they decry the obesity epidemic, lament extra pounds gained over the holidays, and judge the weight gain of celebrities. Despite how pervasive discussion of weight is, though, there’s a lot about fat that we don’t talk about, from the racist origins of the BMI to street harassment and medical bias. In What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat, Aubrey Gordon sheds light on these topics and more, looking beyond the individual and discussing the structural factors that contribute to and perpetuate anti-fat bias.

Gordon’s writing is authentic, smart, and critical, informed by both research and her own experience. With purpose and clarity, Gordon reveals, documents, and challenges the way that everything from airplane seats to popular media excludes fat people. Readers will leave What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat with wisdom, hope, and a drive to advocate for much-needed change. This is a must-read for those looking to build a world that is genuinely inclusive.