So I got a response from the professor I sent the role model email too:
Hi Liz – Let’s talk! I saw you in Starbucks. We all deal with important issues. I do not feel our class times together fit the bill. I can meet you at Starbucks at a mutually convenient time! Dr. Miller
Positive side of this: my professor didn’t ignore me or call me ridiculous or something.
Negative side of this: I have to talk about this in person. This is not something I do very well. I honestly don’t think I am as eloquent a speaker as I am a writer. Plus, I only really have basic talking points about these issues in my head, not specific facts and such. I don’t have any evidence with me to support what i am saying, so that could be a bad thing. I can say as much as I want, but just me saying it she might think I am just denying the “fact”. She could say that obesity leads to greater health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, etc., and I wouldn’t know what to say to that. All I would be able to say is that that isn’t true, but I wouldn’t know how to back it up.
I feel like I am going into a debate and don’t know what my points are. I’m so nervous!
Does anyone have any links to official study-type things that back up the fact obesity is not the end all of humanity, that type of thing? Or does anyone have any good talking points to bring up? Or statistics that disprove the “fact” that obesity is a death sentence? I feel like I need to review and have no idea what to study. I ready all these studies when someone posts about them on the fatosphere, but I’ve never saved them for future reference or anything, because I never thought I would need them (just knowing them myself is good), and know I don’t even know where to start!
I haven’t gotten a chance to reply yet (I just got back to college a few moments ago), so I don’t have a time set out yet- though it will probably be Tuesday before her class I have time or sometime Wednesday.
ahhh I’m so nervous!
Check out the archives on Sandy’s blog, Junkfood Science. She has links for the studies and explanations to go along with them. If you don’t want to print out particular posts, just make some notes on the high points you want to cover, and write down the links for your professor to look up at her leisure. If you have notes, you won’t feel so nervous, and you’ll be better prepared with your talking points. I’d look up posts on heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, I know Sandy has posted quite a bit about those. I’d also look to see if she has a post about death rates from “obesity”, I think I recall seeing one of those also. She also had one about how being fat can actually help one survive a catastrophic illness. Hope this helps, and you’ll do fine.
By: vesta44 on October 12, 2008
at 9:24 pm
I don’t know any links, but it doesn’t hurt to create an outline of what you want to say or cover. It’s better to look professional and together than like … Sarah Palin.
By: Evie on October 12, 2008
at 11:49 pm
Lizzie the best place to start is right on Sandy’s blog—she has all the obesity paradox post links in the sidebar. Also Kate’s post “Don’t you realize fat is unhealthy” is another great resource full of links. Also Kate has a post about diets not working. There is also a blog out there (I can’t find it in my bookmarks) with a whole slew of sites saying diets don’t work.
I admire you for sticking up for your principles. I remember my time in nursing school 20+ years ago. The obesity epidemic was discussed even way back then but I never spoke out against it. I was ashamed of my size and a lifetime dieter already. I wish I could have accepted myself then and not suffered for 20 + more years.
Best of luck to you with this!!!
By: BamaGal on October 13, 2008
at 8:58 am
There was an NYY article last week or so that cited a study about HAES and the affects it had. I’ll link you.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/magazine/05wwln-idealab-t.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin
I think the paragraph about the study is the most comprehensive example I have in my arsenal!
Good luck! Don’t be too nervous, okay?
By: Chrissy on October 13, 2008
at 9:35 am
I found my book mark for diets don’t work….here’s the link
Repeat after me. « babble
By: BamaGal on October 13, 2008
at 10:44 am
Hi Liz. I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now, but this is my first time posting. First, I want to commend you for your body acceptance and confidence at such a young age. I’ve been overweight since the 6th grade and it wasn’t until my late 20’s and now early 30s that I’ve accepted myself fully – body, mind & soul – as it is right now. I wish I was as forward thinking as you are when I was in high school and college.
My advice for your conversation with the professor is for you to speak from the heart on the subject, just like you do on your blog. It doesn’t hurt to throw out studies or statistics, but you know from personal experience that when people are constantly told that fat is bad, fat is ugly, obese kills, you must diet, you must be in a specific weight range or BMI…blah, blah, blah…Even the most confident and healthiest of women begin to doubt their natural beauty and so begins the negative body image and self loathing.
Instead, as a society we need to focus on body acceptance – for all shapes and sizes. Because to hate one’s body is to hate one’s self. We need to stop judging others and even ourselves because of how we look. Just because I’m not a size 2 doesn’t mean I don’t love to eat fruits & veggies and doesn’t mean I lay on the couch 24-7. And just because my best friend is a size 2 doesn’t mean she’s healthy or even happy. We need to focus on a healthy lifestyle and listening to our own bodies for what & when to eat and move because diets don’t work. And a healthy lifestyle is not limited to food & exercise, but also discovering your passions, surrounding your self with great people, having fun, and loving who you are – inside and out.
Okay, sorry to babble, but I just wanted to say don’t be nervous. Just be your beautiful, confident self and speak from your heart. Good luck and can’t wait to hear how it goes.
By: sonja on October 13, 2008
at 11:47 am
Sorry I haven’t commented much recently! But let me say first off that your letter was great, and I think its also great that you’re finally telling someone how you feel. I know that going into this face-to-face meeting about it is nervewracking, but honestly, this could turn out to be a really positive thing.
So here’s my advice:
In terms of the “obesity leads to heart disease blah blah death etc.” argument, if she brings that up, I suggest referencing research done by Marilyn Wann, author of “Fat!So?” (both the book and the zine). I don’t know if those studies are available anywhere online, but she talks about them in the very beginning of her book. Before writing it and starting the zine, she went to the library of the University of California at San Francisco and dug into all their medical textbooks. She could only fine ONE photo of a fat cell, despite the horrors attributed to our fat cells. And all the studies she found about obesity were very non-conclusive. So all of the badness attributed to being fat is really a big “maybe.”
Also, if she starts belittling you in any way, even if she sounds nice about it, speak up and tell her you want to keep the conversation on fat in general, not YOUR fat. Hopefully this won’t happen, but if you point it out, it should shut her up.
And I agree with Evie, an outline would be very useful, if you have time to write one up.
Good luck!
(p.s. Dunno if you recognize the name, but this is Comethime from DeviantArt)
By: badgerthegnome on October 13, 2008
at 12:31 pm
I’ll second bamagal and recommend the sources given on Shapely Prose’s “Don’t You Realize Fat is Unhealthy?” Also, try getting a copy of Gina Kolata’s book “Rethinking Thin.” She has a lot of stats. And why not look up some stats from the book you recommended not too long ago, Wendy Shenker’s “A Fat Girl’s Guide to Life.” You could talk about her experiences with that weight loss program and how her 5 pound weight loss over weeks was considered a “major success.”
Don’t assume though that the professor is meeting with you to attack your position. If s/he doesn’t know the other teacher was making cruel jokes after class or setting herself as a “healthy” example, she may want to apologize to you. She may also be interested in some of the things you said. After all, FA is still a growing movement and even college professors may be unaware of it. But, even if s/he does challenge you, don’t be scared. You know where you stand on this issue and there will be plenty of time to fact check anything your professor offers you.
Good luck!
By: dollyann on October 13, 2008
at 1:17 pm
hi, ive been reading for blog for like..2 months now i guess lol
youve sorta inspired me to start my own blog
im 16 and ya – im overweight
and i just want to say thanks
keep up be good work =)
By: robyn on October 13, 2008
at 5:24 pm
Here are a few things that I keep bookmarked and on hand when I need a refresher on things and something that I plan to use to talk to my family about my new belief about the diets that have been killing me and how HAES and intuitive eating will be my freedom and key to health
This first one amazed me by clearly describing research on dieting and how genes do determine a lot of it and change a persons metabolism to keep them at their set weight .. it was the first time I had ever read true evidence that genes have a huge part in things
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/08/healthscience/snfat.php?page=1
Secondly is this article about Diets not working
http://www.reuters.com/article/gc08/idUSN3036700020070402?pageNumber=1
And then the other one that really helps me is from the Intuitive Eating website http://www.IntuitiveEating.com which has the 10 principles of intuitive Eating
http://www.intuitiveeating.org/10_Intuitive_Eating_Princip.html
Then there is of course the info found on the shapely prose blog and another good thing to get some points from is the “First do no Harm” blog that shares stories of people being mistreated by the medical community because of their weight.. and if people are still being taught all these fallacies and stuff about obesity as they are training to become doctors and nurses that stories like those will just become more prevalent
Hope that helps
By: CordyQ on October 13, 2008
at 10:57 pm
I would put together a reading list for her, there are lots of books out there debating these points and calling out studies and getting to the truth of things. I think as a professor, she would appreciate that. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
By: Cree on October 13, 2008
at 11:26 pm
Hey Lizzie…
sorry I haven’t posted to your blog in a long time (I’m having to go through moving at the moment….ugh), but here is a Washington Post article from 2006 about gut bacteria links to obesity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001271.html
Of course, you could also bring up the Obesity Bullshit! episode of Penn & Teller. ~_^
By: Brooklyn Red Leg on October 14, 2008
at 7:08 pm