fatness

Fatness is a word for the state or condition of being or being considered obese or overweight.

The word fat is most often used in a critical, judgmental, or mean way, and the same is often true of fatness. In contrast, the synonym obesity is more often used in a neutral way, such as in a medical context in the discussion of a person’s health (though it too can be used in a judgmental or mean way).

Fatness isn’t always used in a negative way. Some people might refer to others’ or their own fatness in a way that’s not intended to be critical, as in I don’t have to apologize for my fatness. 

Example: As a society, we tend to value skinny bodies and shame fatness.  

The first records of the word fatness come from before the year 1000. The base word, fat, comes from the Old English verb fǣtan, meaning “to cram” or “to load.” The suffix -ness indicates a state or condition.

The word fatness can also be used in a figurative way to refer to richness, fertility, or abundance, especially in the phrase the fatness of the land.

What are some other forms related to fatness?

• fat (adjective, noun)

What are some synonyms for fatness?

• obesity

What are some words that share a root or word element with fatness? 

• fattism

What are some words that often get used in discussing fatness?

• overweight
• weight
• body
• shaming
• food
• nutrition
• eat
• diet
• excess

The word fatness is offensive when it’s used in a mean or judgmental way.

Fat bodies are normal bodies. Fatness is a normal bodily variation. Not everyone can/will be thin.

— fiyinskosko (@fiyinskosko) November 29, 2020

Just a reminder that I don't love being called chubby.

I'm fat.

Chubby, to me, implies I'm some size or shape I'm not, that we're trying to cute up my fatness to make it palatable.

I ' m f a t.

There's nothing wrong with being fat.

— Queen of Nevers 👑✴️👁🚪🌌 (they/them) (@liminalnobilis) November 29, 2020

Book! In my final essay of 2018, I wrote about fatness, genius, and the "Black abundance" of @rgay's HUNGER, @KieseLaymon HEAVY & @tressiemcphd's THICK for @NBCNewsTHINK. https://t.co/YOuMFXf3qE

— Dr. Steven W. Thrasher (@thrasherxy) December 30, 2018