Reappropriating Fat : the impact of labeling on self and others

The term fat is widely regarded as a stigmatizing descriptor and is often associated with negative social and health-related consequences for individuals in larger bodies. However, emerging research suggests that reclaiming stigmatizing language may serve as a strategy for empowerment among marginalized groups. The present study examines both motivations for and affective consequences of using the term fat in positive and negative ways. In Study 1, individuals who reported using the term fat to describe themselves positively (N = 52) were surveyed regarding their reasons for doing so and their emotional experiences. In Study 2, observers (N = 93) who had witnessed others use the term fat self-referentially were surveyed about their interpretations of these behaviors and their own affective responses. Across both studies, the most frequently endorsed reason for positive self-labeling was to signal comfort with one’s body. Positive self-labeling was associated with significantly greater positive affect for both self-labelers and observers, whereas negative self-labeling was associated with lower positive affect. Observers were generally accurate in identifying the direction of self-labelers’ affect, although they tended to overestimate its magnitude. These findings suggest that the reappropriation of the term fat may represent a promising, though understudied, pathway for reducing weight stigma.