Feederism

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Key Points

• Research suggests feederism is a sexual fetish involving feeding and weight gain, often consensual, with potential health risks.
• It seems likely that roles include feeders, feedees, and gainers, with varying involvement levels.
• The evidence leans toward most relationships being consensual, though controversies exist around health and ethics.
• Participants should be aware of risks like heart disease and diabetes, and engage safely, considering fantasy or moderate practices.

What is Feederism?

Feederism, also known as feedism or gaining, is a subculture and sexual fetish where individuals derive pleasure from feeding others or being fed, often with the goal of weight gain. It involves consensual relationships where both parties enjoy the process, as well as fantasies and role-playing scenarios, focusing on the act of feeding rather than just body size.

Roles in Feederism

Feederism includes various roles, each with distinct characteristics:

• Feeder: Enjoys feeding others and encouraging weight gain.
• Feedee: Enjoys being fed and gaining weight.
• Gainer: Actively seeks to gain weight independently.
• Encourager: Supports and motivates others to gain weight, often online.
• Fat Admirer (FA): Attracted to larger bodies but not necessarily involved in feeding.

Health and Safety

Significant weight gain in feederism can lead to health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. Participants are encouraged to make informed decisions, possibly consulting healthcare professionals, and some engage in fantasy or moderate practices to minimize risks.

Comprehensive Analysis of Feederism

This section provides a detailed exploration of feederism, a subculture and sexual fetish involving feeding and weight gain, based on extensive research and community insights. The analysis aims to cover all aspects, from definitions and roles to health implications and community engagement, ensuring a thorough understanding for readers.

Definition and Context

Feederism, also referred to as feedism or gaining, is defined as a variety of fat fetishism where sexual gratification is obtained from the process of gaining body fat or helping others do so, not necessarily from the fat itself, though there is significant overlap. According to Wikipedia: Fat fetishism, it involves "gainers" and "feedees" who enjoy the fantasy or reality of being fed and gaining weight, while "encouragers" and "feeders" enjoy helping others gain weight. This practice is often viewed not just as a fetish but as a lifestyle, identity, or sexual orientation, with media portrayals sometimes depicting it as taboo, such as the 2005 film "Feed," which shows non-consensual feedism. Research, however, suggests that the overwhelming majority of feederism relationships are consensual, with extreme scenarios like immobility typically remaining fantasies.

The community history includes roots in the gay gainer movement from the 1970s, with the Girth & Mirth movement, and by 1988, gainer-specific newsletters existed. The first gainer event, EncourageCon, was held in 1992 in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and in 1996, GainRWeb launched as the first website for gay men into weight gain. This historical context highlights the evolution of feederism into a recognized subculture with dedicated online spaces.

Roles and Dynamics

Feederism encompasses a variety of roles, each with specific characteristics, as detailed in the Fantasy Feeder: Feederism terminology page. Below is a table summarizing these roles:

Term	Definition	Notes
Feederism	Umbrella term for fat-based fetishism, including kinks, roles, and dynamics around weight gain, feeding, and fat admiration.	Also increasingly referred to as "feedism" for inclusivity, embracing feeders, feedees, encouragers, gainers, admirers, etc.
Feeder	Enjoys helping others gain weight, often by encouraging feedees, setting goals, and providing food.	Typically slimmer, sexually attracted to larger figures, focuses on fattening others.
Feedee	Actively gains weight with a feeder's help, can be any size, enjoys being fat and gaining weight.	Not all want to become immobile; includes subtypes like "pigs" (assertive, binge eaters) and "cows" (passive, graze throughout the day).
Foodie	Enjoys eating, not primarily focused on weight gain, focuses on food indulgence and sexual feelings associated with eating.	Weight may fluctuate, but main interest is food experience, not weight gain.
Gainer	Interested in gaining weight independently, sets own routines and goals, does not rely on a feeder.	"Mutual gainers" gain weight together, differing from typical feeder-feedee dynamic.
Encourager	Supports and motivates others to gain weight, offers encouragement, celebrates milestones, no food provision.	Typically online role, does not get physically involved.
Fat Admirer (FA)/Female Fat Admirer (FFA)	Sexually attracted to larger people, does not actively assist in weight gain, prefers BBW/SSBBW, BHM/SSBHM.	Also called "chubby chaser"; all feeders are FAs, but not all FAs are feeders.
BBW/SSBBW	Big Beautiful Woman/Super-Sized Big Beautiful Woman, describes fat/overweight women, not necessarily gainers/feedees.	SSBBW generally over 350lbs, no specific weight/size defines normal vs. supersize.
BHM/SSBHM	Big Handsome Man/Super-Sized Big Handsome Man, describes fat/overweight men, not necessarily gainers/feedees.	SSBHM generally over 350lbs, no specific weight/size defines normal vs. supersize.
Feeding	Activity involving hand feeding, force feeding, funnel feeding, etc., can be sensual, loving, or controlling.	Can be done in person or online; important to discuss desires and boundaries beforehand.
Stuffing/Bloating/Body Inflation	Activities for sexual pleasure from feeling full, involves binge eating or bloating with air/water/carbonated drinks, temporary state.	Can be done alone or with a partner, may use funnels.
Padding	Activity for those wanting to appear fat, uses larger clothes and materials like cushions to imitate fat appearance.	For smaller individuals interested in the idea of being fat.
Squashing	Larger person sits/lays on another, can involve dominant/submissive dynamics, both roles can be dom or sub.	Squashee enjoys weight/pressure, squasher enjoys control with their size.
Roleplay	Common in feederism, involves playing out fantasies like immobility, vore, exploring identities, often in online chat rooms.	Must be discussed with consent to ensure mutual understanding and enjoyment.
Start Weight (SW)	Weight when deciding to start gaining, recorded by gainers.	Used in gainer profiles to show progress.
Current Weight (CW)	Current weight, showing progress so far, recorded by gainers.	Used in gainer profiles to show progress.
Goal Weight (GW)	Intended weight gainers are working towards, recorded by gainers.	Used in gainer profiles to show progress.

These roles highlight the diversity within feederism, with some focusing on physical weight gain (feedees, gainers) and others on support or admiration (encouragers, FAs). The terminology reflects a growing and evolving community, with terms shaped by practitioners over time, as noted in the Fantasy Feeder resource.

Consent and Ethical Considerations

Consent is a fundamental aspect of feederism, with research suggesting that most relationships are consensual, as per Wikipedia: Fat fetishism. Both parties should communicate openly about desires, boundaries, and limits to ensure mutual agreement. However, controversies exist, with some analyses, such as an article on Feederism as coercive control, exploring feederism as potentially a form of intimate partner violence, particularly when consent is not respected. This highlights the importance of distinguishing between consensual practices and potential abuse, emphasizing the need for clear communication and ethical engagement.

Health Implications

The health implications of feederism are significant, particularly when involving substantial weight gain. Research, such as from Progressive Therapeutic Collective, notes that actual weight gain practices can lead to long-term health risks, including heart diseases, diabetes, and joint issues, similar to those associated with obesity. It is crucial for participants to consider these risks and possibly incorporate medical advice into their decisions. The article emphasizes a balance between personal desires and health, with many engaging in fantasy or role-play to mitigate risks, such as discussing weight gain without actual force-feeding.

Community Engagement and Resources

For those interested in exploring feederism, online communities provide valuable resources. Fantasy Feeder is one of the longest-running websites dedicated to feederism, offering articles, forums, and terminology guides, while Feabie is a social media site for feedees and feeders to connect and socialize. These platforms emphasize safety, consent, and community support, with Fantasy Feeder noting the importance of understanding common terms to navigate the community effectively. Participants are encouraged to approach these spaces with an open mind, prioritizing health and ethical considerations.

Psychological and Societal Aspects

Feederism is deeply tied to emotions and psychology, including feelings of care, nurture, and the breaking of societal norms related to body image and eating, as per Progressive Therapeutic Collective. It offers a space for individuals to explore these feelings in a controlled, consensual manner, challenging societal expectations. However, the stigma and media portrayals, such as the negative depiction in the 2005 film "Feed," can obscure understanding, making community education and support crucial.