In this powerful episode of 'Behind the Bite,' Dr. Cristina Castagnini engages with Vinny Welsby, a celebrated fat activist, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author, as they reflect on their journey to self-acceptance and leadership in advocating for fat and queer rights. The discussion spotlights the pervasive issues of diet culture, anti-fat bias, and weight discrimination in everyday life and workplaces and emphasizes the importance of creating supportive, inclusive environments. Highlighting personal stories, survey data on workplace bias, and recent legislative changes, the conversation advocates for a cultural shift towards recognizing size as a protected class and promoting body positivity. The episode underlines the need for inclusive workplace policies, resources, and societal narratives that respect and dignify individuals of all body sizes, pushing for broader determinants of health and justice beyond mere weight metrics.

Vinny Welsby (they/them) is a fat activist and diversity, equity and inclusion leader. They are a world-leading expert on dismantling anti-fat bias and diet culture, a TEDx speaker, podcast host and best-selling author. Vinny is trans-non-binary and is dedicated to shifting how society views fat and queer bodies through education and compassion. When Vinny isn’t talking about DEI stuff they love snuggling with their dog, cross-stitching swear words and singing in a pop choir.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Personal Journey

  • Grew up in poverty in the UK on a council estate
  • Experienced food insecurity and messaging around not eating/getting fat
  • Became homeless at 17, experienced abusive relationship involving food restriction
  • Transformation began after discovering Regan Chastain's "Dances with Fat" blog
  • Journey from body shame to self-acceptance and activism

Workplace Discrimination Research

Key Statistics from Fat at Work Report:
  • 95.65% of fat people experience anti-fatness in workplace
  • 86.6% experience diet talk in office
  • 72% report body size being ignored in DEI training
  • Fat employees are:
    • 37% less likely to be promoted
    • Paid $9,000-22,000 less annually
    • 12x less likely to be recommended for hiring
    • Less likely to be in customer-facing or management positions

Workplace Issues

Basic Amenities
  • Inadequate seating
  • Ill-fitting uniforms
  • Inaccessible washrooms
  • Difficult workspace navigation
Cultural Problems
  • Normalized diet talk
  • Company-sponsored weight loss initiatives
  • Wellness programs that can trigger eating disorders
  • Exercise challenges that may be discriminatory

Recommendations for Change

  • Make size a protected class legally
  • Include size in workplace DEI policies
  • Ban discriminatory practices
  • Provide proper accommodations
  • Change workplace culture around diet talk
  • Include body size in DEI surveys
  • Educate staff about weight bias

Media Representation

  • Discussion of limited representation in media
  • Critique of dating shows lacking body diversity
  • Impact of social media on body image
  • Suggestion to diversify social media feeds

IMPORTANT TIMECODES FROM THE EPISODE:

  • 00:00 Introduction to Behind the Bite
  • 00:58 Meet Vinny Welsby: Fat Activist and Advocate
  • 02:06 Vinny's Personal Journey: From Shame to Acceptance
  • 04:52 The Turning Point: Discovering It's Okay to Be Fat
  • 07:08 Life After Acceptance: Embracing Freedom
  • 09:42 Navigating Diet Culture and Anti-Fat Bias
  • 11:28 Workplace Challenges: Diet Talk and Anti-Fatness
  • 16:55 The Harmful Impact of Wellness Initiatives
  • 20:17 Weight Bias in the Medical Field
  • 22:31 Discrimination in the Workplace
  • 24:38 Steps to a Fat-Positive Organization
  • 28:12 Changing Cultural Norms
  • 31:04 The Impact of Media and Society
  • 34:19 A New Vision for Dating Shows

NOTABLE QUOTES:

  • "It's okay to be fat" - The message that changed Vinny's life
  • "Health is vastly out of our control" - On wellness initiatives
  • "Your worth is not tied to your health or body size" - Core message

HOW TO CONNECT WITH VINNY TO LEARN MORE:

  • Website: www.fiercefatty.com
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fierce.fatty/
  • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fiercefatty
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiercefatty/
  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/fiercefatty_
  • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/fiercefatty_/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/fiercefatty
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinnywelsby/
  • Email: fatty@fiercefatty.com
  • The Fierce Fatty Body Love Road Map: https://2-victoria.systeme.io/page-roapmap

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

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Part of the Los Angeles Tribune Podcast Network, produced by the Tweaky Tales.

**Disclaimer:**

This podcast is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. It is given with the understanding that neither the host, the publisher, nor the guests are rendering legal, clinical, or other professional information. If you want or need a professional, you should find one to work with who can address your individual needs and situation.