In a normal world, the response would be "Wow, let's keep people the hell away from DNP!" But in 1933, overcome with diet culture, a bunch of doctors, including two physicians at Stanford, heard about this and responded: "Wait - did you say they lost weight?"
On the strength of short-term studies that showed weight loss without too many negative side effects (only three deaths!) the drug began to be prescribed widely. Turns out, there were horrific lifelong side effects and in 1938 it was ruled "too toxic for human consumption." At that point the drug went underground, until a Russian Physician started selling it at his, wait for it, weight-loss clinics in Texas. He went to prison, where as luck would have it, he met the author of author of The Underground Steroid Handbook.
Fast forward to users in bodybuilding forums on sites like Reddit bragging about their use, more women using it in desperation to become thin, and more deaths. ( I highly recommend this article by Jennifer Wapner to get the full story.)
What I want to point out is that this isn't a unique situation. Many, many diet drugs get approved based on short-term studies, and then are found to cause great harm. The argument that killing some fat people is no big deal, if there's a chance that we could become thin, is made by people who are our doctors and who claim to be our advocates.
Fat people cannot trust diet culture - not ever. Diet culture is built on the idea that it is ok to kill us trying to make us thin. Diet culture wants us thin or dead, and doesn't seem to much care which it is. Refusing to buy into diet culture is an act of self-preservation.
Was this helpful? If you appreciate the work that I do, you can support my ability to do more of it with a one-time tip or by becoming a member. (Members get special deals on fat-positive stuff, a monthly e-mail keeping them up to date on the work their membership supports, and the ability to ask me questions that I answer in a members-only monthly Q&A Video!)
Like this blog? Here's more cool stuff: Deadline Extended through 2/3/19New Coaching Program - Walk, Run, or Roll Any Distance, Starting Exactly Where You Are
Jeanette DePatie and I have created a coaching program for walking, running, or rolling any distance, starting wherever you are now! It includes :
- Our Rock the Road Training Tool that customizes your weekly workouts starting exactly where you are right now, and gives you total flexibility (no more cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all workouts!)
- 6 weekly coaching video calls (you can watch online or just call in on your phone)
- Insights from guest coaches
- A dedicated Facebook group (with no weight loss or diet talk allowed!)
- Access to Jeanette and Ragen via a priority access email address.
Investment: $69 ( DancesWithFat members get $20 off, check your member e-mail and member page for the coupon code!)
Wellness for All Bodies Program: A simple, step-by-step, super efficient guide to setting and reaching your health goals from a weight-neutral perspective. This program can be used by individuals, or by groups, including as a workplace wellness program!
Price: $25.00 ($10 for DancesWithFat members - register on the member page)
This e-course that includes coaching videos, a study guide, and an ebook with the tools you need to create a rock-solid relationship with your body. Our relationships with our bodies don't happen in a vacuum, so just learning to see our beauty isn't going to cut it. The world throws obstacles in our way - obstacles that aren't our fault, but become our problem. Over the course of this program, Ragen Chastain, Jeanette DePatie, and six incredible guest coaches will teach you practical, realistic, proven strategies to go above, around, and through the obstacles that the world puts in front of you when it comes to living an amazing life in the body you have now.
Price: $99.00
($79.00 for DancesWithFat members - register on the member page)
Love It! 234 Inspirations And Activities to Help You Love Your Body
This is filled with thoughtful advice from the authors Jeanette DePatie, Ragen Chastain, and Pia Sciavo-Campo as well as dozens of other notable names from the body love movement, the book is lovingly illustrated with diverse drawings from size-positive artist Toni Tails.
Price: $9.99 softcover, $7.99 Kindle, ($6.95 + free shipping for DancesWithFat Members)
Book and Dance Class Sale! I'm on a journey to complete an IRON-distance triathlon, and I'm having a sale on all my books, DVDs, and digital downloads to help pay for it. You get books and dance classes, I get spandex clothes and bike parts. Everybody wins! If you want, you can check it out here! ( DancesWithFat Members get an even better deal, make sure to make your purchases from the Members Page!)
Book Me! I'd love to speak to your organization. You can get more information here or just e-mail me at ragen at danceswithfat dot org!
I'm (still!) training for an Iron-distance triathlon! You can follow my journey at www.IronFat.com .
If you are uncomfortable with my offering things for sale on this site, you are invited to check out this post.
Hi, I'm Ragen Chastain. Speaker, Writer, Dancer, Choreographer, Marathoner, Soon to be Iron-distance triathlete, Activist, Fat Person. View all posts by Ragen Chastain