Fat Activism Is About Entitlement, Not Equality Jonathan Ressler, January 29, 2025January 29, 2025 Look, I’m all for treating people with respect. No one deserves to be bullied for their weight. But let’s be real—there’s a huge difference between basic human decency and expecting the world to accommodate choices that lead to poor health. Recently, I came across Jae’Lynn Chaney’s Fat Equality Bill of Rights, and let me tell you, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It’s basically a list of demands insisting that society reshape itself around obesity rather than encouraging people to take control of their health. This isn’t about fairness—it’s entitlement, plain and simple. To me, it’s the equivalent of a lifelong smoker demanding that cigarette breaks be legally required every 15 minutes. Or someone who refuses to wear shoes insisting that businesses ban flooring that might hurt their feet. It’s shifting personal responsibility onto society instead of making the small, obvious changes that would actually improve health and quality of life. So let’s unpack this nonsense, point by point. 1. Obesity Isn’t a Mystery—It’s Math I’ve heard it all: “Obesity is a disease! It’s not my fault! My metabolism is different!” But let’s be honest—being overweight isn’t something that sneaks up on you in the night like a bad case of food poisoning. It’s the result of daily choices. I’m not denying that some people have slower metabolisms or medical conditions. But physics is physics. If you consume fewer calories than your body burns, you will lose weight. Every time. I’ve done the math. Someone maintaining a weight of 350 pounds is likely consuming 3,500+ calories a day just to stay at that size. The easiest fix? Cut 500 calories a day—that’s like skipping a sugary drink and a handful of fries—and they’d lose a pound a week. That’s 52 pounds in a year without even exercising. So when I see people acting like weight loss is some kind of impossible task, I have to call it what it is: an excuse. 2. Creating a World That Accommodates Obesity Is a Huge Mistake Jae’Lynn’s Fat Bill of Rights reads like a wish list of special privileges for people who are overweight: ✅ Bigger airplane seats✅ Specially designed furniture✅ Extra-large medical equipment✅ More accessible public spaces Now, I get wanting to feel comfortable in public, but when did we decide that instead of getting healthier, the world needs to restructure itself around obesity? Imagine applying this logic to other preventable health issues: Should bars be forced to install luxury drunk tanks for alcoholics? Should gyms put escalators next to treadmills for people who get tired walking? Should airlines be required to have smoking sections again because it’s “discrimination” to make smokers wait? It’s ridiculous. And it’s exactly what’s happening with obesity activism. The answer isn’t bigger chairs—it’s smaller waistlines. 3. “Weight Discrimination” Is Just Reality Hitting Back One of the loudest complaints in the fat acceptance movement is about so-called weight discrimination. But let’s be real: If you can’t fit in an airplane seat, it’s not the airline’s fault. If you’re too big for a theme park ride, it’s not the park’s fault. If medical equipment isn’t built for your size, that’s not discrimination. This is not oppression. This is cause and effect. If I made choices that led to my body limiting what I could do, I wouldn’t expect the world to change—I’d change my choices. Yet, according to fat activists, expecting people to live within the laws of physics is unfair. Newsflash: Airplane seats aren’t too small—you’re too big. And the rest of us shouldn’t have to pay higher ticket prices so airlines can install oversized seating. 4. The Medical Industry Is Letting This Happen What blows my mind even more is how the medical community is enabling this madness. Instead of doctors telling people the truth—“You need to lose weight, or you’re heading for a heart attack”—they’re backing off to avoid hurting feelings. Now we have: ❌ “Fat-friendly” doctors avoiding the topic of weight loss.❌ Weight-loss drugs being pushed as an easy fix instead of lifestyle changes.❌ Health professionals downplaying obesity risks to avoid backlash. And what’s the result? More obesity. More preventable deaths. More strain on healthcare. This isn’t compassion—it’s cowardice. 5. Social Media Is Fueling the Fire It’s impossible to ignore how much social media has amplified the fat acceptance movement. Every day, I see influencers pushing the idea that all bodies are healthy—even when it’s painfully obvious that they’re struggling with the physical toll of their size. TikTok creators claiming weight loss is oppression. Instagram models turning morbid obesity into a fashion statement. YouTubers attacking doctors for sharing basic medical facts. Obesity isn’t body positivity. It’s a slow-motion health crisis. And yet, if you dare to suggest that maybe, just maybe, losing weight might be beneficial, you’re labeled fatphobic or a bigot. I refuse to buy into that. 6. The Real Reason Fat Activists Fight So Hard At the core of all of this is a simple truth: ✅ It’s easier to demand accommodations than to change.✅ It’s easier to blame society than to take responsibility.✅ It’s easier to rewrite reality than to face the facts. I get it—losing weight isn’t easy. Changing habits takes effort. But the alternative is far worse: a lifetime of preventable health issues, discomfort, and limitations. Rather than deal with those hard truths, people like Jae’Lynn have built entire movements around avoiding them. 7. If You Want to Lose Weight, You Can Let me be clear—I’m not here to shame anyone for their weight. If someone doesn’t want to lose weight, that’s their choice. But what I refuse to accept is this growing demand that the rest of us have to change to accommodate their decisions. 🚫 If airplane seats are too small for you, that’s your problem.🚫 If medical equipment doesn’t fit, that’s your problem.🚫 If everyday activities are difficult, that’s your problem. Society isn’t required to bend over backward to make sure no one ever has to face the consequences of their actions. Final Thoughts: Personal Responsibility Over Activism Fat activism should be about ending bullying and promoting self-worth—not pushing people to stay unhealthy in the name of “acceptance.” That’s not empowerment. That’s entitlement. Jae’Lynn Chaney’s Fat Equality Bill of Rights isn’t about fairness. It’s about shifting responsibility away from individuals and onto society. If we truly cared about people’s well-being, we wouldn’t be demanding bigger airplane seats—we’d be encouraging people to improve their health. You want equality? Then take accountability. The truth may be uncomfortable, but at least it’ll set you free. Podcast DietsJonathan ResslerLose WeightLose Weight NowShut Up And ChooseTough LoveWeight Loss