Big and Tall Shorts

Finding help can be a chore for the big and tall. Luckily, with the internet bringing the world closer, resources, clubs, ideas, and information from around the world is at our fingertips. In compiling this list I found an amazing lack of comprehensive listings. However, after drilling though site after site, combing through active and broken links, sites that haven’t been updated in several years and sites that were just a page with a small blurb on it, I have come up with what I consider a great list. These are not links intended (primarily) to sell you something. These links are informational. They include organizations, clubs, publications and blogs that are size-friendly. They include local, regional, national and international resources.

NAAFA

1. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) – NAAFA is an obesity civil rights group that is an advocate for and educator about fat acceptance. They do take a staunch stance on diets and weight loss surgery, usually in opposition to both, but they fight for the human rights of people who are overweight and obese. They provide lots of news on their activities as well. Along with the national chapter, there are several local chapters, which we will list below as well (NAAFA does not list local sites on their main site).  At the time of the writing of this article, general membership is $15 per year and supporting membership is $50. The following areas also have local chapters with active websites. Additional membership fees may apply and most require you join the national organization first.

Local NAAFA Chapters

2. New York City NAAFA
3. Northern Ohio NAAFA
4. Washington DC and surrounding areas NAFFA
5. Los Angeles NAAFA
6. Hill Country (Austin/San Antonio) Texas NAAFA

TCI

7. Tall Clubs International is a social club for men taller than 6’2” (and women taller than 5’ 10”). They have social gathering and provide information for tall people and educate the world on the needs of tall people. Tall Clubs is a big supporter of organizations that fight a disease called Marfans Syndrome, of which height and heart disease are symptoms. Tall Clubs international have a great deal of local organizations. We have taken the time to search them out and list them below.

Northeastern United States Tall Clubs

8. Boston Beanstalks Tall Club (Boston, MA Tall Club)
9. Central Jersey Tall Friends Club (Central New Jersey Tall Club)
10. Hartford Heights Tall Club (Connecticut Tall Club)
11. Tall Club of Long Island (Long Island Tall Club)
12. The New Jersey Moonrakers Tall Club (New Jersey Tall Club)
13. Tall Club of New York City (New York City Tall Club)
14. Tower Club of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA Tall Club)
15. Golden Triangle Tall Club (Pittsburgh, PA Tall Club)
16. Tall Club of Rochester (Rochester, NY Tall Club)
17. Tall Club of Greater Washington DC (Washington, DC Tall Club)

Southern United States Tall Clubs

18. Atlanta Tall Club
19. Tall Texans of Dallas (Dallas Tall Club)
20. Tall Friends of Ft. Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, FL Tall Club)
21. Houston Bay Area Tall Texans (Houston, TX Tall Club)
22. Florida Skyliners of Miami (Miami, FL Tall Club)
23. Rocket City Tall Club (Northern Alabama Tall Club)
24. Oklahoma City Tall Club
25. Sarasota Tall Sunsations (Sarasota, FL Tall Club)
26. Carolina Tall Club (North and South Carolina Tall Club)
27. Tampa Bay Tall and Terrific (Tampa, FL Tall Club)

Midwestern United States Tall Clubs

28. Skyscraper Club of Cleveland (Cleveland, OH Tall Club)
29. Columbus High Society (Columbus, OH Tall Club)
30. Tip Toppers Club of Detroit (Detroit, MI Tall Club)
31. Kansas City Skyliners Tall Club (Kansas City, MO Tall Club)
32. Mad Town Talls (Madison, WI Tall Club)
33. Tall Club of Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI Tall Club)
34.Removed due to broken link
35. Removed due to broken link

Western United States Tall Clubs

36. Tall Club of Orange County (Orange County, CA Tall Club)
37. Tall Club of Las Vegas (Las Vegas. NV Tall Club)
38. California Tip Toppers Tall Club (Los Angeles Tall Club)
39. Redwood Empire Tall Club (Northern California)
40. Tall Club of Diamond Valley Lake (Palm Springs, CA Tall Club)
41. Central Arizona Tall Society (Phoenix Tall Club)
42. Portland Skyliners Tall Club (Portland, OR Tall Club)
43. Sacramento Tall Club
44. Tall Club of Salt Lake (Salt Lake City Tall Club)
45. San Diego Tall Club
46. Golden Gate Tip Toppers (San Francisco Tall Club)
47. Tall Club of Silicon Valley (Silicon Valley, CA Tall Club)

International Tall Clubs

48. Tall Persons Club Great Britain and Ireland (Great Britain and Ireland Tall Club)
49. Tall People United (Melbourne, Australia Tall Club)
50. Tall Club of Montreal (Montreal, Quebec, Canada Tall Club)
51. The Tall Club of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada Tall Club)

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan Syndrome or Marfan is a genetic connective tissue disorder. The reason we include it in our listing is that a majority of the people who have Marfan Syndrome are very tall. The disease can affect the heart, eyes, lungs, and skeletal system. It is the main charity supported by Tall Clubs International.

52. The National Marfan Foundation –  This organization is a leader in advocacy, education, assistance, and information regarding Marfan Syndrome in the United States.

53. The Marfan Trust –  an organization based out of the United Kingdom that raises funds for research and education for the treatment of Marfan Syndrome.

ISAA

54. The International Size Acceptance Association – ISAA is a human rights organization that seeks to end discrimination based on size. The organization specifically lobbies on issues affecting large people. They promote developing positive self image and healthy living as well as exercise. They believe that size is not a factor in being healthy. They are opposed to weight loss surgery and negative eating disorders such as the fetish of feederism. They also have a publications of “Without measure” and “BBTeenz” and several podcasts associated with the group. Along with the link to the main group about, local and international links are provided below.

United States ISAA Local Chapters

55. Atlanta
56. Chicago
57. New York City

ISAA National Chapters

58. Middle East/North Africa
59. Canada
60. Brazil
61. The Philippines
62. The United Kingdom

63. PODWOM Blog – This is the blog for the Podcast of “Without Measure”, the magazine for the ISAA. It was dormant for a while, but now is getting regular posts. The site list previous posts and a link to the podcast

Activism and Advocacy

64. The Obesity Law & Advocacy Center – This is a law practice that fights for the right of the obese. They assist in such matters as job discrimination, insurance discrimination, and people of size that are denied rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

65. Huge Comfort – An informational site that encompasses several aspects of Big and Tall living including finding merchandise, traveling, medical care as well as advocacy.

66. Removed due to broken link

67. The Council on Weight and Size Discrimination – an educational/activist group that preaches tolerance to people of all sizes and works as advocates for larger people in the consumer market, employment, the medical industry and the media. The site is full of valuable information about health for children and adults, discrimination and media portrayal.

68. Removed due to broken link

69. Big People UK – A site based in the United Kingdom that provides advocacy, news, education and information about size discrimination and “demystifying big people”.

70.  Removed due to broken link

71.  Removed due to broken link

72. Fat Rights Coalition – An organization that advocates rights for the obese and fights discrimination.

73. Size Acceptance for Empowerment (SAFE) for Men and Women – a site that is based in Southern California. It is both an informational group and a social group, promoting such things as swimming events and seasonal parties and get-togethers.

74. Plus Size Yellow Pages – Kelly Bliss provides a ton (no pun intended) of resources for big people.

75. San Francisco Human Rights Commission – The San Francisco law regarding the prevention of discrimination against persons of size.

Medical Related News and Aricles amd Information for Big and Tall People

82. Web MD – A great article on how to decide if weight loss surgery is the right path for prospective weight loss surgery candidates.

83. Mayo Clinic – A detailed article on the benefits and risks of the Gastric Bypass procedure. It includes detailed information on how the procedure is performed and what to expect after the surgery.

84. Weight Loss Surgery Help – This site provides extensive information about weight loss surgery. Items such as insurance, types of surgery and having the surgery in the United States v. Mexico are explored.

85. Removed due to broken link

86. Fat Friendly Heath Professionals – a list of doctors in various fields that are considered size friendly. The web site author also encourages submissions.

87. Body Positive -  is a mental health site that is focused on large people having positive outlooks on life and developing a healthy relationship with ourselves. It is run by a licensed psychologist and has many resources available on the site.

Articles on Exercise for Big and Tall People

88. Exercise for Obese People – About.com – An excellent article about the challenges obese people face when attempting to exercise and how to overcome them.

89. Safe Exercises for Overweight and Obese People – HealthMad – An article that states simple exercises for overweight and obese people that are attempting to start with an exercise program.

90. Exercise for Obese People – Love To Know – An article that examines the effects of exercise on overweight and obese people and includes exercising tips.

91. Helium – This is a link to Helium’s “Safe Exercises of Overweight and Obese People.” Helium is a site that allows people to contribute their own articles. At the time of this post, there are currently 11 different articles on this subject.

92. Exercise Tips for the Obese – Street Directory – This article focuses on staying away from the gym, increasing heart rate and pain associated with exercising and why they are all important to consider when exercising.

93. Exercise for the Obese – Adonis Corner – A short article on exercise for obese people, includes workout regimens.

94. Check Out Heavyweight Yoga – South Florida Sun Sentinel – An article on the benefits of Yoga for overweight and obese people.

Blogs for Big and Tall Men

95. Big Fat Blog – A blog/news site that features stories about obesity, size discrimination, obesity rights, activism and more.

96. Red No. 3 – A blog site that features blogs about obesity, food, and really what ever the author wants to talk about. Its tagline says it all “Actual F**king Fat Acceptance.”

97. Obesity Panacea – This is a blog of 2 PhD students in Canada trying to examine various aspects of obesity.

98. Notes from the Fatosphere – A site the culls several different blogs regarding overweight and obesity issues.

Entertainment for Big and Tall Men

99. Big Boogie Nights – a nightclub promotion that travels around the country to hold events in established clubs for persons of size. They have an email list that you can sign up for to get all the information on their events.

100. Club Bounce – A plus size dance club with two locations in Long Beach California and Phoenix Arizona.

101. Butterfly Lounge – A plus size club in Long Beach California that features such concepts as Karaoke Wednesdays and dancing on Saturdays with a live DJ.