ABSTRACT
This chapter will be an examination of the relationship between academics and other professionals in the fields related to weight and health, and fat activists, with particular focus on power and privilege. With the growing professional and media attention on weight stigma, Health at Every Size principles and fat activism, collaborations between academics and other professionals in fields related to weight/health, and grass roots fat activists are becoming more common. For fat activists, these topics are deeply personal and emotionally charged. Careful consideration is required from those in academia or professional fields who are either not fat or who are in positions of power, on the impact of their actions on the fat activists they collaborate with, and on fat people in general. This chapter aims to highlight the very personal nature of fat studies work and the deep impact that it is likely to have on fat people, particularly those who work in collaboration with academia and professionals on highly public projects.
