Body Positivity Statement

Body Positivity means that there is no wrong way to have a body. All bodies have the right to exist as they are.

We acknowledge that many people, particularly those who identify as fat, racialized, trans, queer, gender non-conforming or disabled, are most often told who or what they are because of their bodies. They are also often told what they can and cannot do with their bodies, and how to feel about their bodies. These messages come from many sources – popular culture, family members, coworkers, teachers, health professionals or even strangers in the grocery store. We call this body policing and we do not support it. We want to build communities that discourage body shaming and that separate feelings of shame from people’s food choices.

Body positivity means that everyone determines how they want to feel about their body, what foods they want to eat, and how they determine their health (physical, emotional or psychological).

Body positivity means that everyone holds the responsibility to challenge their attitudes and assumptions about other people’s bodies, regardless of shape or size. It means understanding that no one can know another’s health by looking at them.

Body positive food justice means greater access to food choices without shame! It means removing systemic barriers to having greater food options, without telling people what they should or should not eat.

We do not support fatphobia in any of its forms, including where it intersects with race, colourism, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, class, etc.

Note: in 2021, we updated our statement and renamed it to Body Liberation and Fat Acceptance.