Crossword Genius

Minimised in diet, it may well be chewed (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

fat

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'minimised' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'diet it may well be chewed' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'fa' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for fat that I've seen before include "Portly" , "and 24: Overpaid City type" , "As Bunter" , "Greasy substance" , "eg Lard" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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