Over 16,100 people have signed an online petition which calls for the 'feeling fat ' emoticon to be eliminated from Facebook 's list of emojis that can be featured in status updates . The petition , on change.org , was set up by Catherine Weingarten and the group Endangered Bodies , according to the page . Endangered Bodies says on its website that 'Our aim is to save future generations from the misery that turns people against their own bodies . ' Campaign : Thousands have signed an online petition which calls for the 'feeling fat ' emoji to be eliminated from Facebook 's list of emojis that can be used as status updates . Catherine Weingarten ( pictured ) and the group Endangered Bodies were behind the petition . Weingarten wrote on the petition 's page 'Scrolling through Facebook the other day , I saw a friend ’ s status set to `` feeling fat , '' accompanied by an emoji with chubby cheeks and a double chin . I think it was supposed to be funny , but seeing this status made me feel angry . 'As someone who has struggled with and overcome disordered eating , I know what it ’ s like to `` feel '' fat . I have spent years of my life consumed with negative thoughts about my body , and far too many days starving myself in an effort to lose weight . But even worse than the skipped meals and the hours spent obsessing in front of the mirror was the fear of what others thought about me and my body . The 'feeling fat ' emoji that Facebook users were able to use in their status updates . 'When Facebook users set their status to `` feeling fat , '' they are making fun of people who consider themselves to be overweight , which can include many people with eating disorders . That is not ok. Join me in asking Facebook to remove the `` fat '' emoji from their status options . ' In an interview with ABC News , Weingarten said : ' I think we all need to be a little more careful about how we talk about their bodies and learn how to use a more body positive vocabulary , ' she told the news outlet . Facebook said in a statement to ABC News that 'People use Facebook to share their feelings with friends and support each other . One option we give people to express themselves is to add a feeling to their posts . You can choose from over 100 feelings we offer based on people ’ s input or create your own . ' Disappearance : The 'feeling fat ' emoji was not included in the list of emojis that can be included in status updates on Facebook early Tuesday morning . Mashable pointed out that under 'Safety Resources , ' Facebook lists resources in response to the question 'How do I help someone who 's posted worrisome things about eating disorders ? ' The 'feeling fat ' emoji was not included in the list of emoticons that can be included in status updates on Facebook early Tuesday morning . In a statement sent to Daily Mail Online , Facebook said 'We 've heard from our community that listing `` feeling fat '' as an option for status updates could reinforce negative body image , particularly for people struggling with eating disorders . So we ’ re going to remove `` feeling fat '' from the list of options . We ’ ll continue to listen to feedback as we think about ways to help people express themselves on Facebook . ' Weingarten wrote in a Tuesday post on the petition page ' I 'm thrilled that FB decided to remove the `` feeling fat '' emoji . This success shows us that people together can challenge the cultural messages that are so damaging to our ability to love ourselves and live comfortably in our bodies . As someone who struggled with body image , I feel so happy that I 've helped eliminate one form of body shaming hatred on the internet . '
Thousands have signed an online petition which calls for the 'feeling fat ' emoji to be eliminated from Facebook 's list of emojis that can be featured in status updates . The petition appears on change.org and was set up by Catherine Weingarten and the group Endangered Bodies . RELATED ARTICLES