Crowther explained in 2011 research, “excess body fat a symbol of wealth and prosperity as the general population struggled with food shortages and famine,” as we can see in Renaissance portraits celebrating full-figured women. When did being fat become “bad”?įor much of history, as W.F. As early as the 1830s, people were using the term fatheadto describe “a stupid person or a fool.” In the 1940s, fatso disparaged “a fat person.” By this time, pejorative senses of fat prevailed. In the late 1300s, fat land was “fertile” and “abundant.” In the 1600s, a fat person could be “wealthy” or “affluent.” That underlying sense of prosperity lingers in fat cat, a 1920s barb at a “wealthy person,” especially one with political influence.īut, even in Old English, fat was already being frowned upon-and the word went on to spawn many an insult. Historically, fat had a number of positive meanings. What does fat mean?Ī primary definition of fatis “ having too much flabby tissue corpulent obese.” As a noun and adjective, fat is found in Old English ( fǣtt), from a verb form meaning “to cram, load, adorn.” The word has cousins in Germanic languages, like the German Fett/ fett. However, the body positivity movement, fat activism, and popular books and television shows centered on fat characters are proving that narrative is wearing thin. It’s so often framed as a negative-and used as an insult. As an adjective, it joins words like tall, hairy, fluffy, or bright.īut, unlike those descriptors, fat isn’t neutral. By Ashley Austrew The word fat holds a complicated place in our society.
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