As someone that was obese due to a medical condition, I always cringe when I hear people generalize about how overweight people are depressed and or lazy. There are far too many that are perfectly healthy mentally and society would be a much better place if we instead assumed that 99% are not lazy or depressed and treated all of them as such.
How Do You Feel About Fat People?
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Baraka in the White House
2-Terms of Kombat
I think obesity has a plethora of causes such as willful gluttony, stress, financial difficulties, psychological issues, genetic predisposition and/or a combination thereof.
I try not to pass judgement on fat people as a whole. I seriously doubt most of them are happy about their situation and definitely think shaming them into being healthier is cruel and counterproductive.
I try not to pass judgement on fat people as a whole. I seriously doubt most of them are happy about their situation and definitely think shaming them into being healthier is cruel and counterproductive.
Pretty much this.
Don't know how this thread has been going this long. You shouldn't care and if you do i feel bad for you that this is a common problem in your life. Maybe look past peoples physique like a normal human being would.
For the general person, I don't feel anything. They're free to do what they want with their bodies. If I was forced to do a ranking, I certainly like 'fat people' more than smokers if only because their 'fatness' doesn't impact my life as much as a smoker's.
On the other hand, my fat friends drive me crazy. It's a constant source of self-esteem issues and depression but trying to help them with it is probably one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. I've been as supportive and encouraging as possible and to see them constantly slide back into awful habits even after making gains and despite what work I put into it can become a real drag.
I've been rather lucky genetically as I have a fast metabolism. I was always skinny and had quite a sweet tooth in my younger years. However, a large part of healthy weight management is diet and shaking loose from terrible eating habits. I weaned myself off high fatty foods and sugars to the point now where they will start to make me sick. My friends can knock back full pizzas but if I have four or five slices I start to feel ill because my body is no longer used to it.
Now, I never used food for psychological comfort, but if my friends could just stop eating so much god damn sugar they would make such huge gains in their weight loss. When I go to visit them I can't count the amount of refined sugars, chocolates and general shit they eat in a day. It's gotten to the point where I have to bring my own food because I can't be assured that I'll get an actual real meal with them. Even at my worst, I never had chocolate with literally every meal.
So... yeah. I don't have much sympathy for them because they're doing it to themselves. They know better, it would be so easy for them to change but it's just not going to happen. I've never liked food to that point so I can't understand why it's so hard for them to just change their diet. But I only care in this instance because they're my friends and I'm invested in their happiness.
On the other hand, my fat friends drive me crazy. It's a constant source of self-esteem issues and depression but trying to help them with it is probably one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. I've been as supportive and encouraging as possible and to see them constantly slide back into awful habits even after making gains and despite what work I put into it can become a real drag.
I've been rather lucky genetically as I have a fast metabolism. I was always skinny and had quite a sweet tooth in my younger years. However, a large part of healthy weight management is diet and shaking loose from terrible eating habits. I weaned myself off high fatty foods and sugars to the point now where they will start to make me sick. My friends can knock back full pizzas but if I have four or five slices I start to feel ill because my body is no longer used to it.
Now, I never used food for psychological comfort, but if my friends could just stop eating so much god damn sugar they would make such huge gains in their weight loss. When I go to visit them I can't count the amount of refined sugars, chocolates and general shit they eat in a day. It's gotten to the point where I have to bring my own food because I can't be assured that I'll get an actual real meal with them. Even at my worst, I never had chocolate with literally every meal.
So... yeah. I don't have much sympathy for them because they're doing it to themselves. They know better, it would be so easy for them to change but it's just not going to happen. I've never liked food to that point so I can't understand why it's so hard for them to just change their diet. But I only care in this instance because they're my friends and I'm invested in their happiness.
I'm sorry to hear about your condition. Do you think that people with medical conditions make up the majority of the obese?
One could argue that having an obese population leads to higher health care costs for everyone.
I'm overweight (although lost over 80 pounds) and I can understand this viewpoint.
And i can understand about that argument but my argument is over what people think of fat people. Like people who are disgusted or won't associate with fat people. Wanting people to be healthy is one thing but to openly mock them and look down on them because of their weight is petty and childish. My argument is towards most people here and the title itself, "How do you feel about fat people". I have no problem with anyone's weight but that isn't to say i don't care about their health but i won't not talk to someone because of their weight or mock them or belittle them. That is just fucking pathetic and shallow.
creationtheory
Member
I thank them for contributing to my healthcare costs.
No, but our understanding of how and why people get and remain overweight is so limited that I would never use weight as a way of determining anything additional about a person.
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
i do'nt like sitting next to them on airplanes or buses. their body literally overflows into my seat, and if i'm sitting in the middle of two of them, it makes for a very unpleasant plane ride.
Dark Octave
Banned
What you're saying is true. There are some very cheap places to get healthy food. For me those places are out of the way. We still manage to go out of the way to shop at these places though and usually spend time down there doing other things to make it worth the gas but I would never expect anyone else to do that or look down on them if they didn't.
To clarify, I'm not talking about fast food all day every day. Everyone should know that's not good for you. A few days a week during lunch and a couple of times for dinner a week if you have to. It's not good and I wouldn't do that, but I understand if someone else may want or need to.
Onion_Relish
Member
check it.
I genuinely feel bad for those who have medical conditions that lead to obesity. I know it must be difficult to work out and eat healthy and do everything properly but still not be able to shed as much weight as you need to stay in good form. However, these people make up a EXTREMELY small percentage of the people who are obese or overweight simply due to indolence or lack of will power. Obviously no one can argue that having good role models is key, and thustly, having fat parents really puts people at a disadvantage. But it is 2013, that can't be an excuse any more. there are tons of free resources and grocery stores everywhere.
there are 300 million people in the states, approximately 100 million are overweight and 100 million are obese. You're going to tell me that the majority of those people have serious medical issues that prevent them from losing weight? Even if we are being so generous as to border on sheer ludicrity, assuming 50% of those people have genuine medical issues, that still means over 100 million people have very little excuse as to why they are still overweight.
I think we should not demonize people being overweight as we want to supply as much of a support system as possible, but we need more jillian michaels esque people in the world saying "you're fat, it's your fault, lets fix it"
I dont normally care much(cant lie, its not visually appealing on anyone), but if you're a complete slob, you stink and you're drinking multiple 2-liters of soda and nothing but junk every day, I'm probably going to be a bit disgusted by your obesity.
Got nothing against somebody who is overweight in general, though. More often than not, I feel a bit bad for them on the inside.
Got nothing against somebody who is overweight in general, though. More often than not, I feel a bit bad for them on the inside.
Perfect response.
Wag
Member
It's worse in a sense. You don't need to do drugs or drink to live (although it might feel that way when you're an addict). You do need to eat. That's why losing weight is so difficult.
Agreed. That implies that they deserve our support and understanding, but not our acceptance. Same thing as smoking, drug use or alcoholism.
I feel mostly pity because I know how many are uneducated about food choices, or they self-medicate their issues with food, or they just don't care.
Is it gross? Yeah, I'm not going to lie.. I'd rather see a hot woman in a bikini than a bunch of people at the beach that are overweight and wearing tshirts because they're ashamed of anyone seeing their rolls. Hopefully a real wakeup call happens in the US and people as a whole start taking better care of themselves.
Is it gross? Yeah, I'm not going to lie.. I'd rather see a hot woman in a bikini than a bunch of people at the beach that are overweight and wearing tshirts because they're ashamed of anyone seeing their rolls. Hopefully a real wakeup call happens in the US and people as a whole start taking better care of themselves.
Exactly. Cheap, unhealthy food is also accessible almost everywhere, compared to trying to access drugs or drinks, which are also more costly.
Definitely.
Are you serious.
There's a huge group of aging baby boomers as well as substance abuse taken in by a wide variety of new drugs. Not to mention a new age of behavioral drugs taking the stage in this country. And fucking lastly, we got a LOT of immigrants coming here that has no insurance, so yeah we're footing the bill for a LOT of those.
I should just throw in a bigger hole and say that pharmaceutical companies and political greed are a bigger part of this mess.
GungHo
Single-handedly caused Exxon-Mobil to sue FOX, start World War 3
Boom Boom Pow
Banned
considering the baby boomers will die in 20 years, the 33% of obese american will be the reason healthcare cost is going to climb.
it's already costing us hundreds of billions a year in treatment
Should I remind you of the BMI index being way off? No one fits that criteria of obese, and yes there are morbidly obese in this country but they rarely ever live beyond their 50s. Much less for them to be part of the weight of the bill when they're not around long enough.
Incitemaybe
Member
Not something I've ever factored into my discernment of the quality of a human.
SneakyStephan
Banned
If only the guy who wrote that article would eat a salad instead of spend all his energy on some rant.
Fat people have no self control, it's pretty sad.
Fat people have no self control, it's pretty sad.
I don't think anyone denied that obese people are not the only contributing factor in our rising health costs, but they are certainly a significant factor. You can disagree with BMI all you want (and I have some major gripes with it as well), you can't deny that type 2 diabetes is well on the rise.
Oh I don't deny that, but his post is inflammatory and mass generalization at best. I recognize him anyway from another thread where he posted a bunch of troll posts.
BossLackey
Gold Member
I don't dislike them anymore. However, to say we don't judge them silently is a lie.
whatsinaname
Member
Being fat myself, I am definitely not going to judge. There are a lot of reasons one can get and remain obese.
But the whole HAES and This is Thin Privilege stuff? That is just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring what could lead to a lot of problems.
But the whole HAES and This is Thin Privilege stuff? That is just sticking your head in the sand and ignoring what could lead to a lot of problems.
Very well said.
They're kind of the opposite of that. The obsession over people's weight is almost entirely based around how fat looks rather than what it does to people's health. You shame people who are fat into feeling like they need to lose weight, then you can sell a shit load of diet bullshit. That's what this is all about anyway.
The HAES movement is one which... *gasp* says that weight isn't the biggest indicator of one's health. If someone needs to adjust their diet or activity level in HAES they can. It just doesn't treat weight loss like a panacea to everything which ails someone. You can be healthy and fat. You can be unhealthy and fat. You can be skinny and unhealthy. The medical industry tries to force weight loss as a solution without looking at the problem. (I changed doctors because my previous primary care physician suggested I get a fucking gastic bypass based solely on my weight. He didn't test me for any issues, he didn't provide other solutions, he was just like "I'll write you a referral for one if you want!" That's why we need HAES.)
This is Thin Privilege is there to try to point out to people, like many in this very thread, who love to shame fat people that it's not just all smiles and Ho-Hos being fat. I'm sorry but I shouldn't be shamed for existing. I should be able to go out in public without being stared at. People who judge me don't know one fucking thing about me other than I'm fat. It's none of their business, but they make it theirs. People freak out we'd be "glorifying" or "normalizing" fat (oh god the horror!!!!) just for asking for fat people to be treated like human fucking beings. That's not sticking our head in the sand.
Horse Detective
Why the long case?
I don't find them attractive, but being happy is more important.
If you are morbidly obese I can not imagine that is a great, fulfilling life.
But being that way is not offensive to me and will never speak out against them.
The only people I would ever be concerned about in regard to body-fat are my family members as I love them and want them to be in my life as happy, active people.
I come from a larger family and I can speak to their weight issues being due to large amounts of ready made, high calorie food; regular, excessive alcohol consumption; and a sedentary, physical-activity deficient lifestyle.
Older family is already at the point where weight has impacted their lifestyle and activities.
But being that way is not offensive to me and will never speak out against them.
The only people I would ever be concerned about in regard to body-fat are my family members as I love them and want them to be in my life as happy, active people.
I come from a larger family and I can speak to their weight issues being due to large amounts of ready made, high calorie food; regular, excessive alcohol consumption; and a sedentary, physical-activity deficient lifestyle.
Older family is already at the point where weight has impacted their lifestyle and activities.
D
Deleted member 22576
Unconfirmed Member
I would never be rude to someone's face or talk about them behind their back like the article implies. But obese people make me genuinely uncomfortable. A lot of times they literally look they are dying. That should make anyone uncomfortable. When you see their face drooping and their neck sagging and the gross creased pockets of their joints and the way they seem to struggle to maintain motion. It just makes me uncomfortable, it's a mix of disgust and sympathy. Sure there are shades of grey and some people are just grosser than others but in general really tremendously overweight people are just as much of a grimm reminder how tenuous and finite our existence is as seeing a heroin addict homeless person, or someone missing a limb. At least for me. All that being said, treating people with the respect they deserve is just common decency and if you can't do that then you're fucked too.
creationtheory
Member
So you are saying fat people don't contribute to health care costs at all? Are you serious?
But there are health issues associated with being obese. Maybe not if you're 20 and obese, but down the road it's coming. Sorry, but it's not a condition one should feel content with if they have a choice in the matter. No, you shouldn't be treated like shit because you're over weight, because nobody knows your journey, but at the same time it's one of those lifestyle choices that should receive some internal reflection from time to time.
I tried six times to give up smoking - fell off the wagon for extended periods after not smoking for extended periods but I'm confident I've got it licked because each failure was a lesson in the way my brain worked and I tried a different strategy next time. Now just the idea of smoking makes me feel ill. Why did I do it? Because there was no future down that path, not because I gave a fuck about what people thought of me - there are plenty of smokers out there that I could hang around to validate my lifestyle choice.
Now I'm again in the process of losing 20kg of fat. I think this is probably my fifth time. I'd be lying if I said peer pressure or wanting to look physically pleasing had nothing to do with it, but again, I live in an area of Sydney that has a large percentage of overweight and obese people and I wouldn't really stand out at all. I know I was facing a lot of health issues if I didn't act - metabolic syndrome and all the nasties that can bring with it. I'm hopeful that I'll get on top of the issue like I did smoking but even if I fall off the wagon again I'm sure as hell not going to be content with it and I'll try again.
The health professionals I consult with regarding my health are far more concerned with me eating better (which I do) and keeping my blood sugars in check (which I do) than how much weight I lose. That's what I'm concerned with as well. I'm concerned about thet types of food I'm eating and my activity level. I can tell when I'm eating right and eating wrong, and when I'm doing too much or too little activity. I weigh myself periodically because I'm curious, but I don't particularly care one way or the other. I'm in tune enough with my body to know how I feel.
creationtheory
Member
If you eat better and increase your activity level you will lose weight so they are kind of connected.
In all honesty I really don't like the fat phenomenon here in the US. I know some people are genetically predisposed to it, but I don't think that's the reason for the vast majority of the people I know who are fat. Frankly, I feel most people are just too lazy to exercise, and lack the discipline to eat right. What I find frustrating is how obese people have become the "average" size. I don't think fat people are bad, and I don't make fun of them or treat them poorly, but I do think it's a sad cultural phenomenon.
Vicetrailia
Banned
My wife is fat out of pure laziness now, but I try to encourage per positively. At one point I really had her on point. I've noticed that the more self confidence she has the more she wants to work out. When the self esteem gets low she hides.
I exercise and don't eat right and I'm lean and muscular. But I recognize that I have good genetics, I can lose weight at the slightest will no matter what I eat. My wife isn't that lucky.
I exercise and don't eat right and I'm lean and muscular. But I recognize that I have good genetics, I can lose weight at the slightest will no matter what I eat. My wife isn't that lucky.
It's hard not to be if the plane or train or bus is crowded.
Wow this thread makes me feel so shitty. I'm trying to loose weight really I am. Sigh....
Being that I'm into fitness and studying to become a trainer, I can't stand obese people. Especially, I can't stand people who complain about being fat. Get out there and work out 3 days a week for 30 minutes and put some effort into it. It's not hard and you can live healthier. Of course, they also have to eat healthy but that's not nearly as hard as people make it out to be. If you want it bad enough, those things shouldn't be a problem.
DryvBy
Member
Doesn't matter to me. I know a lot of fat people and they're cool. But I also equally don't feel "sorry" for them. Like the scooter people. I feel if you didn't want to be fat and in that case, lazy, you'd just move around a bit and burn it. I don't buy your "medical condition" crap.
I hate it when fit people at the gym have to comment on fat people at the gym. I already heard a remark about fat people in the locker room when I was changing. I knew he was talking about me. It's like I am at the damn gym working out on losing weight you'd think those people would be supportive of me at the gym coming almost everyday. No they are there to work out and flex in the mirror and be happy they are not fat. I hate those people
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