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.
24 replies
They don't exist anymore because being over 200lbs isn't all that exclusive anymore.
I suppose in a way it just moved online
Fuck you, and where do I send my dollar?
Remember, the 2025 equivalent of the late 1800s dollar is gonna be a bit more.
And people say American hasn't become more open and accepting.
90.72Kg for anyone else confused by using lbs.
That's an american medium today.
current fee is whatever your Internet provider charges
So, now most American men would be eligible.
No the dollar membership would be too expensive.
All right I think we got a lot accomplished here today, we'll pick this up again tomorrow.
If they didn’t call themselves things like the Walrus Lodge, they missed an opportunity
Blubbermen
"We're here! We're fat! Hey, are you gonna eat that?"
In 2023 that meant about 1 in 3 US adults would qualify.
Why would they need a secret handshake?
You are only a proper secret society if ydu got a secret handshake.
So what's the password?
What was the handshake?
secret
V.90
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ls13Q-UOrY
Footage from one of these meetings: https://youtu.be/ZDm6j92DshA
Okey but 90kg but for which height? I am 90kg for 1m90
In the early 20th century, avarage height in the US was ~ 170 cm.