Fat men’s clubs were popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Fat men’s clubs were popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th century. 

In order to become a member, you had to weigh over 200 lbs (91 kg). During this time, male obesity was often seen in a positive light and a sign of economic success. Obese men were also viewed as good-natured and generous. 

These clubs also had their own mantras, ranging from "We're fat and we're making the most of it!" to "I've got to be good-natured; I can't fight and I can't run.” Members typically paid a fee of $1 a year and met twice a year. Members would participate in eating competitions and shower the heaviest members with prizes. These meetups also doubled as networking events. 

In 1904, The Boston Globe reported on one of their meetings:

"This village is full of bulbous and overhanging abdomens and double chins tonight, for the New England Fat Men's Club is in session at Hale's Tavern. The natives, who are mostly bony and angular, have stared with envy at the portly forms and rubicund faces which have arrived on every train."

Memberships began to decline as doctors began to associate obesity with poor health. The invention of the bathroom scale in 1917 was another reason for the decline as it  made weight measurement a private matter rather than a public spectacle.