Why Support NAAFA?

Hey, Fat Dispatchers! It’s Fat Friday (aka every Friday), so that means there’s a new issue of The Fat Dispatch for you in your inbox and Substack app. Usually it comes out first thing on Friday morning, but it’s a holiday week so I’m a little behind. (Did you see this adorable photo of me taking up space this week with my adorable nephew? We had a blast hanging out together!)

For this week’s dispatch, I want to share about an organization that means a lot to me. My goal is to inform you about what this org is doing and to encourage you to get involved.

The organization I’m highlighting this week is the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, or NAAFA.

NAAFA has been around for a long time (founded in 1969!), and its mission is simple: “to change perceptions of fat and to end size discrimination through advocacy, education, and support” (naafa.org).

NAAFA envisions a future where all fat people are “free, celebrated, and liberated from every form of oppression” (naafa.org).

And not only does NAAFA have its sights on ending the oppression of fat people, but it is also intersectional in its aims. NAAFA recognizes that while all fat people face anti-fat stigma, fat people in further marginalized bodies (black and brown bodies, disabled bodies, trans bodies, etc.) face even greater stigmatization. Therefore, NAAFA is committed to seeking freedom from oppression for all marginalized groups.

I first learned about NAAFA from a friend who was further along in her fat liberation journey, back in the late 2010’s. I could hardly believe that fat liberation had been a movement for so long—half a century of fighting for fat acceptance! I included a section on its history in my book More of You: The Fat Girl’s Field Guide to the Modern World, along with a brief history of the fat liberation movement (available wherever books or sold or here).

In its 50+ year history, NAAFA has been responsible for providing community for fat people and fat allies, lobbying for fat justice, and making the world a better place for fat people.

This year, NAAFA has had a lot going on:

While I have long admired the work that NAAFA is doing, I haven’t been in a place to financially support their mission—UNTIL TODAY! I signed up to give a small, recurring amount to FUND FAT. For less than a fancy cup of coffee per month, I can do my small part for the advancement of fat liberation.

ALSO! The folks over at

Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith

are matching all donations up to $15,000 from now until December 31! So every dollar we give gets doubled.

If you want to know more about NAAFA, I encourage you to peruse their website and then head over to the giving page here or through the button below.

Donate to NAAFA

NAAFA’s history, present, and future give me hope that I am not alone in this fight against anti-fatness. Whether you find yourself in a fat body or not, would you consider joining the cause with NAAFA and me?

For every body’s liberation,

Amanda Martinez Beck

P.S. I’m offering my course Faithful Embodiment: 31 Days to Peace with Your Body through Faith for $30 (normally $45!). If you’re a Christian looking for something more than body image anxiety and grief, this course was crafted for you with Scripture and wisdom to learn to be at peace with your body. It would be a great way to start the New Year!

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*Links may be affiliate links, which means I get a small percentage of the purchase price, at no additional cost to you!