Should being fat be socially unacceptable

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User482

Guest
But it's only a narrow bar designed to be apporximately at peoples narrowest point, their waist so people quite easily spill both under and over it, hardly any barrier at all in fact it's worst than hopeless other than an armrest.
Your waist is your narrowest point? I always said you were a big head..
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
Because littering, poor parking etc are all behaviours. Obesity is a characteristic.

You can argue that it is behaviour which caused that characteristic, and you can argue that said characteristic is - unlike sex or race - not immutable, but at the end of the day you can't just stop being fat immediately like you can stop using swears on the bus immediately.
I don't expect people to stop being fat immediately, but they can take steps immediately. BUT, It would be better to stop getting fat in the first place, that's the only real way to solve the problem. For most obese people now it's probably too late. But to stop children following this path would be an achievement. Seriously overweight is becoming normalised in society, we need to change that ... and soon.
 
That's true to an extent, but as it seems we're facing an obesity epidemic which will be an enormous (no pun intended) burden on the NHS which in turn will cost taxpayers more OR deny others treatment or social services due to a lack of funds, then maybe it is everybody's business. Furthermore, the rise in Childhood obesity is very significant condenming children to a life of poor health, medication and esteem issues at a very early age, before they have a choice of 'lifestyle'.

The simple fact is that it's nearly all preventable, but also there is no magic bullet to stop it. Making obesity/fatness socially unnaceptable may be a part of the solution.

So how will you deal with the results of such a social pogrom?

We already spend millions each year of the NHS budget dealing with eating disorders due to a perceived need to be thin and so "fit in"

This in turn will cost taxpayers more OR deny others treatment or social services due to a lack of funds, then maybe it is everybody's business. Furthermore, the rise in eating disorders to meet with a REAL social stigma is very significant condemning children to a life of poor health, medication and esteem issues at a very early age, before they have a choice of 'lifestyle'.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
So how will you deal with the results of such a social pogrom?

We already spend millions each year of the NHS budget dealing with eating disorders due to a perceived need to be thin and so "fit in"

This in turn will cost taxpayers more OR deny others treatment or social services due to a lack of funds, then maybe it is everybody's business. Furthermore, the rise in eating disorders to meet with a REAL social stigma is very significant condemning children to a life of poor health, medication and esteem issues at a very early age, before they have a choice of 'lifestyle'.
Both ends of the spectrum need to be tackled and the causes of each are many and complex, I appreciate that.
Is there any data on the rise of eating disorders and cost implications compared to the rise and cost in Obesity? There may be a trade-off in that a small rise in eating disorders may be a price worth paying in terms of a big decline in Obesity. That sounds horribly cold-hearted. None of this is easy.
What seems to be clear is that all the zillions spent on combatting lifestyle related conditions and obesity in particular doesn't seem to be turning back the tide ... possibly reducing the rates of growth but it's nowhere near enough.
The medicine required to effect a cure may not be very palatable.
 

Hip Priest

Veteran
Get knotted you preachy tosspot!

So this is what passes for reasoned discourse now is it? I suggest that you go and vigourously relieve yourself, and that the two gentleman who liked your post follow suit.
 

smutchin

Cat 6 Racer
Location
The Red Enclave
I rarely pay that much attention to what I eat, and certainly don't struggle with it.

Out of interest, how old are you? You see, the thing is, I was the same until I reached my late 20s...

Now, nearly 40, I find it almost impossible to believe there was once a time I could stuff myself with burgers and kebabs and drink four or five pints a night and stay skinny.

Sigh.

d.
 

smutchin

Cat 6 Racer
Location
The Red Enclave
My point is I found it really hard to find excercise that she could do on a regular basis, very little club or school led activities that would give her the right level, and not only hard to find but expensive and really poor facilities.

This seems to be a real problem for girls especially, and it's a disgraceful state of affairs. My son is at a boys' school and gets plenty of opportunity to do all kinds of sporting and other outdoor activities.

The closest his girl friends get to sport seems to be watching him and his mates play rugby, and they're not there for strictly sporting reasons. Well, not that kind of sport anyway.

d.
 

Andrew_P

In between here and there
I hadn't realised how difficult it was or how little PE was done in the Schools. Looking back I used to play loads of Football and cycled everywhere which as I explained to my Daughter gave me a great base fitness level despite gaining lbs, and then losing them once I got back on my bike.

The fact of being overweight is that it is not genetic, or at least it is very rare. There are people who are able to consume calories without gaining too much weight but these are not the norm. If an overweight person who says it is genetic and claims they do not eat much was put in to a very controlled environment where food was issued and calorie controlled and a varied excercise program they would lose weight. Often it is a mental problem driving it.

I know that if there are Chocolate biscuits in the house that I will consume some and if I restrict myself I might be able to only have one with each hot drink. 5 Teas and just five biscuits is 430 calories and an hour on my bike to burn that off, the 430 calories are not very good either.

When you get someone to do a food diary, and IF they are honest it is often very easy to spot 500+ empty hidden calories a day, or put it another way 15000 per month or 6 days extra food every month over and above the 2500 suggested for an adult.
 

Sittingduck

Legendary Member
Location
Somewhere flat
When you get someone to do a food diary, and IF they are honest it is often very easy to spot 500+ empty hidden calories a day, or put it another way 15000 per month or 6 days extra food every month over and above the 2500 suggested for an adult.

This is key. People are often not honest about calorie consumption.
 
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