International Size Acceptance Association - History

History

ISAA was founded on July 1, 1997, by Allen Steadham, the current director, in Austin, Texas. The first issue of Without Measure came out in August, and set out the ISAA's mission and position regarding WLS and media and medical world's treatment of fat people. From its early days, it has been a predominantly web based organisation, and has always relied heavily on the internet to expand, organise and campaign.

Despite being of relatively small size, ISAA has managed to pull media attention, being mentioned by Yomiuri, CNN, Los Angeles Times, TIME Magazine, Fox News, and the New York Times. However, two prides of place are for around the time ISAA was founded in June 1997, when Steadham wrote to then American President Bill Clinton, receiving a personal letter in response (now scanned onto the ISAA website) and an in‑depth radio interview by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of the UK in February 2006 with ISAA UK head, Fatima Parker.