The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is a non-profit civil-rights organization in the US dedicated to improving the quality of life for the obese. NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment through public education, advocacy and member support.
NAAFA was founded in 1969 by William Fabrey in New York as the National Association to Aid Fat Americans. In their early years social activities and letter-writing campaigns were a major part of the organization. As the organization turned more toward political activism, the name was changed during the 1980s.
NAAFA has a yearly national convention in summer, which is usually alternated between the east and west coasts. The latest newsletters are available on the NAAFA website.
In 2008 they introduced the NAAFA Size Diversity Toolkit to try to educate corporations on quality of life issues. As part of its ongoing campaign, NAAFA also opposes airline policies regarding charging fat people for each seat they use.
Penn and Teller featured NAAFA (in an episode called "Obesity") on the Showtime series Bullshit! (March 24, 2007).
Famous quotes containing the words national, association, advance, fat and/or acceptance:
“Being a gentleman is the number one priority, the chief question integral to our national life.”
—Edward Fox (b. 1934)
“In this great association we know no North, no South, no East, no West. This has been our pride for all these years. We have no political party. We never have inquired what anybody’s religion is. All we ever have asked is simply, “Do you believe in perfect equality for women?” This is the one article in our creed.”
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)
“It is in vain that we would circumscribe the power of one half of our race, and that half by far the most important and influential. If they exert it not for good, they will for evil; if they advance not knowledge, they will perpetuate ignorance. Let women stand where they may in the scale of improvement, their position decides that of the race.”
—Frances Wright (1795–1852)
“There lives not three good men unhanged in England, and one of
them is fat and grows old.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Nothing, neither acceptance nor prohibition, will induce a child to stop swearing overnight. Teach your child respect for himself and others, that profanity can hurt, offend, and disgust, and you’ll be doing the best you can...And save your parental giggling over mispronounced curses for after the children’s bedtime.”
—Jean Callahan (20th century)