ABSTRACT
What began for me as a postdoctoral research project in 2001 turned into almost two decades of multi-methods research about how and why we talk about body weight in the ways we do and the social consequences of such talk. Like many others, I was inspired by the courageous work of fat acceptance activists who have a personal stake in this issue. While the field has progressed since I began, there remains much more work to be done. I hope this chapter and the larger volume will inspire others to join us.
