ISAAs Mission, Goals & Policies Our Commitment To Size Acceptance In The 21 st Century and Beyond All written material in this document is © 2002 ISAA.

ISAA’s Mission, ISAA’s Mission, Goals & PoliciesGoals & Policies

Our Commitment To Our Commitment To Size Acceptance In The Size Acceptance In The

2121stst Century and Century and BeyondBeyond

All written material in this document is © 2002 ISAAAll written material in this document is © 2002 ISAA

Mission StatementMission Statement

ISAA’s Mission StatementISAA’s Mission Statement

The The MISSIONMISSION of the of the International Size International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA)Acceptance Association (ISAA) is to is to promote promote SIZE ACCEPTANCESIZE ACCEPTANCE and fight and fight SIZE DISCRIMINATIONSIZE DISCRIMINATION throughout the throughout the world by means of advocacy and world by means of advocacy and visible, lawful actions.visible, lawful actions.

ISAA’s Mission - ContinuedISAA’s Mission - Continued

ISAA'sISAA's primary purpose is to end the primary purpose is to end the most common form of size most common form of size discrimination and bigotry--that against discrimination and bigotry--that against fat children and adults; fat children and adults; ISAAISAA will strive will strive to defend the human rights of members to defend the human rights of members affected by other forms of size affected by other forms of size discrimination as well. discrimination as well.

ISAA’s Mission - ISAA’s Mission - ConclusionConclusion

ISAAISAA defines defines SIZE DISCRIMINATIONSIZE DISCRIMINATION as any action which places people at a as any action which places people at a disadvantage simply because of their disadvantage simply because of their size. size.

ISAAISAA defines defines SIZE ACCEPTANCESIZE ACCEPTANCE as as acceptance of self and others without acceptance of self and others without regard to weight or body size. regard to weight or body size.

Goals & ObjectivesGoals & Objectives

Goals and Objectives - 1Goals and Objectives - 1 GOAL: GOAL: Educate corporations,lawmakers, and Educate corporations,lawmakers, and

the general populace about size acceptancethe general populace about size acceptance

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: ISAA will create brochures, ISAA will create brochures, flyers, posters, and lobbying information and flyers, posters, and lobbying information and determine which locations, individuals, and determine which locations, individuals, and corporations would be best suited to receive corporations would be best suited to receive these informative materials.these informative materials.

Goals and Objectives - 2Goals and Objectives - 2 GOAL: GOAL: Provide volunteers to speak about Provide volunteers to speak about

size acceptance at public schools, colleges, size acceptance at public schools, colleges, and other venuesand other venues

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Public Speaking An ISAA Public Speaking committee will be formed to collaborate on committee will be formed to collaborate on materials which can be presented at public materials which can be presented at public schools, colleges, or other venues on the schools, colleges, or other venues on the topic of size acceptance and its importance to topic of size acceptance and its importance to people of all sizes. people of all sizes.

Goals and Objectives - 3Goals and Objectives - 3 GOAL: GOAL: Distribute information about size Distribute information about size

acceptance in the form of brochures, flyers, press acceptance in the form of brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various mediaindividuals, groups, and various media

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: ISAA Think Tank members and the ISAA Think Tank members and the Board of Directors will work together to constantly Board of Directors will work together to constantly update ISAA information and make it available to update ISAA information and make it available to the general public, through various media the general public, through various media (Internet, telephone calls, faxes, and in person).(Internet, telephone calls, faxes, and in person).

Goals and Objectives - 4Goals and Objectives - 4 GOAL: GOAL: Create local chapters throughout the world Create local chapters throughout the world

to provide immediate support and feedback for to provide immediate support and feedback for ISAA members and non-members seeking to join ISAA members and non-members seeking to join ISAA in the size acceptance movementISAA in the size acceptance movement

OBJECTIVE:OBJECTIVE: The Director of ISAA will create a The Director of ISAA will create a "Blueprint for Chapter Formation," which will either "Blueprint for Chapter Formation," which will either be adopted or revised by the ISAA Think Tank and be adopted or revised by the ISAA Think Tank and the Board of Directors. This blueprint will be made the Board of Directors. This blueprint will be made available to individuals who desire to form their available to individuals who desire to form their own local chapter of ISAA.own local chapter of ISAA.

Goals and Objectives - 5Goals and Objectives - 5 GOAL: GOAL: Develop policy and position papers on issues Develop policy and position papers on issues

regarding size acceptance and size discrimination, regarding size acceptance and size discrimination, making these materials available to the public in making these materials available to the public in brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various mediawith individuals, groups, and various media

OBJECTIVE: OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Policy/Position Committee will An ISAA Policy/Position Committee will be formed to research size acceptance issues and be formed to research size acceptance issues and materials. This committee will develop policy and materials. This committee will develop policy and position papers to meet the above Goal.position papers to meet the above Goal.

Goals and Objectives - 6Goals and Objectives - 6 GOAL: GOAL: Respond to incidents of size discrimination Respond to incidents of size discrimination

either on the local level or internationally, either on the local level or internationally, depending upon the circumstances, in an depending upon the circumstances, in an appropriate and lawful mannerappropriate and lawful manner

OBJECTIVE:OBJECTIVE: On the international level, the Vice On the international level, the Vice President in charge of Activism will coordinate President in charge of Activism will coordinate public responses to incidents of size public responses to incidents of size discrimination. On a local level, the President of discrimination. On a local level, the President of each chapter will be responsible for determining each chapter will be responsible for determining responses to incidents of size discrimination.responses to incidents of size discrimination.

ISAA’s Position on ISAA’s Position on Weight Loss SurgeryWeight Loss Surgery

ISAA’s Position on Weight Loss ISAA’s Position on Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) - ContinuedSurgery (WLS) - Continued

Release DateRelease Date:: August 6, 1999August 6, 1999

The International Size Acceptance The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) generally does not Association (ISAA) generally does not support the use of bariatric or weight-loss support the use of bariatric or weight-loss surgery (WLS). ISAA recognizes that not all surgery (WLS). ISAA recognizes that not all people are accepting of themselves at people are accepting of themselves at whatever size they happen to be and that whatever size they happen to be and that some people view WLS as an alternative to some people view WLS as an alternative to the perceived health risk associated with the perceived health risk associated with increased weight, especially after diets increased weight, especially after diets and other methods of weight loss fail. and other methods of weight loss fail.

ISAA’s Position on WLS – ISAA’s Position on WLS – ContinuedContinued

ISAA cannot support the option of ISAA cannot support the option of WLS, even as a very last resort. WLS, even as a very last resort. ISAA believes that long-term ISAA believes that long-term studies need to be performed to studies need to be performed to determine whether or not WLS determine whether or not WLS increases the chances of mortality increases the chances of mortality (death) for potential recipients who (death) for potential recipients who are already in ill health.are already in ill health.

ISAA’s Position on WLS –ISAA’s Position on WLS – ContinuedContinued

While ISAA acknowledges that WLS While ISAA acknowledges that WLS can result in some weight loss (10% can result in some weight loss (10% on average), ISAA cannot support on average), ISAA cannot support the use of WLS for the following the use of WLS for the following reasons:reasons:

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ContinuedContinued

1.1. WLS recipients can and often do WLS recipients can and often do regain the weight they lost, plus more, regain the weight they lost, plus more, usually within five to ten years. For usually within five to ten years. For example, It is possible to stretch example, It is possible to stretch stomach tissue left after stapling, stomach tissue left after stapling, which defeats the purpose of the which defeats the purpose of the procedure.procedure.

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ContinuedContinued

2.2. Potential WLS recipients are not fully Potential WLS recipients are not fully informed about the risks and side-effects of informed about the risks and side-effects of WLS, which can include but are not limited to WLS, which can include but are not limited to painful gastrointestinal distress, leaking ofd painful gastrointestinal distress, leaking ofd gastric juices into the chest cavity, infection, gastric juices into the chest cavity, infection, deteriation of teeth (erosion of enamel deteriation of teeth (erosion of enamel caused by repeated vomiting), flatulence, caused by repeated vomiting), flatulence, mineral and nutrient deprivation (especially mineral and nutrient deprivation (especially potassium), uncomfortable and highly potassium), uncomfortable and highly odorous bowel movements and/or loose odorous bowel movements and/or loose stools.stools.

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ContinuedContinued

3.3. Rapid weight loss, whether from dieting or Rapid weight loss, whether from dieting or from WLS, affects muscle more than fat, from WLS, affects muscle more than fat, including heart muscle. The long term including heart muscle. The long term results of the procedure could lead to death results of the procedure could lead to death from heart-related complications.from heart-related complications.

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ContinuedContinued

4.4. WLS requires that the recipients eat smaller WLS requires that the recipients eat smaller meals but more meals throughout the day. If meals but more meals throughout the day. If a person consumes more than their stomach a person consumes more than their stomach has been reduced to, they vomit the rest, has been reduced to, they vomit the rest, which can lead to bulimic behavior. The which can lead to bulimic behavior. The alternative is eating less, which can lead to alternative is eating less, which can lead to anorexic behavior. In addition, WLS anorexic behavior. In addition, WLS recipients will be more inclined to obsess recipients will be more inclined to obsess about food, since they have to eat much about food, since they have to eat much more often with seriously restricted amounts.more often with seriously restricted amounts.

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ContinuedContinued

5.5. Finally, if WLS procedures were not Finally, if WLS procedures were not sanctioned by insurance companies, less sanctioned by insurance companies, less people would have the procedures done, since people would have the procedures done, since the procedures are expensive. Insurance the procedures are expensive. Insurance companies sanction the procedures because companies sanction the procedures because there is some recorded success rates (though there is some recorded success rates (though with side-effects such as listed in 2.), as with side-effects such as listed in 2.), as opposed to straight dieting, which has a 98% opposed to straight dieting, which has a 98% failure rate. ISAA does not support weight loss failure rate. ISAA does not support weight loss dieting nor does it view WLS as a "necessary dieting nor does it view WLS as a "necessary alternative" to weight-loss dieting.alternative" to weight-loss dieting.

ISAA’s Position on WLS - ISAA’s Position on WLS - ConclusionConclusion

The International Size Acceptance The International Size Acceptance Association believes in educating people that Association believes in educating people that one can be healthy at any size, even a large one can be healthy at any size, even a large size. ISAA's Mission is to promote size size. ISAA's Mission is to promote size acceptance and help to end size acceptance and help to end size discrimination through means of advocacy discrimination through means of advocacy and visible, lawful actions. Based on the and visible, lawful actions. Based on the information at its disposal, ISAA is not aware information at its disposal, ISAA is not aware of any instance where the benefits of WLS of any instance where the benefits of WLS outweigh the short and long-term risks and outweigh the short and long-term risks and consequences of such procedures. consequences of such procedures.

ISAA’s Position on ISAA’s Position on Activism and Social Activism and Social

ActivitiesActivities

ISAA’s Position on Activism and ISAA’s Position on Activism and Social Activities - ContinuedSocial Activities - Continued

The Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement, both in the United The Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement, both in the United States and around the world, is made up of two main elements: States and around the world, is made up of two main elements: the educational-activist and the social. Each element serves a the educational-activist and the social. Each element serves a unique purpose. Within the Movement, some people have unique purpose. Within the Movement, some people have greater interest in the educational-activist element, others have greater interest in the educational-activist element, others have greater interest in the social element and some have equal greater interest in the social element and some have equal interest in both elements. interest in both elements.

The Mission of the International Size Acceptance Association The Mission of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is to promote size acceptance and to help end size (ISAA) is to promote size acceptance and to help end size discrimination through advocacy and visible, lawful actions. discrimination through advocacy and visible, lawful actions. ISAA's Mission is deeply based in the educational-activist ISAA's Mission is deeply based in the educational-activist element.element.

ISAA’s Position on Activism and ISAA’s Position on Activism and Social Activities - ContinuedSocial Activities - Continued

The leadership of ISAA understands the aspect of the social The leadership of ISAA understands the aspect of the social element of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement but element of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement but believes that ISAA will better serve the Movement by focusing believes that ISAA will better serve the Movement by focusing exclusively on the educational-activist element. As a result, exclusively on the educational-activist element. As a result, ISAA and its chapters will no longer be performing most ISAA and its chapters will no longer be performing most traditionally recognized social functions. traditionally recognized social functions.

Instead, ISAA recognizes a new organization which has Instead, ISAA recognizes a new organization which has dedicated itself to both elements of the Size Acceptance Civil dedicated itself to both elements of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement. S.A.M. ("Size Acceptance Movement") is a Rights Movement. S.A.M. ("Size Acceptance Movement") is a social organization which also performs local activism. S.A.M. is social organization which also performs local activism. S.A.M. is having its debut in Chicago, Illinois. S.A.M. will not be limited to having its debut in Chicago, Illinois. S.A.M. will not be limited to Chicago, though. People who wish to become involved in Chicago, though. People who wish to become involved in S.A.M. are welcome to contact S.A.M. spokespeople Linda S.A.M. are welcome to contact S.A.M. spokespeople Linda SSBBWLINDA@[email protected] and/or Dixie and/or Dixie CLOSALBBW@[email protected] or call the S.A.M. hotline (414) 877-9434 for more information.or call the S.A.M. hotline (414) 877-9434 for more information.

ISAA’s Position on Activism and ISAA’s Position on Activism and Social Activities - ConclusionSocial Activities - Conclusion

You may also visit S.A.M.'s website at this URL: You may also visit S.A.M.'s website at this URL: http://www.nationalsam.comhttp://www.nationalsam.com

It is the hope of the leadership of ISAA and S.A.M. that these It is the hope of the leadership of ISAA and S.A.M. that these

two organizations may work diligently to continue to fulfill the two organizations may work diligently to continue to fulfill the needs of the Size Acceptance Community. ISAA and S.A.M. needs of the Size Acceptance Community. ISAA and S.A.M. can succeed in accomplishing together what each might not be can succeed in accomplishing together what each might not be able to accomplish separately. able to accomplish separately.

Thank you for viewing this Thank you for viewing this

presentation.presentation.

If you have additional questions, please If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact ISAA:feel free to contact ISAA:

Voicemail: (512) 371-4307Voicemail: (512) 371-4307 E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]@size-acceptance.org WWW: WWW: http://www.size-acceptance.orghttp://www.size-acceptance.org Postal: Postal: ISAAISAA

P.O. Box 82126P.O. Box 82126

Austin, Texas 78758Austin, Texas 78758