(Can we) get together? Fat kids and physical education

Abstract

Few fat kids enjoy physical education in school. Uniforms that do not fit, activities that have not been modified for fat bodies, taunting from peers and anti-fat bias from teachers, all of these result in a hostile environment that removes the joy associated with movement and exercise for fat kids. This is further reinforced as they are taught that physical movement is meant to produce weight loss, rather than being allowed to enjoy physical movement for enjoyment’s sake. This approach is counterproductive to supporting fat kids to engage in physical activity, but understandable given the obesity epidemic lens that frames how we think about fatness, health and activity. Using autoethnography, this article explores the author’s experience with physical education and concludes with suggestions as to how to create fat-positive spaces for fat kids in these educational settings.