Should being fat be socially unacceptable

[Hip Priest]

Obesity is becoming a health crisis, and it needs to be addressed. But discriminating against obese people, or being 'orrible to them, seems coutner-intuitive, given that people who compulsively over-eat normally do so for emotional reasons.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Stupid question: in the hypothetical "everybody must be slim" society, who will set a "fatness standard"? Will it be, for a woman, size 10, 12, 14? Will one be outed by their bra size?
This discussion imo is a bit silly: there will always be discrimination against people that don't fit the standard of a particular job/activity/social circle they wish to join.
Those people have the choice of either changing their look/loose their accent/get an education (whatever they need to do to fit) if they are able to do this, or pursue other avenues.
Also, socially acceptable or not as it may become, would you stop talking to a person (or worse, make this person feel bad about themselves) until they lost weight? What if they put some back on?
What if it's your Mum/Dad/daughter/son/husband/wife?
I think the op's scenario is a bit far fetched: heck, I still smoke: no one stopped talking to me (yet)

 

[Hip Priest]

I think "appearing fat" is pretty subjective and not necessarily a good indicator of health. I suspect there are quite a few of us on here myself included with an unhealthy BMI and beer belly to match, but a relatively good level of fitness. It also makes me think of young women who being weight concious trying to watch their figure because of the social stigma we already have, dont exercise at all and just eat very little and with poor nutrition.

Having thought about it a little more, I think theres already plenty of social pressure in place and it has little positive effect imho.

The thing with BMI is that it's just a number, and it has changed over time. Obese used to mean a BMI of 40 or more. Then it was changed to 35, and now it's 30.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Obesity is becoming a health crisis, and it needs to be addressed. But discriminating against obese people, or being 'orrible to them, seems coutner-intuitive, given that people who compulsively over-eat normally do so for emotional reasons.

But an awful lot of people overeat because they're greedy feckers ... and I'm one, there's no reason for me to be overweight except I eat more than I should and once fat, loosing it is a fair effort which I can't quite bring myself to make. I can make a good clain for 'lifestyle factors' but it would show a lack of imagination ...

 

[redcard]

I over-eat for emotional reasons. I just love cake. Absolutely adore it.

 

[swee'pea99]

Well, it *is* actually your business if you're a taxpayer, because the NHS picks up a massive tab from obesity.

 

[TheDoctor]

Let's not go down that road - after all, a lot of us get hit by cars.
We could easily avoid that by not cycling!!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Well, it *is* actually your business if you're a taxpayer, because the NHS picks up a massive tab from obesity.

Uh, uh: ever seen the A&E at the weekend, mayhem with drunk injured folks? Or old firm football match casualties? Want to make getting drunk out of your skull and fighting in the street socially unacceptable? Wait, isn't it already?

 

[toroddf]

Well, it *is* actually your business if you're a taxpayer, because the NHS picks up a massive tab from obesity.

Not joking there. If an obese person loose 10 lbs, that saves NHS thousands of pounds. Hence NHS now spending hundreds of pounds per client on weight managment courses. I am on one of them and these courses works. They also saves NHS money after costs has been paid.

 

[jonny jeez]

Interesting. What form does this discrimination take?

d.

within the last 5 years (in particular during the 4 years I spent at a previous company) years ive seen things like;
-new guys dropped for spending too much time outside the office smoking. (granted perhaps this is not discrimination but it leads to the below)
-numerous times when an interviewee has been declined, because they smoke (mostly for fear of the above point)...as part of an interview panel I saw this a lot

other than this type of direct discrimination, I 've known of bosses taking a dislike to members of the team for being smokers and generally passing over smokers for opportunity.

 

[marafi]

Well i was doing a module revision report similar to this. How if you are unattractive you are more likely to go to prison. And if you are attractive then you are more likely to get a job. I thinks its a load of crap though thankfully.

Socially unacceptable being called fat on radio yes if its public listening to it. But i call my family fat all the time as they do it with me. lol

 

[gb155]

I cycled 5,000 miles last year and still managed to gain a stone.

Obesity is caused purely by eating more calories than you use, how much or how little exercise has little impact on waist size.

Spot on

 

[smutchin]

-new guys dropped for spending too much time outside the office

ie what they were doing outside the office isn't the direct cause of them being dismissed? And they'd have been just as likely to be sacked for spending "too much time" out of the office knitting?

Tbh, it sounds like there's more to this story than meets the eye. If I were sacked just for smoking, I'd be on to my union like a shot.

(Unlikely to happen - most of the senior managers where I work are smokers, so hanging out in the smoking area provides great networking opportunities - helped my colleague get a significant promotion, in fact.)

-numerous times when an interviewee has been declined, because they smoke

Well, yes, an interview is probably not the best place to light up. ;-)

The difficulty is proving that your obesity or your smoking (or being a woman, or being black, or being gay...) is the primary reason you've been turned down for a job/promotion.

d.

 

[jonny jeez]

ie what they were doing outside the office isn't the direct cause of them being dismissed? And they'd have been just as likely to be sacked for spending "too much time" out of the office knitting?

Oh I agree and in defence I did state that this may not be direct discrimination, however the fear (when considering a candidate who smokes) is that they may end up as one of those who spends hours a day stood outside the office smoking...so this does have a direct effect on their chances of being considered..and is directly discriminatory. Much like the way in which some employers will not consider women in there mid 20's (I've seen this...a lot) You're also right that any activity could cause the same absence but it seems that smoking is the only one that is likely to be taken up during working hours

Well, yes, an interview is probably not the best place to light up

true...you'd have to admire their confidence if they did though.

 

[steve52]

mmmm just nipping out for a quick spin around the block, ok?