Running head: REACTIONS TO FAT TALK Sizing Up Fat Talk: Women’s Reactions to Fat Talk as a Function of Target’s Weight

In an effort to extend the current literature on “fat talk,” a 2 (Target’s Self-Presentation Style: Fat Talk or Self-Acceptance) x 2 (Target’s Relative Weight Status: Thinner Than Participant or Heavier Than Participant) between-groups experiment was conducted. A sample of 142 women read one of four online scenarios describing a hypothetical shopping trip, and then gave feedback about their responses, reactions, and perceptions concerning a target woman who tried on a dress. Consistent with predictions, a thin woman was viewed most positively when she engaged in self-acceptance, whereas a heavier woman was viewed most positively when she engaged in fat talk. Our findings suggest that fat talk can inspire negative emotions and attitudes in others, and thus an awareness of these consequences (both by individuals and the media) is important in order to help lessen the perpetuation of female body image issues in our society.