Food Psych #210: Finding Comfort in a Larger Body with J Aprileo
Fat activist and Comfy Fat founder J Aprileo joins us to discuss how to find comfort in a larger body without weight loss; how improving accessibility for fat people can benefit people of all sizes; how fatphobia shows up in progressive spaces and in healthcare; the intersections of gender identity, body size, and body acceptance; learning to embrace their nonbinary identity without shrinking their body; and so much more! Plus, Christy answers a listener question about how to deal with plantar fasciitis (and why weight loss is NOT the answer).
J is a nonbinary freelance writer and the founder of Comfy Fat, a site dedicated to sharing resources for plus-size people, trans advocacy, and the intersections of size and gender. J creates content not only to help make the world a little more accessible for fat folks, but also to try and just be the representation they wish they'd had growing up. They live in the midwest with their partner Corissa of Fat Girl Flow, two lovely pups, and one very independent calico cat. Find them online at ComfyFat.com.
We Discuss:
How being placed on a diet at a young age affected J’s relationship with food and body
Disembodiment, and how it can be a survival mechanism
The factors that contributed to their eating disorder
Healthism, and how it intersects with diet culture
The effect of growing up in poverty on J’s relationship with food
How parents’ relationship with food can affect their children
The intersections of gender identity, body size, and body acceptance
The importance of intersectional representation in LGBTQ+ communities
Complicating the “born this way” narrative, and how the belief that our life path is set in childhood can shut down self-discovery
How certain environments can nurture self-discovery
Fatphobia, particularly in progressive spaces and in healthcare
How movement helped J reconnect with their body
How fatphobia contributes to unrealistic beauty standards for trans and non-binary folks
The harmful belief that weight loss is necessary for a gender transition
What inspired J to coin the phrase “Comfy Fat,” and eventually turn it into a website
Southwest Airlines’ passenger of size policy
Comfy Fat’s mission to share resources on accessibility for fat people
How to find comfort in a larger body without weight loss
Self-advocacy as a tool for problem-solving in an unjust world
Shame, and how it can be a barrier to advocacy
How improving accessibility can benefit people of all sizes
The untapped market for fat accessibility
Resources Mentioned
Some of the links below are affiliate links. Affiliates or not, we only recommend products and services that align with our values.
Submit your questions for a chance to have them answered on the podcast!
My online course, Intuitive Eating Fundamentals
Pre-order my forthcoming book, Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating, and be eligible for exciting bonuses
Help spread the anti-diet message by subscribing to the podcast
Ragen Chastain’s work, and her Food Psych episodes #58 and #119
Fat Hygiene Must Haves (Comfy Fat blog post)
Listener Question of the Week
How can someone deal with plantar fasciitis without losing weight? Why is weight loss not a valid intervention for plantar fasciitis, or any other medical condition? Can thin people get plantar fasciitis? What are some possible causes of plantar fasciitis? What are some ways to treat plantar fasciitis for people of any size? How can thin privilege affect the medical care that people receive? Why is it important to meet with a doctor as opposed to self-diagnosis? What can a person do if a doctor is focused on weight?
Resources Mentioned: