Fat Fetishism (Acrotomophilia): History, Psychology, and Modern Context MISTRESS MARA MENOCI

1. Introduction

Fat fetishism, often referred to as adipophilia (from the Latin adipose meaning fat and the Greek philia meaning love), is a sexual attraction to overweight or obese bodies. While often misunderstood or stigmatized, fat fetishism is a real and documented phenomenon with cultural, psychological, and sociological dimensions.

2. Historical Context and Origins

The sexualization of body fat is not a new phenomenon. In fact, admiration for fuller bodies dates back centuries:

Prehistoric and ancient cultures often idealized large bodies. The famous Venus of Willendorf (c. 28,000–25,000 BCE), a small statuette with exaggerated body fat, is often interpreted as a fertility symbol, suggesting ancient reverence for fatness.
In many pre-industrial societies, body fat was associated with wealth, health, fertility, and prosperity. In regions with food scarcity, being fat implied that one had access to food and resources.
During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, painters like Peter Paul Rubens depicted full-bodied women as the height of beauty. The term “Rubenesque” still denotes a curvy or voluptuous figure.

However, the sexual fetishization of fat in the modern, clinical or subcultural sense appears to have developed more clearly in the 20th century, especially with the rise of mass media, photography, and the evolution of sexual discourse in psychology.

Peter Paul Rubens: The Birth of the Milky Way, 1636–1638

3. Terminology

A range of terms are used in and around fat fetish communities:

Adipophilia: Sexual attraction to fat or obese bodies.
Feederism: A subset where individuals derive pleasure from feeding a partner to encourage weight gain.
Feedees: Those who enjoy gaining weight.
Feeders: Those who enjoy feeding others, often with the goal of helping them gain weight.
Gaining/Gainers: People who intentionally gain weight for erotic or personal satisfaction.
BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) and BHM (Big Handsome Man): Terms used to describe plus-size individuals, often in erotic or dating contexts.
SSBBW: a woman over 350lbs
Chubby chasers: Individuals who are specifically attracted to fat people.

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4. Psychological and Sociological Aspects

a. Sexual Imprinting and Development

Some psychologists theorize that fat fetishism may develop through early exposure to specific body types during formative years of sexual development — a process known as sexual imprinting.

Others suggest that body positivity, personal experiences with fat bodies, or emotional associations with food, nurture, and comfort might contribute to forming this attraction.

b. Power Dynamics and Control

In feederism, psychological elements can include dynamics of dominance and submission, control, and dependency. Some feedism relationships involve consensual role-play where one partner encourages or even controls the weight gain of the other, sometimes drawing parallels with BDSM dynamics — though not all feederism includes this.

c. Body Image and Identity

For some participants, particularly gainers or feedees, weight gain is an affirmation of identity, an act of rebellion against societal norms, or a form of self-empowerment. Conversely, others may struggle with the psychological implications of their desires, especially due to cultural stigma around fatness.

Plus Size model Tess Holiday on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine

5. Overlap with Other Fetishes

Fat fetishism can intersect with a variety of other fetishes, including:

Inflation fetishism: A fetish involving fantasies of body expansion, which can overlap with the visual or physical aspects of weight gain.
BDSM: Dynamics of control, humiliation, or dominance sometimes intersect with feederism.
Food play (sploshing): Involves playing with or covering bodies in food during sexual activities; can overlap with feederism.
Voyeurism or exhibitionism: Watching or being watched while eating or gaining weight can be eroticized.

6. Cultural Impact and Modern Discourse

Anna obrien, also know as glitter and lazers, https://abc7news.com/post/gillettes-photo-of-plus-size-model-in-bikini-divides-twitter/5243298/

In recent decades, the rise of the body positivity movement has changed how fatness is viewed in society. While mainstream beauty standards still favor thinness, there has been a growing visibility and acceptance of larger bodies in fashion, media, and online spaces.

Fat fetishism, however, remains controversial — even within body-positive communities. Critics argue that it can reduce individuals to their bodies, perpetuate unhealthy behaviors, or commodify fatness. Others argue that consensual fat fetishism can affirm fat bodies as desirable and challenge oppressive beauty standards.

In media and art, fat fetishism is rarely addressed explicitly, but occasionally surfaces in niche publications, erotic art, and independent films. Some adult entertainment platforms now cater specifically to BBW/BHM content, showcasing growing demand and normalization within certain spaces.

7. Health, Ethics, and Stigma

One of the most polarizing aspects of fat fetishism — particularly feederism — is its potential impact on physical health. Critics often question the ethics of encouraging weight gain for erotic reasons, especially in extreme cases.

However, it’s important to differentiate between:

Consensual, informed relationships, where adults choose to engage in weight-centric fantasies, and
Non-consensual or coercive dynamics, which are unethical and potentially harmful.

Mental health professionals stress the importance of consent, communication, and psychological support for individuals involved in such practices.

8. Research and Clinical Perspectives

Fat fetishism is not formally classified as a disorder in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5. However, like all fetishes, it can become problematic if it causes distress or impairs daily functioning — in such cases, it may fall under paraphilic disorders.

Academic research on adipophilia is relatively scarce but growing. Scholars in fields such as gender studies, sexuality, and psychology have begun exploring its implications for identity, body politics, and sexual diversity.

9. Final Thoughts

Fat fetishism remains a complex, multifaceted phenomenon. For some, it is a valid form of sexual identity and desire that challenges societal beauty norms. For others, it raises ethical, psychological, and health concerns.

Like all fetishes, the key considerations are consent, communication, and respect — both for the individuals involved and for the broader context in which such desires are expressed.

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