Sacramento, CA, November 13, 2000.  The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is celebrating with the Martinez-Regino family as Anamarie is returned to her home.  Anamarie was in the custody of the state since New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department removed Anamarie Martinez-Rodrigo from her home in August.  The parents say they lost custody of the 3-year old girl because they couldnât control her weight.

According to Monika Mahal, the childâs physician, Anamarie Martinez-Rodrigo is 3¸ feet tall and weighs 120 pounds ö 50 percent taller and three times heavier than the average three-year-old.  Monika Mahal had advised that the child be removed from the parents custody.

On November 10, Anamarie was released from the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department and returned to her parents.  Anamarieâs parents were overjoyed to have their daughter back and are grateful for the help tendered by NAAFA.

ãWe were so confused, we didnât know where to turn,ä said Anamarieâs mother, Adela Martinez-Regino.  ãThen NAAFA came forward to stand behind us.  They offered credible medical and legal experts and critical moral support.  Thereâs no question in my mind that NAAFA made a crucial difference.ä

ãWe were thrilled to help,ä said NAAFA Chairwoman, Leslie DiMaggio.  ãItâs difficult to imagine how hard it is to have your children taken from you.  Especially when youâre a loving parent and youâve done all you can for your child.  We felt we had to step forward, not only for Anamarieâs sake, but also for other fat children out there who might end up in a similar situation if this kind of legal brutality is allowed to continue.ä

NAAFA has had a positive impact in this situation in more ways than one.  Anamarieâs Grandmother, Margaret Martinez feels that NAAFA helped see food and fat in a different light.  ãNAAFA really opened my eyes,ä said Ms. Martinez.  ãIâve spent a lot of my life feeling embarrassed and guilty about my weight.  Through NAAFA Iâve gained a whole new perspective.  Iâm no longer throwing time and money away on dieting.  Iâm learning to feel good about myself the way I am.ä

Changing peopleâs minds about fat is one of NAAFAâs most important goals.  ãNot only do we need to help people work on oppression from outside forces, but also from forces within,ä said Ms. DiMaggio.  ãItâs so important for us to go out into the community and get involved in legal cases like Anamarieâs.  But at the same time, we need to help people disengage from damaging and expensive diet practices and encourage them to get out there and move their bodies and enjoy their lives no matter what their size.ä

Regardless of the fact that Anamarie ultimately went home, removing a child from the home simply because she was fat set a very frightening legal precedent.  NAAFA continues to see this case as a threat to all the parents of fat children.

ãIâm still frightened,ä said NAAFA Chairwoman Leslie DiMaggio.  ãEven though Anamarie has been returned home, thereâs nothing to guarantee this wonât happen again.  We are going to continue to fight for the rights of these children and their parents.ä

About NAAFA

Founded in 1969, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a non-profit human rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on body size, and to giving fat people the tools for self-empowerment.  As the nationâs premiere size acceptance advocacy organization, NAAFA fulfills its mission through public education, advocacy, research, and member support.  For more information, please see NAAFAâs website at: www.naafa.org.
 

###