Below a US women’s 18, or in the 1x – 2x range

A “small fat” is someone on the smallest end of the fat spectrum. Think “entry level fat.” When it comes to plus-size clothing, they are included in the size ranges of all plus-size retailers, as well as many straight-size clothes. A person who is in the small fat range may experience some degree of size oppression (such as doctors voicing concern about their weight, or comments from friends, family, or people in general), but they are able to access public spaces and are generally not shut out of many areas of life solely due to their weight.

Mid-Fat

Between a US women’s 20 – 24 or 26, or 2x – 3x

“Mid-fat” people are the next step up the fat spectrum. Mid-fats are typically relegated to plus-size retailers and rarely included in straight size retailers’ extended sizes. At this stage, brick-and-mortar options for clothing tend to dry up, as most options are online-only. Institutional sizeism comes into play much more strongly with mid fats than small fats. People in the “mid-fat” range are likely to experience discrimination in healthcare, weight stigma at work, in relationships, and the world at large. They may have trouble fitting into certain seats or accessing certain spaces. However, they are still accommodated to some degree, in comparison to those who are on the larger end of the spectrum.

Large Fat

US women’s 26 to 32, or 4x – 5x

Definitions of “large fat” can vary, but it usually refers to people in between the “mid fat” and “super fat” categories. This term is sometimes used interchangeably with “Lane Bryant Fat,” a term coined by writer Roxane Gay. People who consider themselves “large fat” are on the larger side of the middle of the fatness spectrum, which is a bit of a confusing sentence, sorry about that.

Superfat

Women’s size 26 and up; may have an upper limit or not, depending on who is using this label and how they choose to employ it

The term “super fat” was coined at the NOLOSE conference in 2008. You can read the history of the term “super fat” here. Super fat was created by the fattest members of the community, who felt that “mid fat” and “large fat” no longer suited them (and because they felt their presence and needs were being ignored and/or diminished by those smaller than them.) It was specifically meant to evoke superhero imagery and acted to unify members of the fat community around the largest fats. Some fat people at the conference even made capes!

Over time, as it often happens on the internet and with language in general, the meaning of this word has shifted slightly. Super fat’s meaning has changed slightly in some circles and “infinifat” has replaced the term for many fat folks. (Some people who were involved with the creation of the term “super fat” still prefer it to “infinifat.”) What used to be considered “large fat” by some is now referred to as “super fat.” This can be confusing for people new to the fat community, because there is so much history that is from a specific time and place!

But whether folks use the term with the understanding that it has a size cap where “infinifat” takes over or not, you can generally always assume that when someone refers to themselves as “super fat,” they mean they are on the larger end of the size spectrum. People in this range experience a lack of access due to their weight on a regular, daily basis. They experience discrimination in healthcare, the workplace, public spaces, and are excluded from many areas of public life. People who identify as superfat are either at the upper end of most plus-size retailers, or may even be sized out of most plus-size retailers. They generally have no brick-and-mortar clothing stores that serve them.

Infinifat

Women’s US size 32 – 34 and above, or may be used as a variant of super fat

The term “infinifat” was created by Ash of The Fat Lip. “Infinifat” people face significant barriers due to institutionalized sizeism on a daily basis. As defined by the graphic Ash made (which is widely circulated), infinifat refers to anyone who is a size 34 or above and/or size 6x. Infinifats are so underserved that many may not know their actual clothing size because plus size retailers do not include them at all. They may have to have clothing made custom. People in this size range are excluded from participating in many areas of public life, face intense discrimination and mistreatment in healthcare, and are the most underserved of all members of the fat community.

Death Fat

The term “death fat” was coined by writer and pioneering member of the Fatshionista Livejournal community Lesley Kinzel in a blog post from 2008. According to Lesley, this term was not meant to have specific size constraints, and can refer to fat people of any size who wish to use the term to reclaim their “morbid” fatness.

https://fluffykittenparty.com/2021/06/01/fategories-understanding-smallfat-fragility-the-fat-spectrum/

Really sick of smallfats speaking over infinifats such as myself.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5545152&forum_id=2#47776474)

there are normal people and then there are the obese. period.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5545152&forum_id=2#47776524)