Fat fetishism is a term used to describe the context in which fat (as a substance) and obesity are eroticized and regarded as elements which affect the function of society and the progression of human rights. Fat Fetishism is related to Feederism, Stuffing, and Gaining]].

Sexuality

The fondling of the [[adipose tissue of an overweight or obese person for one with a fat fetish is usually sexually arousing and is often similar to that of mammary intercourse. They may be aroused by the presence of a pannus or other hanging flaps of skin such as those on the thighs, arms, and back. Some people are aroused by the appearance of male breasts ("man boobs"), caused by the presence of fat under the chest, known as pseudogynecomastia.

Fat acceptance and sexuality

The issue of erotic weight gain has caused a collision, at least in a heterosexually-dominated realm, between the goals of fat acceptance (represented by NAAFA and others) and fat fetishism. Some contend that these are not mutually exclusive interests/movements.

One argument mobilized against fat fetishism is that it undermines social movements towards fat acceptance, through counter-productive objectification and dehumanization of fat people. Fat fetishists argue that most members of their community partake of this fetish only in the realm of fantasy and are more than mindful of rational boundaries. Also present is a belief that the sexualization of fat is not as pernicious as its detractors claim, and that if the "Fat Admirer" or "Chubby-Chaser" archetypes become more visible or mainstream, fat will thus lose a major aspect of its general social and cultural stigma.

Feederism

Is a term widely used to describe sexual relationships where both members obtain gratification from the gaining of body fat. Feederism refers to the acts of feeding, encouraging eating, or being served large quantities of food in order to achieve sexual pleasure from the act, or from the process of gaining weight, becoming fatter, and modifying the body.

Several terms refer to the roles adopted within the culture;

A feeder is an individual who feeds another person. A feedee may be characterized as an individual choosing to gain weight with the aid of a feeder. A gainer is similar to a feedee, but gainers generally seek to gain by their own hand- although they may welcome encouragement by an encourager. A maintainer is one sympathetic to the gaining community, who has intentionally or unintentionally put on weight and is happy to remain at that size, or is reluctant to gain more. An appreciator is a fat admirer in the gaining community who is not interested in either gaining or encouraging, but is content to appreciate what progress has been made by other individuals.

In some circles, the terms "gainer" and "encourager" are viewed as homosexual terms, whereas "feeder" and "feedee" are viewed as their heterosexual synonyms. While this a common perception in the weight gain community, it is not a universal attitude, as many heterosexuals who are gaining weight of their own volition, without the aid of a feeder, generally characterize themselves as gainers rather than as feedees. It should also be noted that many participants in the community will use gainer and feedee interchangably. This is also true of feeder and encourager.