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

Mission Statement

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

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

ISAAs Mission - Conclusion ISAA defines SIZE DISCRIMINATION as any action which places people at a disadvantage simply because of their size. ISAA defines SIZE DISCRIMINATION as any action which places people at a disadvantage simply because of their size. ISAA defines SIZE ACCEPTANCE as acceptance of self and others without regard to weight or body size. ISAA defines SIZE ACCEPTANCE as acceptance of self and others without regard to weight or body size.

Goals & Objectives

Goals and Objectives - 1 GOAL: Educate corporations,lawmakers, and the general populace about size acceptance GOAL: Educate corporations,lawmakers, and the general populace about size acceptance OBJECTIVE: ISAA will create brochures, flyers, posters, and lobbying information and determine which locations, individuals, and corporations would be best suited to receive these informative materials. OBJECTIVE: ISAA will create brochures, flyers, posters, and lobbying information and determine which locations, individuals, and corporations would be best suited to receive these informative materials.

Goals and Objectives - 2 GOAL: Provide volunteers to speak about size acceptance at public schools, colleges, and other venues GOAL: Provide volunteers to speak about size acceptance at public schools, colleges, and other venues OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Public Speaking committee will be formed to collaborate on materials which can be presented at public schools, colleges, or other venues on the topic of size acceptance and its importance to people of all sizes. OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Public Speaking committee will be formed to collaborate on materials which can be presented at public schools, colleges, or other venues on the topic of size acceptance and its importance to people of all sizes.

Goals and Objectives - 3 GOAL: Distribute information about size acceptance in the form of brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various media GOAL: Distribute information about size acceptance in the form of brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various media OBJECTIVE: ISAA Think Tank members and the Board of Directors will work together to constantly update ISAA information and make it available to the general public, through various media (Internet, telephone calls, faxes, and in person). OBJECTIVE: ISAA Think Tank members and the Board of Directors will work together to constantly update ISAA information and make it available to the general public, through various media (Internet, telephone calls, faxes, and in person).

Goals and Objectives - 4 GOAL: Create local chapters throughout the world to provide immediate support and feedback for ISAA members and non- members seeking to join ISAA in the size acceptance movement GOAL: Create local chapters throughout the world to provide immediate support and feedback for ISAA members and non- members seeking to join ISAA in the size acceptance movement OBJECTIVE: The Director of ISAA will create a "Blueprint for Chapter Formation," which will either be adopted or revised by the ISAA Think Tank and the Board of Directors. This blueprint will be made available to individuals who desire to form their own local chapter of ISAA. OBJECTIVE: The Director of ISAA will create a "Blueprint for Chapter Formation," which will either be adopted or revised by the ISAA Think Tank and the Board of Directors. This blueprint will be made available to individuals who desire to form their own local chapter of ISAA.

Goals and Objectives - 5 GOAL: Develop policy and position papers on issues regarding size acceptance and size discrimination, making these materials available to the public in brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various media GOAL: Develop policy and position papers on issues regarding size acceptance and size discrimination, making these materials available to the public in brochures, flyers, press releases, electronic mail, web pages, newsgroups, and personal interaction with individuals, groups, and various media OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Policy/Position Committee will be formed to research size acceptance issues and materials. This committee will develop policy and position papers to meet the above Goal. OBJECTIVE: An ISAA Policy/Position Committee will be formed to research size acceptance issues and materials. This committee will develop policy and position papers to meet the above Goal.

Goals and Objectives - 6 GOAL: Respond to incidents of size discrimination either on the local level or internationally, depending upon the circumstances, in an appropriate and lawful manner GOAL: Respond to incidents of size discrimination either on the local level or internationally, depending upon the circumstances, in an appropriate and lawful manner OBJECTIVE: On the international level, the Vice President in charge of Activism will coordinate public responses to incidents of size discrimination. On a local level, the President of each chapter will be responsible for determining responses to incidents of size discrimination. OBJECTIVE: On the international level, the Vice President in charge of Activism will coordinate public responses to incidents of size discrimination. On a local level, the President of each chapter will be responsible for determining responses to incidents of size discrimination.

ISAAs Position on Weight Loss Surgery

ISAAs Position on Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) - Continued Release Date: August 6, 1999 The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) generally does not support the use of bariatric or weight-loss surgery (WLS). ISAA recognizes that not all people are accepting of themselves at whatever size they happen to be and that some people view WLS as an alternative to the perceived health risk associated with increased weight, especially after diets and other methods of weight loss fail.

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

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

ISAAs Position on WLS - Continued 1. WLS recipients can and often do regain the weight they lost, plus more, usually within five to ten years. For example, It is possible to stretch stomach tissue left after stapling, which defeats the purpose of the procedure.

ISAAs Position on WLS - Continued 2. Potential WLS recipients are not fully informed about the risks and side-effects of WLS, which can include but are not limited to painful gastrointestinal distress, leaking ofd gastric juices into the chest cavity, infection, deteriation of teeth (erosion of enamel caused by repeated vomiting), flatulence, mineral and nutrient deprivation (especially potassium), uncomfortable and highly odorous bowel movements and/or loose stools.

ISAAs Position on WLS - Continued 3. Rapid weight loss, whether from dieting or from WLS, affects muscle more than fat, including heart muscle. The long term results of the procedure could lead to death from heart-related complications.

ISAAs Position on WLS - Continued 4. WLS requires that the recipients eat smaller meals but more meals throughout the day. If a person consumes more than their stomach has been reduced to, they vomit the rest, which can lead to bulimic behavior. The alternative is eating less, which can lead to anorexic behavior. In addition, WLS recipients will be more inclined to obsess about food, since they have to eat much more often with seriously restricted amounts.

ISAAs Position on WLS - Continued 5. Finally, if WLS procedures were not sanctioned by insurance companies, less people would have the procedures done, since the procedures are expensive. Insurance companies sanction the procedures because there is some recorded success rates (though with side-effects such as listed in 2.), as opposed to straight dieting, which has a 98% failure rate. ISAA does not support weight loss dieting nor does it view WLS as a "necessary alternative" to weight-loss dieting.

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

ISAAs Position on Activism and Social Activities

ISAAs Position on Activism and Social Activities - Continued The Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement, both in the United States and around the world, is made up of two main elements: the educational-activist and the social. Each element serves a unique purpose. Within the Movement, some people have greater interest in the educational-activist element, others have greater interest in the social element and some have equal interest in both elements. The Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement, both in the United States and around the world, is made up of two main elements: the educational-activist and the social. Each element serves a unique purpose. Within the Movement, some people have greater interest in the educational-activist element, others have greater interest in the social element and some have equal interest in both elements. The Mission of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is to promote size acceptance and to help end size discrimination through advocacy and visible, lawful actions. ISAA's Mission is deeply based in the educational-activist element. The Mission of the International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is to promote size acceptance and to help end size discrimination through advocacy and visible, lawful actions. ISAA's Mission is deeply based in the educational-activist element.

ISAAs Position on Activism and Social Activities - Continued The leadership of ISAA understands the aspect of the social element of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement but believes that ISAA will better serve the Movement by focusing exclusively on the educational-activist element. As a result, ISAA and its chapters will no longer be performing most traditionally recognized social functions. The leadership of ISAA understands the aspect of the social element of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement but believes that ISAA will better serve the Movement by focusing exclusively on the educational-activist element. As a result, ISAA and its chapters will no longer be performing most traditionally recognized social functions. Instead, ISAA recognizes a new organization which has dedicated itself to both elements of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement. S.A.M. ("Size Acceptance Movement") is a 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 Chicago, though. People who wish to become involved in S.A.M. are welcome to contact S.A.M. spokespeople Linda and/or Dixie or call the S.A.M. hotline (414) for more information. Instead, ISAA recognizes a new organization which has dedicated itself to both elements of the Size Acceptance Civil Rights Movement. S.A.M. ("Size Acceptance Movement") is a 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 Chicago, though. People who wish to become involved in S.A.M. are welcome to contact S.A.M. spokespeople Linda and/or Dixie or call the S.A.M. hotline (414) for more information.

ISAAs Position on Activism and Social 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: 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 needs of the Size Acceptance Community. ISAA and S.A.M. can succeed in accomplishing together what each might not be able to accomplish separately. 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 needs of the Size Acceptance Community. ISAA and S.A.M. can succeed in accomplishing together what each might not be able to accomplish separately.

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