School of Public Health Hosts Anti-‘Fatphobia,’ Anti-Diet Event

ashley.rae | May 11, 2016
DONATE
Font Size

The University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health hosted an event to “combat fatphobia” and “fat oppression” for International No Diet Day, which is apparently celebrated on May 6.

According to the event description on Facebook, “Dispelling Myths: Fat, Fatphobia, and Challenging Social Stereotypes” was designed for apparent “experts” to discuss “the history of diet culture and break down the myths and social stereotypes around fat oppression and the medical model of fatness, expanding the diversity discourse on campus to include size.”

It also discussed ways to “combat fatphobia in your own life and within the campus community.”

To increase attendance, the sponsors advertised “limited pizza and anti-diet swag.”

(Image source: Facebook)

The two “experts” featured in the discussion, Virgie Tovar and Kathy Kater, believe in “fat-positivity,” often called “body-positivity.”

While Kater is a psychotherapist who teaches parents that children “come in all sizes,” Tovar is an activist who is proud to be fat. Tovar’s website, titled “Lose Hate Not Weight,” claims she is a lecturer on “fat discrimination.”

The Minnesota Republic reports Tovar said “Weight Loss is not a realistic goal for most people” and that diets are forced on people by a “white heteronormative society.”

Tovar allegedly told the audience, “Exercise and diets are constructs.”

The Minnesota Republic notes, “Tovar harped about discrimination regarding choices in sexual partners, how chairs are designed, and public transportation usage. Tovar claimed that fat shaming has made her avoid public transportation during peak hours. The talk was devoid of actual diet statistics.”

According to the flier for the event, “Dispelling Myths: Fat, Fatphobia, and Challenging Social Stereotypes” was sponsored by the Office for Equity and Diversity, Women’s Center Office for Equity and Diversity, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science, the School of Social Work, the Improving Campus Climate Initiative, and the School of Public Health.

The University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health is ranked #8 in the country.

donate