We're constantly told that being fat is bad for us, that fat people are ticking time bombs and are pathetic, sad sacks. Is it true? Are fat people giant losers who are doomed to an "unhealthy," miserable existence? In this episode, we flip the script and explore the surprising advantages of fatness. From better disease outcomes to unique social benefits, mental health perks, and even survival advantages, I share 49 benefits of being fat you probably haven't considered. How many can you think of? TW: brief mention of O words.

Episode show notes: http://www.fiercefatty.com/206

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Sources/links: Easy access, sources organized by topic: Bigot filter – body naturally screens out fat haters. Soft and cozy. Strong. Curves/fat rolls and movement can make dancing look extra fluid or dramatic. Great for those with social anxiety – people are less likely to talk to you. Stronger bones, less risk of osteoporosis, and better survival from hip fractures (1, 2, 3). Body is a built-in weighted blanket for loved ones who like or need compression. Better outcomes post surgery (4, 5, 6). Increased survival from cancers plus lower incidences of cancer and other conditions such as COPD, fatalities from infectious diseases, premature birth and menopause, scoliosis, type 1 diabetes, UTIs (7, 4). Fat pads help our bodies function (8, 9, 10). Being underestimated and sometimes being able to surprise people. Easy to find in a crowd. More tattoo space. We are the "tank division" in protests: fat people can use their body weight to disrupt, especially helpful if using a mobility scooter. Fat bodies are better for snow sledding as weight = more speed downhill. More energy reserves during illness (11). Built-in community radar – easier to find other fat folks or allies in spaces. Great counterweight for balancing things like ladders, canoes, or activities like tug of war. Decreased mortality (12). Pregnancy and delivery can be easier (13, 14). Being part of the fat community (15). Lower death risk after hip fractures (1, 2). Harder to kidnap. Environmentally friendly – less bath water needed to fill the tub. Our bodies are a physical representation of resistance against anti-fat bias and diet culture. More lap space for pets to curl up. Great to have sex with (16). Better survival from certain diseases such as coronary artery disease, pneumonia, chronic kidney disease, colorectal cancer (7, 17, 18, 19). Increased wind resistance. Built-in storage – items can rest between stomach and rolls. Empathy and increased awareness and understanding of bigotry. Easier to apply testosterone gel. Adipose tissue is one of the body's most active and dynamic organs – producing hormones, communicating with organs, regulating temperature and immunity, cushioning organs and joints, and supporting metabolic functions (20, 21, 11, 22). Safety cushion for organs, joints and bones (23). Incredible resilience from surviving discrimination. Mental health – lower rates of suicide (24, 25, 26). Visually interesting – fat bodies are "made of waves and honey," and every body is different (27). Staying fat vs losing weight associated with reduced mortality and cardiovascular disease (28, 29). More likely to survive disasters (11). Keeps us warm (20). Able to hide a pregnancy for longer. Often memorable to people you meet – physical distinctiveness makes first impressions stick. Recover more quickly when hospitalized from COVID (30, 31, 32, 33). Buoyancy. Momentum advantage in some sports (e.g., roller derby, rugby). Fat bodies are counterculture and iconic. Belly shelf for snacks. Paintball advantage – pellets may bounce without bursting. Fat joy – living without shame.

Short Citations Flodin et al., 2016 — https://doi.org/10.3109/17453674.2015.1125282 Yang et al., 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-022-03131-3 Qiao et al., 2020 — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.11.001 Valentijn et al., 2013 — https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-2162-y Mullen et al., 2009 — https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181ad8935 Wang et al., 2025 — https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2025.1600503 Ernsberger & Haskew, 1987 — Rethinking Obesity Pinto et al., 2023 — https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041258 Macchi et al., 2018 — https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12820 Grigoriadis et al., 2017 — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.003 Norgan, 1997 — https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800473 Flegal et al., 2013 — https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.113905 Durnea et al., 2018 — https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12403 Garretto et al., 2016 — https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9376592 Meadows & Higgs, 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.004 Tonic, 2021 — https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/sex/a32823682/fat-sex/ Niedziela et al., 2014 — https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-014-9961-9 Li et al., 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuac005 Nie et al., 2014 — https://doi.org/10.1186/1741-7015-12-61 Brookshire, 2026 — https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fat-doesnt-deserve-its-bad-rap/ Gunawardana, 2014 — https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v5.i4.420 Sakers et al., 2022 — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.016 Chuang et al., 2016 — https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-015-0059-9 Perera et al., 2016 — https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12244 Lee et al., 2025 — https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06381-z Geulayov et al., 2019 — https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291718003239 Emery Allen poem — https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7530470-kiss-your-own-fingertips-and-hug-your-own-curves-you Alharbi et al., 2021 — https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa231 Zou et al., 2019 — https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2019.00728 Subramaniam et al., 2023 — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccrj.2023.10.004 Deng et al., 2021 — https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268820003179 Ioannou et al., 2020 — https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22310 Chastain, 2020 — https://danceswithfat.org/2020/10/05/study-body-size-not-a-covid-19-risk-factor/

Full Citations Flodin, L., Laurin, A., Lökk, J., Cederholm, T., & Hedström, M. (2016). Increased 1-year survival and discharge to independent living in overweight hip fracture patients. Acta Orthopaedica, 87(2), 146–151. https://doi.org/10.3109/17453674.2015.1125282 Yang, T-I., Chen, Y-H., Chiang, M-H., Kuo, Y-J., & Chen, Y-P. (2022). Inverse relation of body weight with short-term and long-term mortality following hip fracture surgery. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research, 17, 249. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-022-03131-3 Qiao, D., Li, Y., Liu, X., Zhang, X., Qian, X., Zhang, H., Zhang, G., & Wang, C. (2020). Association of obesity with bone mineral density and osteoporosis in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Public Health, 180, 22–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.11.001 Valentijn, T. M., Galal, W., Hoeks, S. E., van Gestel, Y. R., Verhagen, H. J., & Stolker, R. J. (2013). Impact of obesity on postoperative and long-term outcomes in a general surgery population: A retrospective cohort study. World Journal of Surgery, 37(11), 2561–2568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-013-2162-y Mullen, J. T., Moorman, D. W., & Davenport, D. L. (2009). The obesity paradox: Body mass index and outcomes in patients undergoing nonbariatric general surgery. Annals of Surgery, 250(1), 166–172. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181ad8935 Wang, Q., Li, Z., Wang, X. H., Li, B., Wang, C., & Xiang, Y. (2025). Effect of obesity on perioperative outcomes following lung cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Oncology, 15, 1600503. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2025.1600503 Ernsberger, P., & Haskew, P. (1987). Rethinking Obesity: An Alternative View of Its Health Implications. Human Sciences Press. Pinto, V., Pignatti, M., Parente, G., Di Salvo, N., Contu, L., & Lima, M. (2023). Role of autologous fat grafting in the conservative treatment of fecal incontinence in children. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(4), 1258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041258 Macchi, V., Stocco, E., Stecco, C., Belluzzi, E., Favero, M., Porzionato, A., & De Caro, R. (2018). The infrapatellar fat pad and the synovial membrane: An anatomo-functional unit. Journal of Anatomy, 233(2), 146–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12820 Grigoriadis, G., Newell, N., Carpanen, D., Christou, A., Bull, A. M. J., & Masouros, S. D. (2017). Material properties of the heel fat pad across strain rates. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 65, 398–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.09.003 Norgan, N. G. (1997). The beneficial effects of body fat and adipose tissue in humans. International Journal of Obesity, 21(9), 738–746. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0800473 Flegal, K. M., Kit, B. K., Orpana, H., & Graubard, B. I. (2013). Association of all-cause mortality with overweight and obesity using standard body mass index categories: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA, 309(1), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2012.113905 Durnea, C. M., Jaffery, A. E., Gauthaman, N., & Doumouchtsis, S. K. (2018). Effect of body mass index on the incidence of perineal trauma. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 141(2), 166–170. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.12403 Garretto, D., Lin, B. B., Syn, H. L., Judge, N., Beckerman, K., Atallah, F., Friedman, A., Brodman, M., & Bernstein, P. S. (2016). Obesity may be protective against severe perineal lacerations. Journal of Obesity, 2016, 9376592. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/9376592 Meadows, A., & Higgs, S. (2022). Challenging oppression: A social identity model of stigma resistance in higher-weight individuals. Body Image, 42, 237–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.004 Tonic, G. (2021, February 12). Why I only want to have sex with fat bodies. Cosmopolitan. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/sex/a32823682/fat-sex/ Niedziela, J., Hudzik, B., Niedziela, N., et al. (2014). The obesity paradox in acute coronary syndrome: A meta-analysis. Eu...