Philadelphia is hosting FatCon, the first conference to celebrate overweight people
Christopher Tremoglie
The contemporary craze for people to be their “authentic selves” is about to reach new levels of absolute absurdity. Three women from Philadelphia have decided to hold FatCon, the first-of-its-kind conference for fat people. Why? To let people know “there are a ton of fat people in Philly who are perfectly fine with who they are,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Philadelphia is known for its cheesesteaks, hoagies, roast pork sandwiches, scrapple, pizza, water ice, soft pretzels, or any culinary treat sold at one of the city’s zillion Italian bakeries. No one needed a conference to know there are many fat people here. It is something anyone could realize by taking a stroll around the city. I say this as a resident of the area and someone who has struggled with weight.
The organizers aimed for the conference to be a “judgment-free event focused on creating a community for fat people by fat people, recognizing those who are ‘often overlooked because of their size’” and an opportunity to “navigate this fatphobic world and society in a different way.” The conference will supposedly feature panels discussing fashion, navigating fatphobia, social media influencing, and a keynote speaker known as “The Fat Sex Therapist.”
Because, obviously, fat people need to learn more about social media influencing than about health, exercise, and losing weight. This thing sounds like an indulgent disaster of rotund proportions.
“People just want to be able to be themselves — that’s the dire need for something like Philly FatCon,” one of the organizers said.
FatCon is the brainchild of a group of people from a generation that has grown complacent and soft and fosters a lack of individual responsibility. Sure, fat people shouldn’t be mocked, ridiculed, or bullied. I have endured that numerous times in life, from when I was in grade school to being an adult in a workplace. I can agree with that. But holding a kumbaya, glorified group therapy session will do nothing to solve the social and health challenges overweight people endure.
There are many social stigmas and challenges with being overweight. This includes acceptance in the workplace and social circles and struggling with romantic partnerships. It can be humiliating and embarrassing and, at times, very lonely that many nonoverweight people never understand. I am empathetic to anyone who is overweight, especially if they are also trying to better themselves. However, that doesn’t mean the answer is to hold a conference celebrating being overweight.
Furthermore, obesity isn’t anything to be joyous about. Many health-related problems come from it. And, as I can personally attest to, no person who is overweight wants to be overweight, let alone be festive about it. If anything, this should be a conference to help overweight people ensure they are taking steps to switch to a healthy lifestyle, not a gathering by obese people, for obese people, to celebrate taking comfort in their obesity. Such a conference is completely unnecessary.
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Celebrating being fat is a horrible idea that comes during an era filled with horrible ideas. This isn’t to sound mean or lack understanding. I speak from personal experience. Instead, a conference should educate overweight people on proper dieting and exercise plans to get healthy. FatCon is only enabling people to future pain, illnesses, loneliness, and, quite possibly, an early grave.