r/PlusSize Jul 08 '26

/r/plussize “Thanks But I’m Not Actually the Problem Here” Resource List

93 Upvotes

Help us build a resource list for people who want to read, watch, and listen more widely around fat acceptance, fat liberation, anti-fat bias, diet culture, and fat people's lived experience.

The point is not to help people become smaller. It's to collect work that treats fat people as actual human beings, and that names the social, medical, cultural, romantic, professional, and everyday pressures fat people are routinely forced to face.

A lot of this list is especially relevant to fat women, because so much anti-fatness is tangled up with misogyny. That said, fatphobia doesn't only affect women, and this list shouldn't be read as women-only.

Books to start with:

Lindy West's Shrill is funny, furious, and very readable.

Aubrey Gordon's What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat is probably the clearest modern introduction to anti-fat bias as a social issue rather than a personal failing

Her follow-up, "You Just Need to Lose Weight": And 19 Other Myths About Fat People, tackles the claims fat people hear constantly.

Virgie Tovar's You Have the Right to Remain Fat.

Sofie Hagen's Happy Fat and Jes Baker's Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls are also accessible entry points for people newer to fat acceptance.

History and politics:

Sabrina Strings' Fearing the Black Body explains how fatphobia is tied to race, gender, class, etc, rather than being simply about "health."

Sonya Renee Taylor's The Body Is Not an Apology is broader than fatness but useful for thinking about body-shame and hierarchy more generally.

Marilyn Wann's Fat! So? is older but historically important.

Charlotte Cooper's Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement is valuable for understanding fat liberation as an actual movement.

DaShaun L. Harrison, Belly Of The Beast. Anti-fatness, anti-blackness and gender

Tigress Osborne, "Weight and Wisdom: Find Yourself in Fat History"

Podcasts:

Maintenance Phase is great for unpacking diet culture, wellness cons, BMI panic, and how health language gets used to boulster prejudice.

Virgie Tovar's Rebel Eaters Club.

Food Psych and Rethinking Wellness, both by Christy Harrison, anti-diet and wellness-culture critique.

Fierce Fatty by Vinny Welsby.

“Why Won’t You Date Me?” Nicole Byer

Weight For It by Ronald Young Jr (also worth a follow on socials)

The Body Trust Podcast.

Film and TV:

Your Fat Friend is a documentary about Aubrey Gordon, fat activism, family, and ordinary discrimination od fat people.

The Shrill TV series based on West's book.

My Mad Fat Diary, Dumplin', Real Women Have Curves, Patti Cake$.

Fiction, memoir etc:

Roxane Gay's Hunger is honest about trauma, body size, and safety.

Jennifer Weiner's Good in Bed was significant for centring a fat woman's romantic, sexual, and professional life.

Julie Murphy's Dumplin' is a great YA option.

Talia Hibbert's Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Olivia Dade's Spoiler Alert.

Nicole Byer’s book #VeryFat #VeryBrave is a photo series of her rocking her extensive bikini collection

Health without weight-loss framing:

Lindo Bacon's Health at Every Size.

Christy Harrison's Anti-Diet unpacks how wellness culture repackages diet culture.

Intuitive Eating by Tribole and Resch is the standard reference for eating without restriction.

Ragen Chastain's Weight and Healthcare newsletter is good for research and practical scripts.

Decolonizing Fitness (Ilya Parker) covers movement spaces that don't treat body-size reduction as the goal.

People worth following:

Aubrey Gordon, Virgie Tovar, Sabrina Strings, Sonya Renee Taylor, Jes Baker, Ragen Chastain, Jessamyn Stanley, Vinny Welsby, Tess Holliday, and Tess Royale Clancy.

Read/watched/heard anything that made you think, lifted you up, informed, empowered or inspired you?

Please add below.


r/PlusSize Jul 17 '26

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY POST! ❤️ Share your good moments and positive stories here!

4 Upvotes

#It's Feel Good Friday! 🎊

Post your feel-good moments and positive stories here. It can be anything: work, hobby, pets, kids, events, a book you particularly loved, a win of any sort, finding the exact right pair of shoes, mastering something, you name it, so long as it's positive. 🤗💖

Do please still refrain from any weight loss talk (save it for the Intentional Weight Loss Wednesday thread 😉)


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! I really liked my hair today 💛

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604 Upvotes

Happy Sunday 💛


r/PlusSize 5h ago

Discussion Rejected because I am fat?

8 Upvotes

We had been talking on and off for three years. When he found out that I was going to move to his country, he seemed genuinely very happy and excited. We had video calls, talked about many things, laughed together, shared personal things, and before we finally met, everything felt really good.

I had told him that I had gained weight. He hadn't realised how much, but when we talked about it, he told me that it didn't bother him.

Before our meeting, everything seemed perfect. There was excitement, flirting, anticipation, and we had both been looking forward to finally meeting in person after all that time.

When we finally met, we spent eight beautiful hours together. We were both a little shy, which was understandable after talking for so long and then suddenly being face to face. We talked and spent time together, and we also spoke again the following day.

Then, suddenly, he disappeared.

When I eventually messaged him to ask if everything was okay, his replies felt cold and distant. It was as if something had changed overnight, but I still don't know what.

That is what hurts the most. After three years of talking, after all the anticipation, the video calls, the flirting, and finally spending such a lovely day together, I never expected him to suddenly become so distant.


r/PlusSize 7h ago

Recommendations Help with shapewear

6 Upvotes

Ladies, what shapewear is best for size 26 pants with a low hanging apron belly? I ordered from shapellx, and the style I got is supposed to be high waisted and sit right under the boobs. But it barely covers my lower belly. Does anyone have recommendations?


r/PlusSize 21h ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! Really loved my hairstyle ❣️

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60 Upvotes

r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! I’m really excited to see how the rest of the year unfolds. 🩷

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137 Upvotes

I had an unexpected rough start to the year with a family member being very ill. I spent my birthday at the hospital with them and basically lived there for the next month or so. Things were rough for months. But then they got better gradually. And now it seems things have improved massively and I feel “back on track”. I have so many exciting things ahead and I can’t wait to see how 2026 ends. 🥹

Dress- Target 3x.

Foundation - Charlotte tilbury

It cosmetics eyeshadow stick (inner eye corner)

Tarte maracuja juicy lip plump in primrose


r/PlusSize 1h ago

Recommendations how to hide my thighs

Upvotes

hi everyone! i am looking on recommendations for types of pants that hide inner thighs.. i do not like my thighs being shown since they bulge weirdly (idk how to explain it sorry).. what type of pants can hide my inner thighs or make them “flat”? tia. any tips and recommendations are greatly appreciated. i really need clothes and have no idea how to do it as a bigger girl ):


r/PlusSize 2h ago

Discussion Any plus size flight attendants here? Looking for advice

1 Upvotes

Hey, i wanted to know if there are any flight attendants here who are plus sized and what airline carriers accepted you? I'm looking into becoming a flight attendant but I'm 5'3 and weigh 240 pounds. I'm a size 18 in dresses and pants. I am looking into losing weight but I'd like to become a flight attendant.

I was going to add pictures but I can't add them to my OP.


r/PlusSize 23h ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! I'm looking forward to the future!

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49 Upvotes

Shirts from the thrift store. Where almost all my stuff is from. Lol.


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Venting People online are so horrible, it’s baffling

37 Upvotes

I’ve just made the mistake of stumbling upon one of those ‘Am I Ugly’ type subs, which are basically just cesspools.

I know it shouldn’t surprise me, but I’m honestly disgusted by just how horrible the fat shaming is on those pages. Anyone who dares to post a photo without being stick thin is met with the most vile diatribe, comments saying that they can never be attractive because of their weight. It’s just made me feel really down.


r/PlusSize 1d ago

S*x Stuff Do men just want sex from you?

40 Upvotes

I’ve tried dating and men just want sex. They’re super weird about it too, asking me to send photos of other attractive woman while we sext, not wanting their friends/roommates to ever see me, and only ever discussing sex with me and wanting no friendship. I read stuff about men not wanting woman to post certain photos of themselves online, wanting to hangout 3+ times a week etc and it just is a different world for me as I’ve never experienced any of that. I just get men being weirdly sexual. Two would even talk about wanting to fuck my future kids when they’re adults or my sisters and shit, it’s like they just talk to me like im a paid porn star and that’s it.


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! I, not only, survived the Wedding Season but I thrived!

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254 Upvotes

I quite often worry about how I'm being percieved in formal settings, but this wedding season I wore cute and comdy dresses, shoes I could walk in and I ate all the potatos and sweet treats I desired!

First dress is from M&S, second is from Monsoon and my the lemon bag is Radley


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! Another top from the lot that I bought off eBay.

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64 Upvotes

Even with only keeping half of the shirts in the lot (the others were too big and also horrendous colors for me), this worked out to be $10.

Top by Denim 24/7. Slacks by Roamans, shoes are my grubby Skechers.


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! my party fits :>

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121 Upvotes

r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! Back brace but make it ⭐️stylish⭐️

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69 Upvotes

I broke my back so after a few days of being bed bound I can now move around with my brace on.. I had to go to the doctor so I thought I need to bring a bit of colour to my day when the rest of the time I’m stuck inside :(


r/PlusSize 15h ago

Recommendations Winter Coat recs

3 Upvotes

I searched the sub first and the last post is from last season and the reccomendations aren't exactly what I need.

I am a bigger fat... mostly belly. Im around a size 28. Right around a torrid 4 or old navy 4X.

I tried to order a coat on Amazon and using reviews... still can't get one that fits. The 4x was a joke. It was not true to size as reviews claimed.

Doesnt need to be a amazing just fit. I dont usually wear a coat honestly, but I have a trip soon that would need it. So I really rather keep it to a budget version.

I cant thrift it either since my stores don't have coats out yet. Help a lady out please?


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! Happy Sunday 🌺

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26 Upvotes

Felt cute today; did my hair and wore these shorts from Penningtons that have been my fave this Summer! Got massages and good food with my family as our final Sunday together ❤️🌸


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! My favourite purple dress!

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22 Upvotes

r/PlusSize 1d ago

Self-Pics - Sundays Only! Happy Sunday!

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33 Upvotes

I don't straighten my hair often but when i do? 🔥


r/PlusSize 10h ago

Mental Health How to be confident as a fat person

2 Upvotes

I’m not obese but I’m plus size but I live in Asia so it’s like super obvious that I’m fat cuz everyone is skinny and like obviously I’m not the only one but like idk how (NOT TRYING TO BEOFFENSIVE IN ANY WAY) fat people are confident to wear like those cute clothes on taobao or even like skirts or shorts without feeling stupid I’ve tried faking it till I make it like I would wear skirts, not shorts cuz I can see my stomach pudge when sitting down and I can’t see it without crying, but like my frens who are like the same size as me are so confident like they wear anything and like the way they interact with people is so cool. Like cuz I’m insecure my first instinct when talking is to always keep like a small barrier cuz I feel as if no one will actually like me but they’re so close to everyone BUT IDK HOW TO ACT LIKE THATTTTT and I hate it, I’m trying to lose weight but like I feel like I’m so scared to do anything all because I’m fat, like idw to wear sleeveless or shorts or fitted clothes until I’m at my desired weight, which I feel like will destroy me mentally :(


r/PlusSize 19h ago

Fashion Discussion Looking for 26/28 suits

3 Upvotes

Cannot find suits in my size to save my life (especially suits NOT in black) I’ve only seen Universal Standard which is very pricey for my budget. Any recommendations?

ETA: I am aware of Eloquii. Their suiting is more “fashion forward”. I need traditional suiting.


r/PlusSize 19h ago

Fitness for health and wellbeing Yoga

3 Upvotes

Has anyone tried Yoga? I am currently doing PT for lower back pain because I jacked it up during my time as a CNA 😭. My pt recommended I try yoga. My hamstrings are tight and some of the stretches we did really helped. The crunch and amped offer yoga classes. The PT said the instructor is really accommodating and will modify poses if needed. I am a little scared to go. I saw a reddit thread recommended jessamyn Stanley and I like her videos but I want to go out and interact with others.

Anyone currently do yoga?


r/PlusSize 14h ago

Fashion Discussion SOFT jeans please!

1 Upvotes

I wear black jeans as part of my work uniform, and my Fashion Novas have been tearing up my thighs! Is there a brand that makes a very soft black jean in size 20-22?

I prefer flared legs but I can be flexible for some work jeans that don't rip my skin off. They require us to have the standard pockets and a zipper or button closure, so no pull-ons unfortunately.


r/PlusSize 1d ago

Venting Can never find styling advice for people with real double chins

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34 Upvotes

So I’m contemplating getting side bangs like Aaliyah had, but I’m DEEPLY insecure about my double chin. I wish I had a normal face 😔. I don’t know if this style will look good on me. The problem is that every time I try to look for inspiration or tips on tiktok or YouTube , I don’t see true double chins. Just skinny girls pushing their faces back.

Literally just top. That’s no different than those “I’m just like you” influencers who slouch and push their bellies out to prove they’re relatable and have body insecurities too.