Facing Facts: Black Women Are "Heavy & Happy"

Washington D.C. based Fitness Instructor Michelle Gibson is phat, fit, and fabulous!
Photo credit: washingtonpost.com

I am sure that many of you have seen the recent article in The Washington Post about black women being "heavier and happier with their bodies than white women". The data comes from a recent survey conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

[The survey]...focused on African American women. The poll found that although black women are heavier than their white counterparts, they report having appreciably higher levels of self-esteem. Although 41 percent of average-sized or thin white women report having high self-esteem, that figure was 66 percent among black women considered by government standards to be overweight or obese. - from WashingtonPost.com

The article also discusses what we, as Black women, have known for some time: the media tends to not portray us, and when they do, it is often a poor representation of who we truly are. Therefore, we have not relied on what the media and society has to say about us to uplift us.

What I personally applauded and shouted "YES!" to when reading the article was the wonderful interview with D.C. Area fitness instructor Michelle Gibson, a plus size woman of Color herself, who stressed that the ideas of health and fitness for black women have for a very long time been different than those white women.

Her rule: “Do you,” Gibson says, “and be okay with me being me. I can never be mad at this thin person. I say, ‘You’re sexy, you’ve got it going on. But don’t think for one minute that I don’t feel the same about myself.’ ” - from WashingtonPost.com

For me, the only raised eyebrow was a comment from a woman whom I admire so much, Michaela Angela Davis:

But Davis acknowledges that with fewer cultural deterrents, black women are more likely to slip into obesity, and that’s not celebrated. In 2009, black women had an obesity rate of of almost 43 percent, compared with 25 percent for white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, African American women suffer from higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other serious health problems.

“We’re not saying its super fly to be super fat. We’ve never said that,” Davis contends, but unlike in white culture, “black women are not criminalized for it.”

This statement, unfortunately, continues the stereotype that plus size women beyond a certain "acceptable" plus size cannot possibly be healthy and not be suffering from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. And while black women within our community are not "criminalized" for being "super sized", there is not only often a disconnect within the plus community between what is accepted and what is not when it comes to images of models that are used, but also an acceptable practice of plus size women (usually portrayed as a large & sassy black woman) being made the butt  of jokes.

What did you think about the article? Do you feel that black women are "heavier and happier"? Do you think that all black plus size women are being equally represented in this article?

Let's talk about it ladies!

Facing Facts: End Bullying Now!

We received the following press release from our friends at the NAAFA about a press conference they are hosting to discuss the Safe Schools Improvement Act (SSIA) which aims to create laws against bullying. (You can read more about the exact bill here.)  What do you think of lobbying for anti-bullying legislation that includes size discrimination?

Foster City, CA – NAAFA will host a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday, August 8, 2011 at 10:00AM to discuss an egregious oversight in the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010 (SSIA) and what can be done to prevent fat children from being omitted from the legislation’s anti-bullying protections.


The SSIA of 2010 was created to combat the bullying of children in school. This act prohibits bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. The press conference will highlight why the omission of fat children only weakens the legislative intent of the anti-bullying protections. Earlier this year, two teenage girls committed suicide because of bullying based on body size. A big boy in Australia was bullied to the point of exasperation when he finally threw his tormentor to the ground and the video went viral.

A recent study from the University of Michigan concludes that the odds of being bullied are 63% higher for children who are obese than their classmates of a normal weight.

Yet body size is left entirely out of the equation when we’re talking about protection from bullying! The current version of the SSIA does not prohibit bullying and harassment based on weight, height, or physical appearance. It is imperative that SSIA be amended to include weight and height to protect all our children.



Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. 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.

On the web: http://www.naafa.org

Facing Facts: Does Your Doctor Make You Feel Fat?

One of my Facebook Friends, Ms. Fatima Parker, posted the following article from msnbc.com in her group Beauty Diversity & Healthy Body Image about how doctors will attribute certain symptoms and problems to overweight people merely based on their outward appearance.

One of the quotes that stuck out to me in the article was this, from Arya Sharma, MD, PhD, chair of obesity research and management at the University of Alberta:

"I hear so many stories of doctors making assumptions about patients' health and lifestyles based on their appearance," says Arya Sharma, MD, PhD. "One of the key factors underlying this stereotyping is the notion that nobody would be obese if they were eating healthy and exercising," Dr. Sharma says. "But for every obese person I see who doesn't exercise two hours a day or who's drinking gallons of soda pop, I'll treat ten thin people doing exactly the same thing."

Perhaps if more women took a stand when they went to the doctor, and spoke up about how they wish to be treated, more doctors would work on their bedside manner. And if it doesn't change, then, as the article suggests, perhaps it is time for you to switch doctors.

Have you been to a doctor that has made you feel uncomfortable about your weight? Do you think that doctors should receive Health At Every Size (HAES) trainings in order to be better educated in dealing with plus size patients? Have you changed doctors after situations similar to the article and received a better response?

Read the full article here on MSNBC.com

Facing Facts: Weight Loss Focused Healthcare Proves Ineffective in Latest Studies

Our friend Peggy Howell, Public Relations Director for the NAAFA, sent us the following press release discussing a recent journal article on the best manner to reach a healthy life style:

A new paper just published in Nutrition Journal cites overwhelming evidence that focusing on weight loss as the only route to achieve a healthy life style is ineffective and harmful.


Co-authors Linda Bacon, an associate nutritionist at the University of California, Davis Department of Nutrition, and Lucy Aphramor, an NHS specialist dietician and honorary research fellow at the Applied Research Centre in Health and Lifestyle Interventions at Coventry University, England cite evidence from almost two hundred studies and come to surprising conclusions; a weight loss centered approach is not only ineffective in terms of health and weight outcomes, but also harmful.

Their analysis indicates that researchers have long interpreted research data through a fat biased lens, and when this bias is removed, it overwhelmingly shows that fat has been highly exaggerated as a risk for disease or decreased longevity, and does not support conventional ideas that:

-- weight loss will prolong life;
-- anyone can lose weight and keep it off through diet and exercise;
-- weight loss is a practical and positive goal;
-- weight loss is the only way overweight and obese people can improve their health;
-- obesity places an economic burden on society.

“The weight-focused approach does not, in the long run, produce thinner, healthier bodies,” said Bacon, who wrote the 2010 book, Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight, based on research she published in top scientific journals.

“For decades, the United States’ public health establishment and $58.6 billion-a-year private weight-loss industry have focused on health improvement through weight loss,” Bacon said. “The result is unprecedented levels of body dissatisfaction and failure in achieving desired health outcomes. It's time to consider a more evidence-based approach.”

NAAFA applauds these scientists and encourages others to challenge the “weight loss is the only solution” paradigm. Health At Every Size is possible.

Bacon and Aphramor suggest that the health care community adopt a more ethical, evidence-based approach toward public health nutrition --one that instead encourages individuals to concentrate on developing healthy habits rather than concentrating on weight management. While weight loss may result, the goal is self-care as opposed to weight loss. This weight-neutral practice has become known as Health at Every Size.

The full article may be found in Nutrition Journal at: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/10/1/9

Founded in 1969, NAAFA is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for fat people. 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.



On the web: http://www.naafa.org/

Facing Facts: Golda Poretsky Breaks Down the Desire for "Thinness"

Golda Poretsky has written an excellent blog post on her blog Body Love Wellness where she takes a hard look at the desire for "thinness" in America:

"People often talk about thinness and the desire for thinness as a given. We are taught to equate thinness with health, attractiveness, ease of dating, etc. We’re taught that being thin is a worthy goal, the holy grail of a life well-lived.


So I want to break apart this thinness myth right now. I want to look at the reality of our collective desire to be thinner, how we’re taught to achieve it, and how using a Health At Every Size approach (the one I use with my clients) can help you achieve the desires underpinning your thinness desires." - from Golda's post

If you are interested in learning more about the science behind Health at Every Size, be sure to check out Golda's blog and register for the Body Love Revolutionaries Telesummit, taking place now through March. Speakers include activist Marilyn Wann, Kimmoy The Curvy Coach, Yulia Raquel of Igigi, and of course, Golda. Visit http://www.bodyloverevolution.com/ now to register!

The Scene: The "Add Plus Size Designer Collaborations to Target" Petition

Dear Belle-Noir Readers,

When I received the email from one of my favorite plus bloggers, Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista, asking for the plus communities help in supporting and promoting a petition that she and two other popular bloggers (Patrice of Afrobella and Sarah from StyleIt Online) were circulating in an effort to get popular retailer Target to tart including Plus Size Designer Collaborations on their racks, I can admit I had mixed emotions. I completely GET why they feel the need for the petition. Why should those under a size 14 be the only ones to look forward to the latest trends at an affordable price each season? With designers like Donna Karan offering plus size looks in stores like Lane Bryant, why can't some of the designers working with Target extend their lines to include plus sizes (or, reach out to one of the popular plus designers like Monif C. or Igigi and invite them to create an exclusive line for Target)?

This is definitely one of those "if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything" moments. As Marie mentioned on her blog, "closed mouths don't get fed". As a community, we must sand together on issues like this. I have signed the petition (#1017 and counting!), and encourage all of our Belle-Noir Readers to do the same.

Click here to read the petition and to add your signature to the voices demanding better from Target.

Bravo to Marie, Patrice, & Sarah for taking a stand! I look forward to sharing your progress with our readers!

Peace & Love,

Ms. Aja B.

Facing Facts: ABC, Lane Bryant & The Double Standard

I am sure that by now you have heard about how ABC has refused to air a new Lane Bryant lingerie ad. According to an article in today's New York Post, ABC wanted to edit the ad and then air it in the last 10 minutes of Dancing with the Stars. Lane Bryant has since made a deal to air the commercial on Fox during American Idol next week and, according to an ad I received from Lane Bryant a few nights in May as well.

Have you seen the ad? If not, take a peek:


ABC, you have a lot of damn nerve. Please view exhibit A:

The above picture is of professional ballroom dancer Edyta Sliwinska and ABC Daytime soap star Cameron Matheson in their photo for when Cameron was on DWTS. Now, I personally *love* Edyta. I think she is an awesone dancer and she has a body that does.not.quit. And quite honestly, the costume she is wearing in the above picture is tame compared to the outfits that the DWTS wardrobe team drapes her in every week.

And that is exactly my point. ABC is fine with parading the professional dancers (and even some of the celebrities) on DWTS in little more than a nude colored bra and panty with sequins and fabric every season, but they do not want to air the Lane Bryant ad? Just last week, one of the professional dancers danced a rhumba in a black bra and panty set with a man's white dress shirt--open, mind you--for an audienece of millions on TV.

Hmmm....

The plus model in the Lane Bryant ad, Ashley Graham, is a size 16--a little over the size 14 that is supposed to be the size of  the average woman in America. Is it because she has a size 38D cup? Is it because Lane Bryant has the gaul to show a plus size woman in a sexy situation?

Even Wendy Williams, who I thought would have been all over ABC for not wanting to air the ad, tried to give the "as a mom, I'm not sure I want my kids to see that ad on TV" arguement on her show this morning. Huh? So then I guess you will be the first to say that Victoria's Secret ads should be pulled from ABC right now, right?

Do you think ABC is right for not wanting to air the ad? Is there a double standard at work here? Discuss...

Think Globally, Act Locally: The Red Pump Project

Today is National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Would you believe in telling someone about this day a week or so ago, I actually had someone tell me "Another HIV/AIDS Awareness Day? Doesn't that take away from a day like World AIDS Day?"

My response--after self-censoring--was "Are you kidding me? There can NEVER be enough awareness--especially when it comes to educating girls and women!"

I promptly pulled up The Red Pump Project's website and let that person (who was a woman, mind you) start to read some of the statistics that Karyn of The Fabulous Giver and Luvvie of Awesomely Luvvie so fabulously post about the rate of HIV/AIDS spreading amongst not only women, but African-American women and women of Color. The woman I was speaking with honestly didn't know. She had been getting tested herself for a few years, but didn't realize the impact HIV/AIDS was really taking on our community.

As someone who can admit to probably spending far too much time online, I take for granted those who do not, and therefore, do not have the all sorts of facts, websites, and information literally at their fingertips. That is why not only is it important for those of us who can to speak up to anyone who will listen on our websites and blogs, but also for us to GET OUT IN THE STREETS! Support agencies who are actively working to spread the message about practicing safe sex and getting tested.

One of my favorite organizations that I was blessed to learn about through my day job is Bronx AIDS Services. They have an initiative called "Bronx ATTITUDE" which is an HIV counseling and testing initiative for women of color. Bronx ATTITUDE provides an opportunity for women of color to discuss and get information about HIV testing and to share testing experiences in the hopes of influencing similar decisions with their friends and social networks at church, clubs, beauty salons, etc.

Bronx AIDS Services will be hosting a "Divas and Dolls Wellness Carnival" this Saturday, March 13 in the Bronx. You can click on the link for information. But if you are in NYC, I encourage you to bring your daughters age 12 and up. It's never to early to start educating them on HIV/AIDS, safe sex practices, etc. Bronx AIDS Services will provide information for parents who might not know how to start the conversation with their children, will provide free rapid HIV testing on site, will be giving out Safe Sex Kits, and more.

Yes, HIV and AIDS is a global epidemic. But we all have the power to educate our own communities. Luvvie & Karyn, thank you for being the Independent Women that you are and starting The Red Pump Project. It is the perfect example of "Thinking Globally & Acting Locally". I am so proud to "Rock The Red Pump" and look forward to getting more active in the cause throughout 2010 and onward.

The Scene:Body Image & Barbie's Fat Ankles (?)

Be sure to check out Plus-size model Mia Amber, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Stacey Rosenfeld of Columbia Doctors Eastside and beauty activist Claire Mysko in this clip from Good Day NY Street Talk as they talk about body image, its impact on women, while teen writers Cynthia Lam and Elizabeth Gyori of Sexetc.org discuss the affect on teenagers.

Also, fitness expert Rochelle Rice shows us an exercise for plus-sized women so they can feel good physically and emotionally.

Facing Facts: The Red Pump Project

Today, March 10, is National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. I am so proud to be joining a growing list of bloggers who are today, taking the time to discuss the importance of being educated about HIV/AIDS, especially when it comes to women, as part of The Red Pump Project.

Created by bloggers Karyn of The Fabulous Giver and Luvvie of Awesomely Luvvie, The Red Pump Project was created "to represent the strength and courage of women fighting HIV/AIDS or affected by the disease both directly and indirectly. We ask that on that day (March 10th), you embed the Red Pump Widget within your post with a short snippet of its significance, or you can rock the widget on your sidebar for the day."

Here are the facts:
HIV/AIDS & Minority Women
-----------------------------------
HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minority women in the United States. According to the 2005 census, Black and Latina women represent 24% of all US women combined, but account for 82% of the estimated total of AIDS diagnoses for women in 2005.

HIV is:
*the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
*the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years.
*the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years.
*the 4th leading cause of death for Latina women aged 35–44 years.
*The only diseases causing more deaths of women were cancer and heart disease
*The rate of AIDS diagnosis for black women was approximately 23 times the rate for white women and 4 times the rate for Latina women
*In 2006, teen girls represented 39% of AIDS cases reported among 13–19 year-olds. Black teens represented 69% of cases reported among 13–19 year-olds; Latino teens represented 19%
Ladies, we have to take responsibilities for our own health. The first step? Get tested! You can find the testing center nearest to you at HIVtest.org. Knowing your status is the first step. Don't be scared to ask your partner if he/she knows their status. If they don't, encourage them to take a test ASAP. And please, use protection EVERY.TIME.YOU.HAVE.SEX!

Bravo to Karyn and Luvvie for creating what I have a huge feeling is going to definitely be a major movement across the U.S. There are already some Rock The Red Pump events scheduled for Chicago and Kansas City. I'm sure there will be more happening across the US in the coming weeks!

statistics courtesy The Center For Disease Control

Report: All African American Women Could Be Overweight by 2034

We at Belle-Noir Magazine are all about our Big & Beautiful Plus Size Sisters, but a recent report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, has made up stand up and take notice.

The most recent study conducted by the government-funded agency reports that "If the trends of the past three decades continue, it's possible that every American adult could be overweight 40 years from now." In the report, complied from survey data collected between the 1970's and 2004, "the researchers estimate that 86 percent of American adults will be overweight by 2030, with an obesity rate of 51 percent. By 2048, all U.S. adults could be at least mildly overweight."

Here's where it gets scary:

"Weight problems will be most acute among African-Americans and Mexican- Americans, the study projects. All black women could be overweight by 2034, according to the researchers, as could more than 90 percent of Mexican-American men."

I don't know how true it really is that ALL Black Women could be overweight by 2034. It is all speculation based on recent trends. Also, while being overweight CAN lead to various serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, etc. However there was recently a study done stating that you can be overweight and heart healthy.

Ladies, even if it is as simple as going for a walk everyday for 30 minutes, we have to take care of ourselves. So yes, maybe our skinny black sisters will get a little thickness to them and those of us who are already thick might be even more so by 2034. But that doesn't mean we have to be unhealthy.

What do you think ladies? How do you stay healthy at every and any size?

Black In America on CNN--Your Take?

If you missed the 1st installment of CNN Presents: Black in America, I urge you to watch the 2nd installment tonight.

There are mixed feelings across the board in the Black blogging community as to the intended audience for this documentary produced and hosted by CNN's Soledad O'Brien. I will give my take on the special upon seeing the 2nd piece tonight, but be sure to check out the CNN website because there are a host of clips and interviews that are highly informational.

My favorite clip I found via Afrobella this morning. Whoopi Goldberg talks about the fascination people have with her speaking "properly". To her reaction to the question "where did you learn to speak like that?", I can only say "Amen, Whoopi, Amen."

Did any of you see the 1st half of the documentary? What did you think? Were there areas you thought they should have focused more and/or less on in regards to Black Women and the Black Family?

***Edited on 7/25/08: You can watch the full four hour documentary on CNN this Saturday 7/26/08 starting at 8:00pm EDT. My feelings on the Black Men in America segment aren't quite as warm and inviting as for the 1st part. What do you think? What did you think of the documentary as a whole?

Travel Channel Host Has "No Reservations" Using The B-Word

Anthony Bourdain, the host of the Travel Channel show "No Reservations", recently had this to say about dance hall music he encountered during a recent trip to Jamaica:

"There's no rootsy, laid back Rasta vibe," Bourdain narrates. "This ain't about standing up for your rights or praising Jah or anything like that. Like Reggaetón, its mutant cousin, dance hall is the hardcore beat behind lyrics concerning, for the most part: acquiring possessions, getting respect on the street, beating down perceived enemies and enjoying the physical charms of varied, if not multitudinous, b****es."

For those unfamiliar with Mr. Bourdain's show, he is a chef who goes around the world looking to experience different kinds of cuisine as it relates to various cultures around the world. I admit, I have watched his show before, and until this point, kind of liked the show and its clearly chauvinist host. But to use the word "bitches" here when the word "women" could have easily been used shows obviously poor judgement on the part of Bourdain. Perhaps he doesn't think women of Color watch his show?

What's even worse than Mr. Bourdain's lack of good judgement is that the show's producers obviously didn't see anything wrong with it either.

Video Courtesy of YouTube. What did we do before Youtube?

Shout out to Supersize Spanishfly Lynx of Extravagangsta Radio for bringing this to our attention. Be sure to check out her response to Mr. Bourdain's potty mouth and the music industry's use of the "b" word on her blog on Egradioonline.com.

Also be sure to check out this article on Yardflex.com about the issue and the response by several dancehall artists.

What do you think, ladies & gents? Is this Imus PartII (or Part III since Imus himself has put his foot in his mouth yet again most recently)? Or is this much ado about nothing?

Facing Facts: Weight-loss Tips Differ In African-American, Mainstream Magazines

ScienceDaily (Jan. 14, 2008) — Magazines catering to African-Americans may be falling short in their efforts to educate readers about weight loss, a new University of Iowa study suggests.

African-American women's magazines are more likely to encourage fad diets and reliance on faith to lose weight, while mainstream women's magazines focus more on evidence-based diet strategies, according to the study by UI researcher Shelly Campo, published in a recent issue of the journal Health Communication.

"Three-quarters of African-American women are considered overweight or obese, compared to one-third of all U.S. women," said Campo, an assistant UI professor with appointments in community and behavioral health in the College of Public Health and communication studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. "African-American magazines tend to embrace a mission of advocacy for the African-American community, but if you're not covering evidence-based weight-loss strategies, you're not really helping your community."

Campo and co-author Teresa Mastin, an associate professor in the Department of Advertising, Public Relations, and Retailing at Michigan State University, analyzed 406 fitness and nutrition articles published between 1984 and 2004 in three major African-American women's magazines -- Ebony, Essence and Jet -- and three popular mainstream women's magazines -- Good Housekeeping, Better Homes and Gardens, and Ladies' Home Journal.

The magazines suggested many of the same weight-loss strategies, but mainstream magazines were twice as likely to suggest eating more whole grains and protein, smaller portions, and low-fat foods. Relying on God or faith was suggested by 1 in 10 weight-loss stories in the African-American magazines, but in almost no weight-loss stories in the mainstream magazines.

Fad diets were promoted as legitimate strategies in 15 percent of weight-loss stories in the African-American magazines, compared to only 5 percent in the mainstream magazines. Fad diets, defined as diets that may work in the short term but often do not result in sustained changes, included the Dick Gregory Bahamian Diet, the South Beach Diet, the Hilton Head Diet, and the Atkins Diet.

Mainstream magazines offered more strategies per article than African-American magazines. And, while mainstream magazines increased fitness and nutrition coverage during the second decade as the severity of the obesity epidemic unfolded, African-American magazines did not.
"The study clearly points to a need for public-health advocates and advocates of the African-American community to push their media to increase coverage of overweight and obesity health issues," Campo said.

The research is a companion study to previous work Mastin and Campo published in the Howard Journal of Communications in Oct. 2006. The first study showed that food and nonalcoholic beverage ads outnumbered fitness and nutrition articles 16 to 1 in Ebony, Essence and Jet between 1984 and 2004. The 500 ads were primarily for foods high in calories but low in nutritional value, Campo said.

In the new paper, Campo and Mastin note that both types of magazines tend to place responsibility for weight loss on the individual, rather than examining environmental and economic factors that make weight loss difficult. More than 83 percent of strategies focused on behavior changes, while less than 7 percent focused on environment. For example, magazines recommended eating well and staying active, but rarely addressed issues like availability and cost of healthy food, recreational opportunities in communities, or existence of school- or work-based fitness programs.

"Both genres are highly guilty of over-reliance on individual strategies," Campo said. "We blame individuals too much for circumstances that are not entirely within their control. We know people living in unsafe neighborhoods are much less likely to exercise. And fast food is cheap compared to fresh fruit and vegetables. To tell a poor person that they made a bad choice because they couldn't afford the salad fixings raises some ethical concerns."

African-Americans represent at least 90 percent of the readership of Ebony, Essence and Jet, but 11 percent or less of Better Homes and Gardens, Good Housekeeping and Ladies' Home Journal. The magazines were selected for the study because of their large circulation and longevity over the 20-year period.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Iowa.

Source: Sciencedaily.com

2008: The Year of the Plus Size Bride(?)

Over Half A Million 2008 Brides Will Be Plus-Sized. According to Leading Plus-size Lingerie e-tailer, AlwaysForMe.com Plus-size brides, those who wear a size 14 and larger, constitute a growing segment of the bridal market, representing an estimated 25% of the annual 2.4 million women, or 600,000 brides-to-be who will marry in 2008.

Hauppauge, N.Y. (PRWEB) March 19, 2008 -- Plus-size brides, those who wear a size 14 and larger, constitute a growing segment of the bridal market, representing an estimated 25% of the annual 2.4 million women, or 600,000 brides-to-be who will marry in 2008. Leading online retailer of plus-size lingerie, AlwaysForMe.com, has found that plus-size brides, and specifically those seeking under wedding gown, wedding night and honeymoon lingerie, have specific wants and needs when it comes to queen-sized styling and fit.

"Plus-size lingerie must be sensuous and supportive", say Susan Barone, Founder and CEO of Always For Me, Inc. "We've listened very carefully to what our customers have told us they want in a bridal trousseau, i.e. garments worn under their wedding gowns; on their wedding nights; and during their honeymoons, second honeymoons or anniversaries", reports Barone. "That's why we're creating our own line of plus-size lingerie: Always For Me Amour. " "The collection will be both flirty and flattering without sacrificing comfort and control". "Always For Me Amour collection promises to be a best-seller for plus size brides-to-be -- as well as a great gift idea for bridal showers."

AlwaysForMe.com is a leading online retail site for plus-sized swimwear, active wearand lingerie. Founded in 2001 by Susan Barone, a successful apparel industry executive, AlwaysForMe.com serves the needs of the estimated 65 million women who wear a size 14 and up. In less than ten years, AlwaysForMe.com has grown 10-fold to become the premiere destination website for women around the world who prefer to shop from the comfort of their desktops from a selection of name brand designers and/or Always For Me's own design collections.

For more information on AlwaysForMe.com please visit http://www.alwaysforme.com/.

###

Source: PR Web

Remembering The Dream: 40 Years Later...

Civil rights leaders, sanitation workers mark 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King's slaying
By WOODY BAIRD
Associated Press Writer

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- White-haired veterans of the sanitation workers' strike that brought the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis in 1968 marked the 40th anniversary Friday of his assassination by marching to the motel where he was cut down by a sniper's bullet.

"Dr. King was like Moses," said Leslie Moore, 61, who was a sanitation worker in 1968 and is still on the job more than a generation later. "God gave Moses the assignment to lead the children of Israel across the Red Sea. He sent Dr. King here to lead us to a better way."

The morning rally - which included a dozen or so of the original strikers, along with hundreds of other people, mostly members of AFSCME, the public employees union - was one of two marches to the Lorraine Motel, once a blacks-only establishment in segregated Memphis, now a civil rights museum.

In the afternoon, about 800 people made their way through the streets in the rain, wearing bright slickers and carrying umbrellas. The crowd was mostly black but included people of all colors and stations, a display of the kind of unity King once dreamed of and found so tragically elusive in the violence-drenched spring of 1968.

"I was too young to be a part of the struggle," said union member Sherl Commodore, 50, of Baltimore. "But to be able to come here 40 years later is awesome."

Baxter Leach, 68, a retired sanitation worker, took part in the strike, which marked the beginning of the end for white domination of government and civic affairs in Memphis. Before the walkout, black sanitation workers labored long hours for little pay and could be fired at the whim of white bosses. They eventually won union representation.

"We honor this day. We march," Leach said, adding that King helped all Americans. "He was for poor folks. He wasn't for just one color. He was for all colors."

Youth counselor Joe Beavers said he and forensic scientist Cassandra Franklin, a black couple from Nashville, wanted to teach their daughter that King "was one of the people who made it easier for her to grow up in a society where we can be colorblind."

"We're celebrating his life," 7-year-old Alex said.

[m o r e]

Weight Bias Is As Prevalent As Racial Discrimination, Study Suggests

ScienceDaily (Mar. 28, 2008) — Discrimination against overweight people--particularl y women--is as common as racial discrimination, according to a study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University.

"These results show the need to treat weight discrimination as a legitimate form of prejudice, comparable to other characteristics like race or gender that already receive legal protection," said Rebecca Puhl, research scientist and lead author.

The study documented the prevalence of self-reported weight discrimination and compared it to experiences of discrimination based on race and gender among a nationally representative sample of adults aged 25- to 74-years-old. The data was obtained from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States.

The study also revealed that women are twice as likely as men to report weight discrimination and that weight discrimination in the workplace and interpersonal mistreatment due to obesity is common.The researchers found that men are not at serious risk for weight bias until their body mass index (BMI) reaches 35 or higher, while women begin experiencing a notable increase in weight discrimination risk at a BMI level of 27. BMI is the measure of body fat based on height and weight.

Co-author Tatiana Andreyava of Yale said weight discrimination is more prevalent than discrimination based on sexual orientation, nationality/ ethnicity, physical disability, and religious beliefs. "However, despite its high prevalence, it continues to remain socially acceptable," she said.

Journal reference: International Journal of Obesity (March 4, 2008) doi: 10.1038/ijo. 2008.22

Adapted from materials provided by Yale University.

Source: Science Daily

Is The Obesity Epidemic Over-exaggerated?

Head to head: Is the obesity epidemic exaggerated?

The UK health secretary has declared that we are inthe grip of an obesity epidemic. But is this an exaggeration?

Here is the link for yes it is:http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/336/7638/244

Here is the link for no it isn't:http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/336/7638/245

Read both and judge for yourself.

"We don't serve FAT People Here..."

A friend of mine called me today to inform me that he read an article that the Mississippi state legislation was trying to pass a bill that would make it illegal for state licensed businesses to serve people who were deemed to be obese. The bill would require that the Mississippi Department of Health consult with the state's Counsel on Obesity to determine what guidelines restaurant owners would have to follow and would mean penalties and fines for those restaurants who choose to serve plus size patrons.

I didn't want to believe it was true that a bill so ridiculously heinous would even be considered, but the good folks over at thesmokinggun.com have a copy of the official document posted.

Peggy Howell, Public Relations Director of the NAAFA, released a press release calling for a cease and desist from the Mississippi legislature. While I wasn't able to find the press release on their website as of yet, you can check it out on the NAAFA's MySpace page.

As a woman of size, I am disgusted by this because, who is to determine what is obese and what is not? How can you justify judging someone as obese? As a woman of Color, I am disgusted, because blatant discrimination like this is a reminder of when people of Color could not eat in restaurants and at lunch counters throughout the South before the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

I have often heard those who are far more politically involved in the size acceptance movement than I am say that size discrimination is the last acceptable form of discrimination in the country. While TSG believes that the bill will be "dead on arrival", the fact that the three House of Representatives members thought it was a good idea should be cause for all to stand up and take notice.

What's more, I think, is for all people of size to take a stand. I'm not just talking to my size 24+ ladies of the world. I'm talking to my sized 10, 12, 14's etc. as well. Because even though in the plus size world, you are on the smaller side of the scale, don't think that in the eyes of these legislators, you will be immune. If they go by the BMI index, more people would be affected than not.

Just some food for thought...

Fat and Happy Online?

Denton Record Chronicle columnist Lucina Breeding wrote an interesting editorial in response to a recent NY Times article about blogging in the "fatosphere" e.g. the virutal community that promotes body acceptance. The article, entitled "Fat and Happy Online?" mentions several popular size acceptance blogs, and also discusses how plus bloggers are often criticized for their stands that just because an individual is fat does not automatically mean they are lazy and gluttonous. What also surprised me was that some of these bloggers also get flack for mentioning that they exercise several times a week.

Says Breeding in her article:

"One particularly inspirational site shows the paradox that fit, fat Americans live in. A woman named Sarah launched a blog about being a triathlete and being big, www.fatgirlonabike. com. Af­ter a bit of exposure, her blog was rushed by critics who told her she was irresponsible (or crazy, or stupid) for “grinding her joints to a pulp.

Who knew that fat Americans could be branded lazy by one part of the peanut gallery, and summarily demonized as stupid for being too active by another? "

Read the complete article here.