a weighty issue

[marissaaaaaa]

One of my biggest annoyances right now with our modern culture is how societies encouraging obesity. You know what I'm talking about. All the overweight women getting up on tv, with all their BIG IS BEAUTIFUL, FAT AND PROUD campaigns and whatnot. Then they go on insulting skinny people, and saying some nasty things. First it was empathizing with obese people, labeling it a disease, and now it's embracing it. There's nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself, but not if it's unhealthy. They complain they can't find clothes in their size and say it's skinny people's fault. That there's too much pressure to be thin. No the reason is people are not meant to be 200, 300, 400 lbs.

Also another thing about the weight issue is the way people act towards people considered "underweight" in relation to "overweight". It is perfectly okay to say things like this to someone whose a bit skinny:
"Oh my god you're so tiny you could disappear."
"I feel like if I touch you you'd break"
"You should really eat more"
"You should look into getting some help"
Questions about eating disorders, rude little comments, if you have a friend who has been thin for years, or you are yourself, you know what I'm talking about.

No one would go up to an overweight person and say things like this (obviously that would just suit the weight)

Where do people get off saying nasty things about people at a smaller weight, and criticizing them (even if they are actually quite healthy) and then tiptoeing around unhealthy people at an obese weight.

Also, they're so many campaigns for big women, getting confidence for being fat. But when was the last time you saw anything of this kind for thin women?


Instead of encouraging all this overweight confidence (for lack of a better word), we as a society should be encouraging people to get to a healthy weight. We should be working on getting healthy body images and healthy confidences.


Some people are naturally thin and have a real struggle with gaining weight, that much similar to the same struggles overweight people have. Problems finding clothes that fit, stereotypes, certain prejudices, managing weight, etc.

It just really bothers me how it is looked down upon to be underweight at all, when people are parading being fat like it's a new race.


Any thoughts? Agree, disagree? People are always so afraid to speak up about weight, and I really want a good discussion or debate about this whole thing. I'm quite curious on other people's opinions on this subject.

 

[JasonSmith]

I totally agree. I haven't seen too many FAT AND PROUD commercials I don't think, but I know what you're talking about. It's not about everyone being a super-model and very thin...It's about being healthy, within 5, 10, or 15 pounds of your "healthiest" weight. The commercials are basically saying it's okay to be lazy, because we enjoy being fat and eating 50 lbs of food per day and watch 16 hours of television while consuming that food.

Obesity is disgusting, but I do sympathize for those people, whether it be their fault or genetics.

 

[footscrazy]

It seems that the 'minority' is always able to give shit to the majority and that's ok, in a similar way it's almost accepted for a woman to slap a guy if he pisses her off, but if a guy did the same it'd be 'abuse' (now obviously a lot of other factors come into play, I'm a girl myself and think violence is completely unacceptable, just commenting on how the minority always seems to have more leniency in the way they act, maybe a bad example )

But on topic, I think the reason why there's so much push for 'big is beautiful' etc etc is simply because it's not the majority view. I think it goes without saying that most people aspire to be a healthy weight, and that a person of a healthy weight is also at their most attractive. Therefore, you don't need to be told being slim is good - every person has this drummed into them from the moment they start taking notice of such things. Overweight people know this, hence, there is more of a need to make themselves believe they're ok. And of course they are ok, but our society makes them believe they're not, so the 'fat and proud' I believe is their way of fighting back and asserting themselves.

Those rude little comments are cheap shots, but I think they absolutely come from jealousy. Something like - 'well you're skinny so you deserve a bit of crap, because it's not fair'. I've been slim my whole life, when I was younger I was actually skinny, and while those comments are hurtful, I don't know...to me there is a difference between being insulted because people are jealous, and being actually considered a less worthy person because you're overweight. I know which one I'd prefer, no matter how silly and shallow that is, which it is, I admit.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

I think it is ridiculous that the average size (14) of american women is now an acceptable standard.

How can you be a size 14 woman and exercise 5 days a week/eat well daily?
I guess if they used to be a size 20 and now they are maintaining that weight loss.
The average sized US woman is not moving more and eating less, IMO. The only thing moving is their mouths.

You only have one body. Treat yourself right.

*eats another piece of pumpkin cheesecake *

 

[Dr. Funkenstien]

How can you be a size 14 woman and exercise 5 days a week/eat well daily?

1/2 ass it and cheat with your diet 8)

if we settle for mediocrity for too long it becomes the standard. my sister is plus size and I spoke with her about it. she, like lots of people don't stop to consider their future health and the impact of what they are doing now. they don't think about the weight their decisions will carry in 10 years.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

if we settle for mediocrity for too long it becomes the standard.

+1 This is what I am talking about The average american woman cannot be following recommended dietary intake nor exercise guidelines.

 

[marissaaaaaa]

Yeah the fact that it's become an average is just terrible. I have no problem with people being fat, but acting like it's the way they should be and like it's healthy and good is what I have a problem with. This whole obesity things getting out of hand and if something doesn't change the average mortality age of women is going to go wayy down just like the average size is going wayyy up.

 

[Dr. Funkenstien]

^when fat people get in my way its a problem. this typically happens during outdoor or physical activity sort of thing. nothing pretty or fun about a whale in a boat, on a trail, ect. I would never say anything rude to them of course. ever. being a phlebotomist I really came hate seeing a fat ass walk in the door. most of the time had to drawn their blood out of the not AC/ elbow area. ugh.

The average american woman cannot be following recommended dietary intake nor exercise guidelines.

I don't think the average american woman knows/remembers what these are. middle school was the last time I was required to learn about health and nutrition. if you don't use the info you lose it.

here are a 2 characters from recent fighting games. gives you a view on how other countries think about us.
bob from tekken 6

rufus from street fighter IV (on left, the fat one)

correct me if im wrong, but isn't childhood obesity a relatively new term? this is another way to justify lifelong fatness with a made up PC term/condition.

the only way any of this can change is proper education and I don't see that happening.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

LOL!! That is so sad.

I have noticed when I shop for clothes that the smaller sizes are fewer.

I have been 20 lbs heavier and I did not like it. I did my research. I gradually changed everything over the past 3 years in order to lead my idea of a healthy lifestyle. I feel better for it for other reasons beyond the physical.

 

[Dr. Funkenstien]

im a dude and it seems like the s,m,l,xl,xxl,xxxl, ect are only getting bigger. not only are they adding more x's to the xl's but the actual size of the clothes are increasing. i can fit in a large kids shirt and I weigh 170 lbs....8(

 

[belarki]

I've been both overweight and dangerously underweight. Neither are healthy and neither should be encouraged, glorified, or accepted as the norm. I guess education, a healthy diet and exercise are all key at a young age.

I was discussing this with a mate a couple of days & we both agreed the current focus on one's BMI (the measure we were taught in school) is somewhat flawed as it doesn't take into account % of body fat/muscle/etc and isn't really an accurate portrayal of fitness. According to that scale just about every professional athlete other than distance runners would be obese... that said it's a simple enough set of measurements & formula to be able to introduce to school kids.

*eats another piece of pumpkin cheesecake *

mmm pumpkin cheesecake

 

[phactor]

Cheaper food = less healthy and full of fat.

That is a major part of it and why the impoverished tend to be more overweight when compared to the middle class

 

[marissaaaaaa]

Oh my god and the clothes thing, I gave up shopping in stores a year and a half ago. I'm 5'5, 105 lbs typically a size 1, but sometimes can fit into a 0 or a 3. The 3's i really only got because I couldn't find any jeans my size for school, but I'm starting to grow into them.

XS in shirts, dresses, etc.

And I literally cannot find clothes in a store that fit me. It takes lots of extensive searching and usually the selection is so limited. I've been shopping online successfully now for years, and haven't dared to try and find shirts or dresses in store since like 2008.

It's so frustrating!! aghhh >:/

 

[rm-rf]

why would a society that encourages a small portion of the wealthiest to control and dominate the lower classes want the lower classes fit, intelligent, and healthy? laborers are not very effective when theyre educated more than they need to be.

this is why media, which is targeted at the labor class, will always have a sense of right surrounding the notion of poor knowledge of physiology. do you think mcdonalds tries to target an upper crust audience with its advertisements? how about big agriculture? popular culture in the western world will always deliver "budweiser, french fries, and a nice comfy couch" to its laboring class with an air of dignity and prestige as though this is the real american dream, and people should be darn proud of being able to live that way.

most members of the FDA, dept of agri, and federal lobbyists in relation to big food/ big agriculture all have a lot of investments in cheap, easy to produce, low nutritious foodstuffs. dont kid yourself that artificial sweeteners (many of which are carcinogenic or indirectly cause you to store more fat) were purposely pushed up through the various channels of approval because it perfectly fits the 'provide exactly enough for you to keep working, without allowing you to grow beyond what labor requires' model.

between big agriculture conquering the landscape of the independent farmer in order to replace all of our foodstuffs with genetically engineered substitutes, privatized health provision making a killing off of a population of healthy enough to work, unhealthy enough to always need healthcare, and a major imbalance between working class and wealthy class (with a weak middle class), our nation has everything to gain from a population of obese-and-proud. weak people are very easily ruled.

keep in mind, the major genetically modified foodstuff corporations in the world are currently ENCOURAGING the population of the world to increase, in order to add weight to their argument for a demand for genetically modified foods (else were all goign to starve by 2050). They dont see the problem as overpopulation and non ergonomic consumption. They see the problem as not enough farmland for genetically modified crops which can be patented, so that the very plants which feed us can be owned by big business. The more people simply remain undereducated and agree on not giving a shit about personal health, the quicker we will see all naturally occuring dna dissapear, replaced with the dominant, and patented, genetically engineered crops.

with that, you wont ever see this attitude disappear. now go out and be a good little battery and get a chicken leg and corn bread from popeyes!

"Providing the world with food supply is our job. Providing for food safety is not our job, that is the FDA's job"

-Monsanto corporation

(it doesnt help with the heads of every government health and food bureaucracy are former food industry executives and shareholders. the FDA's job is not to make sure what youre eating is healthy. the FDA's job is to make sure youre still around to keep working.)

http://www.hulu.com/watch/67878/the-future-of-food

sorry if none of this makes sense, i just woke up and took liek 20 bong rips of some trainwreck. dont be part of the easily ruled labor force of the world. educate yourself on anatomy and physiology. learn about sustainable agriculture. learn about cellular health, and the inadequately researched dangers of genetically modified foods. learn how big business is destroying the health of the world, and turning most of the world into a machine for consuming unhealthy agricultural products.

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

I was waiting for you to post here
Always eloquent, my man.

 

[double ewe]

ugh. a bastard child of the self-esteem movement and the "i'm a victim" movement.

people should feel good about themselves, even if they aren't doing anything worth feeling good about! you're doing GREAT! no, no . . those failures aren't your fault . . you're the victim of advertising/media/the economy/gender inequality/racism/gentrification/something else. oh don't worry about trying to solve your problems, as long as they're someone else's fault you can just sit tight until the reparations check comes through and then spend it all on candy and lottery tickets and why don't they just sell cigarettes at the mcdonalds so you don't have to do all that walking. this is EXACTLY what tyra was talking about the other day when you felt so self-righteously empowered that you nearly clapped and spilled cheetos all over your copy of US Weekly.

clearly, this frustrates me as well.

 

[marissaaaaaa]

^lolol beautifully put

 

[empty_remains]

Every time I hear about being proud to weigh that much I can't help but picture the reinforcement day time talk shows seem to cater to that.
Personally I'm thick, I was fat slowly though diet and walking/running again it's coming off.
Even without doing any work on yourself just watching what your eating is a huge help.

 

[candygram]

I'm 5'2" and weigh 107lbs. According to the medical charts I'm normal, but everyone seems to believe I'm underweight. I hear snide comments all the time, anorexic, tweeker, ect...

My mother who is overweight can't understand why she's so much heavier than me, she blames it all on age and genetics and believes I will become overweight just like her. She thinks she should weigh less because goes to Curves (not consistently) and eats healthy foods.

The thing is I've been to Curves with her, it's a great starting point for getting someone into exercise that isn't used to it, but it's not really much of a work out. She does eat healthy foods, she's switched to whole grain, lots of fruit and veggies, ect. But she still splurges on junk pretty often and just plain eats too much.

When we go out to a buffet she eats about 3 times what I do. She doesn't believe she eats too much, she thinks I eat too little.

She's sure that age and genetics will "catch up" with me too. I'm not a teenager who's metabolism hasn't slowed down yet. I'm 32 yrs old and I've had two kids. The reason I'm not overweight is because I don't see "all you can eat" buffets as a challenge, I stay active on a daily basis and when I have time, I lift weights (real ones).

I don't want anyone to feel bad about themselves because they are overweight, nor would I want young girls obsessing about staying super thin. But I do think people should take an honest look at why they're overweight and address those issues.