TIL that in the early 20th century there were clubs for fat men. You had to be over 200 lbs to join, pay one dollar for membership, and learn a secret handshake and a password.

They held meetings twice a year, and members were informed well in advance so they had time to stuff themselves, as public weigh-ins were a big part of these.

"We're fat and we're making the most of it" was their mantra.

"I've got to be good-natured; I can't fight and I can't run" was their motto.

Source

140 points · 24 comments · view on lemmy.world

24 Comments

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 62 pts · 246d (4 replies)

They don't exist anymore because being over 200lbs isn't all that exclusive anymore.

Jimbo@pawb.social · 22 pts · 246d (2 replies)

I suppose in a way it just moved online

albbi@piefed.ca · 6 pts · 246d (1 reply)

Fuck you, and where do I send my dollar?

LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 245d

Remember, the 2025 equivalent of the late 1800s dollar is gonna be a bit more.

opossumo@lemmings.world · 2 pts · 245d

And people say American hasn't become more open and accepting.

brap@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 246d (1 reply)

90.72Kg for anyone else confused by using lbs.

FatVegan@leminal.space · 1 pts · 245d

That's an american medium today.

expatriado@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 246d

current fee is whatever your Internet provider charges

Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org · 14 pts · 246d (1 reply)

So, now most American men would be eligible.

tatterdemalion@programming.dev · 4 pts · 245d

No the dollar membership would be too expensive.

SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 12 pts · 246d
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 7 pts · 246d (1 reply)

If they didn’t call themselves things like the Walrus Lodge, they missed an opportunity

datavoid@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 246d

Blubbermen

Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 246d

In 2023 that meant about 1 in 3 US adults would qualify.

Cnote5@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 245d

"We're here! We're fat! Hey, are you gonna eat that?"

Almacca@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 246d (1 reply)

Why would they need a secret handshake?

Kornblumenratte@feddit.org · 2 pts · 245d

You are only a proper secret society if ydu got a secret handshake.

TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 246d

So what's the password?

Widdershins@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 246d (2 replies)

What was the handshake?

otacon239@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 246d

Footage from one of these meetings: https://youtu.be/ZDm6j92DshA

kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 245d (1 reply)

Okey but 90kg but for which height? I am 90kg for 1m90

Kornblumenratte@feddit.org · 1 pts · 245d

In the early 20th century, avarage height in the US was ~ 170 cm.