The math scholar James Lindsay has critiqued fat studies. Some of the ideas follow the logic that doctors are being hateful and trying to control fat people. The subject is focused on analyzing the media representation of how fat bodies are portrayed in the media. The field also studies how power dynamics have affected the experiences of larger individuals, and how fatness intersects with gender, race, disability, and sexuality. It also focuses on the concept of fat people being discriminated against in education, healthcare, and employment.

While Lindsay has many followers, he has been described as “spiraling into Trumpistan and Conspirastan” by Sam Harris. Lindsay notes, “If you believe that being fat is a disease and that fat people cannot possibly enjoy good health or long life, then you are not doing fat studies. Instead your approach is aligned with ‘obesity’ researchers, bariatric surgeons, public health officials who declare a ‘war’ on obesity.” Lindsay notes that Fat studies has ties to radical feminism which regards the idea of being obesity being linked to being unhealthy and unattractive as an oppressive, patriarchal beauty myth.

https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-body-positivity/