Why are more and more men joining the No Fat movement?
Thanks for asking.
Now if you've never heard the word fat before, let me spell it out to you.
It's basically an onomatopoeic slang term for male masturbation.
According to Business Insider, the term first appeared in a webcomic called Sexy Losers
in 1999 to indicate the sound of a male character masturbating.
An urban dictionary definition for the term was then edited in 2002 and usage grew from
the 2000s onwards.
So obviously now you know what that means, you'll have realised that the No Fat movement
means quitting masturbation.
And while masturbation is a pleasurable activity for many, the No Fat movement against it has
been gaining traction for about a decade now.
It started out in the US and the aim is to combat porn addiction and masturbation.
Many forums bringing together members of this unique community have since sprung up online.
For example, the No Fat Online community has over 350,000 members and a dedicated Reddit
thread had reached over 400,000 subscribers by 2019.
Why do all these men want to stop masturbating?
Most of them take up abstinence to break what they see as an addiction to pornography.
No Fat Followers tend to start seeing porn as disgusting and energy draining.
Some say they're so addicted to porn that being with a girl is no longer enough for them.
But the movement also includes other ideas, often based on pseudo science.
For example, they say that retaining semen boosts testosterone levels and makes a person
more manly.
Some also say that abstaining from masturbation can improve sexual performance.
It seems not, unfortunately, for No Fat Followers.
A study published in Sexuality's Journal in February 2022 said that abruptly stopping
masturbation can actually harm sexual health.
The study surveyed 587 men who were permitted to abstinence and found that nearly 30% reported
having suicidal thoughts after a prolonged period without masturbating.
The researchers noted that those who were the most dedicated felt the worst.
And the study also found that the experience tends to increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.
And when participants fail to stick to their pledge, the resulting shame can damage their
self-esteem.
American neuroscientist Nicole Prauss has made a lot of posts on x.com, discrediting some
of the No Fat Movement's claims.
She's suggested that therapists who recommend it are likely harming their patients and
discourages her followers and colleagues from promoting abstinence-based support groups.
What should someone do if they feel addicted to masturbation then?
First of all, it's important to distinguish between porn addiction and masturbation addiction.
Experts say that more often than not, the addiction is actually to pornography, and that
at most 10% of those who addicted to masturbation do so without porn.
It seems that men are dependent on the medium rather than the act.
Following that logic, if you take away the medium of pornography, you'll automatically
masturbate less.
Still, if your relationship with masturbation is causing you distress, it's best that
you consult a sexologist or addiction specialist to better understand what's going on and
address any concerns about your sexual health.
There you have it!
Now you know why more and more men are joining the No Fat Movement.
In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning
behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines.
Listen along and you will really know for sure.
