THIN=GOOD FAT=BAD
Two years ago I was at a conference listening to my friend Nick recount his experiences of being an obese kid at school.
He described how he was always the last to be picked for any team, always bullied for being lazy and slow, and cruelly teased by his peers in anything involving physical activity. One day when he was 12, he did a sprint training lap at rugby league practice.
About half way through the lap Nick realised he was in front of all his teammates!
Nick described how euphoric he felt as he puffed out his chest and ran as fast as he could to be FIRST! Until reality dawned. On turning around he realised that every other kid in the sprint had stopped running. And instead of cheering him, they were laughing at him. The fat kid hadn’t come first. He was the victim of yet another prank at the hands of his peers.
Fat stigma and discrimination are no laughing matter.
Six years ago I started to interview people about their experiences of being obese.
At the time, like many academics working in the area of obesity, I was probably more interested in hearing about why people were not able to lose weight. I think I thought I would be able to design a fancy weight loss intervention to address what I perceived were problems with the individual rather than our approach to ‘fighting obesity’.
After all, the evidence was clear that obesity was an epidemic, and unhealthy. All we needed to do was to work out a way of getting people to do what was good for them, to take more responsibility, to ‘eat less’ and ‘exercise more’. Right?
Within two days of interviewing people, I had completely changed my view about obesity and how we treat obese individuals in society today.
The turning point came when someone joked in front of our research participants that if we set up an ice cream cart we would make a fortune.
Over the last few years, I have listened to hundreds of stories just like Nick’s.
Stories of bullying, teasing, and victimisation: people being spat at in the street; told they take up too much room on the train; are bad parents (for no other reason than their body size); and used as cautionary tale to warn children about the consequences of eating too many sweets.
| Page 1 of 2 | next >> |
105 Responses to this article
-
Dramaqueen75 March 20, 2012
I am a health educator working with primary aged students and young teenagers. The main focus of my work is drug and alcohol education, focusing on medical drugs with younger students. In my day to day work we discuss nutrition, exercise and medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes.
I feel that I am walking a fine line and am very careful with the message I deliver.I will often have children with type 1 diabetes in class and we will work together to explain their condition and its management to their peers.
Many of the students will have relatives with type 2 diabetes and we discuss the difference; always trying hard to ensure that we do so in a non judgmental way.
My simple message to the students is to eat nutritious foods daily, to save the less nutritious foods for birthday parties or “sometimes”, and to do something physical every day for about half an hour that makes their heart beat a bit faster and makes them a little bit sweaty.
As for the “look” of us all, well, that changes all of the time, especially in the later years of primary school and high school. They are growing and changing- and sometimes they may not look like the images in magazines and media but they are a “work in progress”.
I believe I get it right most of the time- and am aware that it’s a huge responsibility.
-
KateJ March 20, 2012
Why would you run an article about the horrible effects of stigma against fat people, and then undercut the message completely by illustrating it with dehumanising, judgmental images of “headless fatties”?
-
blue March 20, 2012
Caroline, no media story on fat people show fat people with heads. You aren’t alone. Just following the norm. And it’s an ignorant norm. Just look at the next ‘fat’ story you see on tv. They use shots of headless people walking down the streets, camera focussed on the same areas of the body that the pictures in your article show.
I think the media doesn’t want to be seen as insensitive while being very, very insensitive. Give a thought to the actual people who own those ‘headless bodies.’ They’ve sat down to watch a news show and the fat story comes on and it’s their body they are watching. They’ve been photographed without consent and are being held up as an example of how a person shouldn’t look.
I’d sue if I ever caught my body being shown on tv with a story about fat. I do not give my consent to my form being shown on tv at all, especially when it could be seen as my endorsement of the story. And because it could be seen as an endorsement of the story, that I have in no way endorsed, I might just have grounds to sue.
That’s probably why you don’t see the heads of fat people.
-
Kath March 20, 2012
I have been the person who was watching the evening news and saw my body, head removed, on a story about eradicating obesity. I cannot tell you how much it devastated me at the time. My already fragile self esteem (from a lifetime of bullying about my weight) was crushed.
Thankfully I found an alternative paradigm and started hearing things like Samantha’s piece above. It saved my life – I can’t tell you how many times I came close to ending my life before I stopped listening to the fat hatred in our culture.
We need to stop this disgusting practice NOW. Hoopla, you can make a huge difference to the culture around weight stigma right this instant, by committing to never run shots of “headless fatties” again. It’s not a big change for Hoopla to make, but it’s a big change to those of us who are constantly told our bodies need to be eradicated, prevented and cured.
-
-
blue March 20, 2012
Sorry, I meant to add that otherwise I pretty much agree with your article Samantha.
I think fat is becoming the new, acceptable way to discriminate. How many times have we all heard ‘fat’ used as a swear word. As in ‘you fat bitch,’ or ‘you fat arse-hole.’ Calling someone fat is now a good way to denigrate someone.
And a good way to insult someone is to tell them they are fat “for their own good.” Newsflash for anyone that has done that – those people already know they are fat. You aren’t telling them anything they don’t already know.
I feel so much for those fat kids. They can endure the most horrible hurt. I had a sibling that was very fat as a kid and into young adulthood. He was insulted constantly. Not only by other kids but by adults who should have known better. I have no doubt that the behaviour of others telling my sibling that they were fat contributed to his lack of self esteem, his deep depressions and finally to him going missing. Probable suicide. 15 years ago.
So think people before you act on your need to police other people’s weight.
-
Halla March 20, 2012
blue, I’m so sorry to hear that about your brother.
-
blue March 21, 2012
Thank you, Halla
-
-
The Diva March 23, 2012
Oh, blue. I am so, so sorry about that. I pray your brother has the peace today he never had then. *hugs*
-
-
blue March 20, 2012
Wendy, you might be right with this although people caught on camera in the background of someone being interviewed on the street do not have their heads cut off. Is this because they are not seen as part of the story? So, therefore, no permission is needed? Whereas if the story is centred around fat people they’d need their permission to show their heads as well as their bodies and they aren’t going to dare ask for it or maybe willingly pay for it if permission was given? Also, the images of headless people can be shown over and over again – same images for each ‘new’ story. Saving costs on the media’s own behalf. How much did Hoopla pay for these shots? Where did Hoopla source them?
-
KateJ March 20, 2012
I don’t think anyone consciously sets out to use a headless image in order to dehumanise fat people. But that’s what it does. It will be great to see the new image library Nick mentions.
At least one of the images is a stock image from Getty, as seen in this article:
http://www.charlottecooper.net/docs/fat/headless_fatties.htm
-
-
Kath March 20, 2012
I’m with Kate J – no more headless fatties. Please, I will GIVE you photographs of me to use, I will source you more photographs of fat people to use that do not stigmatise and dehumanise us further. Send a photographer and we’ll make it happen.
That said – I’m thrilled to see this article here. I love Hoopla but have been growing tired of the amount of articles that stigmatise fat people, particularly under the guise of “health”. Women’s magazines, both online and print constantly push “body image” and then pump story after story about the “obesity epidemic” out. Please Hoopla, stand out and stop stigmatising weight – ANY weight.
-
Halla March 20, 2012
Hear hear. How refreshing would it be to have articles on a range of subjects featuring a range of people, with no snarking about body size and for ‘healthy eating’ articles no allusions to intended loss of weight! Articles about sports that matter-of-factly give links to sites where sports clothing can be found outside of the narrow size range most shops carry. Promoting inclusivity in everything instead of the current trend of dividing and judging.
-
The Diva March 23, 2012
I’d think I’d died and gone to heaven….
-
-
Big Liberty March 20, 2012
Kath, I’m with you on creating a Fat Gallery of public use images of fat people that the media can utilize, specially contributed to and controlled by its contributors (us). It’s a great idea. Then whenever we encounter the disembodied stomach or otherwise headless fatty we can link to the gallery as an alternative. Because awesome articles like this one shouldn’t be sullied by a tired, hateful trope.
-
-
Siobhan March 20, 2012
Pictures aside, thanks Samantha! Was interesting to hear your perspective on how you came to your current position on fat issues, having only known you on twitter in more recent months.
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
This story seems to be about two things. Yes, it is very easy and very cruel to stigmatise fat people, and it just shouldn’t happen. Agreed.
But isn’t there an obesity epidemic? Isn’t it going to be the number one killer of our children? What exactly is “good fat”?
Are there people out there who consume less kilojoules than they use, but still put on weight? I don’t quite get how “many” of the author’s obese friends eat less and exercise more than her but are not size 14. How the hell does that happen? I would have sworn that wasn’t medically possible.
Last time I looked maintaining your health – not drinking, smoking or eating too much – was a personal responsibility. Be fat, don’t be fat. It’s a personal choice. You shouldn’t be abused for your choice but neither should you be able to abdicate all responsibility for the state of your body.
Because the elephant in the room is the majority of fat people don’t get fat eating healthily and going for walks.-
Weeze March 20, 2012
It’s like you didn’t even read the article Phil, or at least missed the point due to your prejudice -
“the most disturbing part of fat stigma is: a) how easy it is for us to make assumptions about what fat people MUST be doing for their bodies to be like that; and b) how acceptable it is for us to make those assumptions in a very public way.” -
genny March 20, 2012
really phil? you know the whole world?
I put on 30kg going to the gym 3 times a week and power walking twice a week whilst dieting.
Admittedly prior to that I’d been doing 14 hours exercise a week, working 40 hours in an on my feet job and basically starving myself to get thin. The thinnest I got was a size 12 – for a month.
But because I’m fat, you probably think I’m also delusional and lying.
And you’ve contradicted yourself, you think fat people who eat well and exercise are abdicating responsibility for their health?
As opposed to a thin person who does the same thing? -
Aeron Winters March 20, 2012
Eating less isn’t the answer Phil. I was a fat kid. Even my own mother had me on a diet when I was in kindergarten…and I look at pictures of myself back then and I was not fat…not enough to warrant a diet anyway. I was a little pudgy at best, nothing that wouldn’t have been taken way during my next growth spurt. Anyway, my unhealthy relationship with food and weight obsession developed into anorexia in my teens, and then later bulimia in my twenties. I was thin, painfully so, and still I felt ‘fat’. All this abuse of my body with miniscule amount of actual nutrition to sustain me and extreme exercise routines have destroyed my metabolism. Now, in my forties, I am once again struggling with my weight, but you know what, I am healthy and beautiful, despite what other people think. I exercise everyday, and eat a healthy, well balanced diet and visit my doctor regularly and always get a clean bill of health. Yes, my BMI is high, but my blood sugar and cholesterol are both very good, and my ‘good cholesterol’ is fantastic. So I ignore anyone who cares to tell me otherwise. I wear a bikini, and yes, they make them in my size, I feel better than I have most of my life until now. I finally have a healthy realtionship with food. I can’t help wondering if I would have the issues I have now if my mother hadn’t been so cruel when I was too young to question her ideas about what was fat and what wasn’t?
-
Big Liberty March 20, 2012
isn’t there an obesity epidemic?
No, there isn’t. Look up the word “epidemic,” then look up the “obesity” stats after correcting for the 1998 definitional change (which made 33 million people overweight and obese overnight). There is no epidemic. This is propaganda.
But, unless I agree fat is nothing but a genetic condition and that morbidly obese is just “different”, I’m a bullying hater?
Nice putting words into the article author’s mouth and creating a straw-argument to then argue against. The article author herself doesn’t believe that fat is “nothing but a genetic condition” (neither do I, and I’ve been a fat activist for years). Do your research: body weight is 77% heritable, second only to height. Like height, there’s wiggle room to move the setpoint up and down, especially in early life, but unlike height there is also the ability to make temporary, localized changes around the setpoint (we derive energy from fat, not from bones, so that’s why that mechanism is in place). There is also the ability to royally screw with metabolism and shift setpoint down. The body can also move metabolism up–pregnancy, wound healing–but there’s no known way to deliberately speed up metabolism, except, yanno, to take harmful drugs like actual speed.
But I just don’t think being 180kg is a natural state either. That’s not being yourself or doing those around you any favours at all.
How in the heck can you possibly know that? I’d argue something similar and say it isn’t possibly for someone to maintain a severely underweight BMI — that just ‘being themselves’ they would be at a slightly higher weight, obviously they must be starving themselves, etc—but I know better. Why is that not intellectually transferable to the other end of the spectrum? Unless you’re an endocrinologist, beware of making statements like “XXX kg is not a natural state.”
And there is an obesity epidemic. It can’t be ignored. The health system is clogged with fat. That’s a just fact, like it or not.
Oh yeah, you’re not a bully — but then you resort to some tired metaphor like “clogged with fat.” Eh-huh. Also, the obesity epidemic is *not* a fact. It is demonstrably, and easily shown to be, untrue. You’ve been successfully propagandized to, and you seem happy to swallow the propaganda in order to — what, feel superior to a whole group of people? I mean, that’s the usual dynamic when people ride the wave of a moral panic against some set of folks.
-
-
Clementine March 20, 2012
Ooh, there needs to be a ‘like’ function on comments. I would like Nick’s comment about the image gallery. That’s BRILLIANT news.
If people are interested in humanising images of fat people, I encourage them to look at fat activism blogs on tumblr, particularly the fashion ones.
I’m also really pleased to see that, barring Phil’s comment, this hasn’t descended into superior waffling about health and fat people being a drain on the public system. Those comments always make me want to impale my brain with the keyboard.
-
Big Liberty March 20, 2012
I agree. Editors, if you contact blog/tumblr owners about using their image in a piece, then if they agree have them sign a boilerplate release form, I’m sure you’ll find several who are more than happy to avoid the headless fatty in favor of their brilliant selves.
-
Halla March 22, 2012
I want a like button because your keyboard comment made me giggle – we’ve all had days like that I think!
-
-
Jodes March 20, 2012
Yes, another ‘Like’ from me for the non-headless fatty image gallery, because like the others reading this, I couldn’t believe that the article was illustrated with those images. Our feedback hopefully, is the start of the conversation with the media about plus size discrimination and bullying and the forms that it takes.
And thank you, Samantha, for continuing to speak up against the bullying faced by plus sizers. I value your input, especially since you have the studies to back the opinions up.
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
If there’s a medical professional out there who can tell me how, when kilojoules OUT is more than kilojoules IN, a person can still put on weight, I would genuinely find that very interesting.
I train myself and a friend at the moment. We both have a tendency to put on weight. When we eat less and exercise more intensively and regularly, we lose weight.
And I don’t think fat people who exercise and eat well are abdicating responsibility for their health. I just think there’s no such thing as a fat person who exercises regularly and eats well.
No-one should discriminate against fat people. Every human being on the planet deserves respect.
So, there’s an obesity epidemic out there and it’s going to be the greatest drain on the health system in the future. But we’re not allowed to talk about that?
What’s going on? Are we so restrained by correctness that doctors are no longer allowed to say to people – “you know what, you’re too heavy. You’re going to die. Your call.”
Hospital beds are bigger and bigger, now able to take up to 400kg. Nurses are ruining their back moving enormous patients. Doctors can’t do autopsies on more and more patients, or they have to do them on the ground.
There’s an OBESITY EPIDEMIC out there and it is because people are EATING TOO MUCH CRAP and NOT EXERCISING.
Why is that a bad thing to say? That’s not disrespecting fat people. It’s just what’s happening.
Or is this disturbing modern trend to be ignored because it’s discrimination against “plus sizers”?
And I have been over 110kg in my life, easy, so I’ve been a bit too tubby myself. It’s not fun.-
sunnygirl62 March 20, 2012
Like!
-
Simone March 20, 2012
Actually, Phil, there is a lot of research indicating exactly the opposite. Yes, weight goes on because of the deficit of energy intake vs output, but it doesn’t necessarily come off that way. There are too many factors in the human physiology that work against that notion.
Please, if you’re going to be ‘training’ someone to change their body, read up on what is actually happening physiologically. It will blow your mind. Experts can’t agree on the best method, so how can you assume you know it all? Get to know the real issues, then see if you feel like you do now. I bet you’ll be shocked.
Lastly…it might pay to get real about your attitude to other people’s bodies. How, unless they’re sitting on you, are they your concern? Pull your head in, Phil. Develop some self-esteem that means that you’re not flailing around trying to find someone that appears worse off than you.
-
dak March 20, 2012
Here’s a link to new studies that say calorie-in less than calorie out does not equal weight loss. http://www.downeyobesityreport.com/tag/nih/
-
Dan March 20, 2012
Phil, I eat a healthy diet and work out the recommended four hours a week with a combination of cardio and resistance training. I’m healthier than fitter than I’ve ever been in my life, and I was a pretty damn active kid.
Still fat though.
You can take your sanctimonious attitude and stuff it up your nose buddy. You know NOTHING about how other people live their lives until such time as they choose to share it with you, and until that point you are in absolutely no position to judge. By doing so, you create the hostile environment that drives people towards eating disorders and self-hatred. So congratulations on being an A-grade, judgmental prat.
-
-
Nicole March 20, 2012
Headless pics (of all kinds of people) are taken and then used by editors because you never know when if someone has died since the photo was taken.
Good article.
I continued to put on weight for years despite a very healthy diet and moderate exercise. It turned out I was severely anaemic and instead of becoming thinner, my body just stored as much fat as it could to keep my body warm. The reasons people get fat and stay fat are much more complex than diet and exercise, important as they are. -
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
This was lifted from The Millbank Journal and American multidiscipline journal on public health and public health policy. Sums it up pretty well, really …
Expanding portion sizes, computer games, high-fructose corn sweeteners, automobile-dependent community designs, food advertising everywhere, transportation investments to support only automobile travel, more and cheaper foods high in fat and sugar, school facilities off limits to the community, soft drinks in schools, Internet entertainment options, and ubiquitous fast food. Changes in these and other factors have been blamed for the obesity epidemic in the United States and across the world. Although it is unlikely that biologically based preferences for sweet and fat have changed, there now is a greater variety of these preferred foods; there are more places to get them; they are advertised more widely; and they are cheaper and come in larger sizes. Our ancestors probably obtained most of their physical activity during work, household chores, and transportation, but today these requirements for movement have been greatly reduced owing to automation and computers at work, labor-saving devices at home, and building and transportation practices that require driving for most trips. The consensus among public health experts is that changes in genes, biology, and psychology at the individual level cannot explain the rapid rise in obesity, so the explanation must lie in broader environmental, policy, and societal changes.
-
sunnygirl62 March 20, 2012
Obesity causes healthy and mental problems and fat people are discriminated against – this is not news, the news is that there are more fat people that don’t have the motivation to embrace a healthier lifestyle!
There is more easily accessible help for the obese and knowledge about weight loss/gain than ever in the past, so I am sorry to say that I don’t have sympathy for the overweight of today.
This article fuels a growing trend for obese adults to want society to accept fat as normal, rather than taking steps to care for their bodies.
I was an overweight school child in the 60′s and 70′s and know first hand the discrimination that is part of daily life when you are seen to be different. Exclusion from social activities, hurtful comments from strangers, looks and comments from relatives, teasing by classmates – the outcome being that I am withdrawn in social situations or avoid them, and don’t have the ability to make close friends.
My excess weight WAS from consuming too much food, whether it was healthy or not and not enough activity. Like Phil Barker I am of the opinion that the majority of people become obese from overeating for their activity levels. There are health conditions such as thyroid related diseases which cause weight gain, but surely the growing number of overweight don’t all suffer these conditions.
The discrimination and bullying I received activated me to change myself. I modified my diet and exercise daily to achieve and maintain a healthy body mass, and I enjoy my exercise and healthy eating!
I would like those who have over indulged over the years to not give in and accept it – but to take charge of your life and your body.
-
Kath March 20, 2012
I love how people like Phil and sunnygirl62 are proving the point of the article, by stating unequivocally that OBESE people (and I use Phil’s caps lock style) are all so because they’re all lazy gluttons who eat more than they move. Yes, all those lazy, greedy fat people out there just eating themselves stupid and laying about doing nothing. Way to prove weight stigma right down to a T.
Well done folks – you’ve proved Samantha Thomas’ point exactly.
What would the world do without your expertise on bodies that are not your own?
-
Vanessa March 20, 2012
At 171cm tall, size 18 and weighing 88kg, I rowed in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships. This weight placed me in the obese range however I was fighting fit and as healthy as a mallee bull. I could run circles around most of my skinny friends. I was doing Bootcamp three mornings a week, followed by a game of golf and then going to rowing training in the river in the evening. I think we put far too much emphasise on skinny = healthy. If I couldn’t get to a healthy weight while having such a wonderful healthy life style (and no I wasn’t a glutton) then I doubt very much if my body was ever going to be skinny.
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
I’ll bow out now … after saying this!
I don’t think skinny is healthy. I think skinny is worse than fat. The fact skinny means “cool” to some young women is just sad.
Fit, strong and healthy is cool. Like a Wallaby forward my BMI is off the charts but I can run 8km nice and fast, no problem.
I agree there’s terrible weight stigma out there. It’s just that there’s a health epidemic out there too because of bad habits.
Pretending “plus sizers” are taking up two seats on planes just because of “bad genes” rather than sitting on the couch eating chips is a weak-minded cop-out.
Of course, some people are medically fat – anaemia, thyroid, whatever. But not many … the vast majority did it to themselves.
(Geez, I’m hungry, because my metabolism is up from exercise this morning but I’m going to eat an apple and drink water to stave off the pangs, then eat a moderate meal slowly this evening. I won’t snack after. That way, I’ll continue to lose a little weight each day).-
Kath March 20, 2012
Neither skinny nor fat, nor anywhere in between is “healthy”. Size and shape of bodies does not determine their health, nor does it determine the value or the habits of the people inhabiting those bodies. No two people are alike and no two people have the same size and levels of health. Besides, health is no-one’s business except the owner of the body.
You ARE stigmatising fat people Phil by suggesting that ALL very fat bodies are so because they eat too much and exercise too little. You ARE stigmatising fat people Phil when you explain to us “how metabolism works” as if we don’t know our own bodies. You ARE stigmatising fat people Phil when you insist that all obese (or morbidly obese) bodies are unhealthy. You ARE stigmatising fat bodies with your patronising statements about eating meals slowly after exercise and blah blah blah.
Really? Dieting and exercise make you thin? Why did I never think of that before!? Fat people are not stupid. We’ve heard it all before, and we’ve tried it all before. Stop speaking down to us as though we need your instruction on how to “fix” our bodies.
My motto for talking about bodies is this: If it’s not your body, it’s not your business. Don’t profess to have all the answers for a body you know nothing about.
-
Big Liberty March 20, 2012
Hi bully, your condescension is palpable. Thanks for proving the point of the article. Also, for not bothering to do research in your tough, tough quest (cuz surely us fatties know nothing about this exercise or healthy eating of which you speak!) to feel superior to an entire group of people by maintaining a haze of ignorance, misinformation, propaganda, and smugness between your head and reality at all times.
-
-
Annie March 20, 2012
“The discrimination and bullying I received activated me to change myself. I modified my diet and exercise daily to achieve and maintain a healthy body mass, and I enjoy my exercise and healthy eating! ”
Wow sunnygirl62!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go go girl….good one….keep up the call for bullying to the overweight citizens…make a war cry, form a club for ‘bullying the fat’ and YOU will win the war against obesity!
YOU are the problem lady. YOU have the problem of being insensitive, cruel, ignorant and arrogant.
I would rather be fat than any of those things.Finally some are seeing that ‘fat’ is the new discrimination. It used to be race, religion, sex, poverty…now it is ‘fat’. And two of the contributors to the comments page are part of the pusch behind this devastating new ‘permission’ to be hurtful to others.
BMI is a mistake..it was formulated back in the 1940′s by a mathemetician, NOT by a medical scientist. It was formed mainly using males as the ‘norm’ and it is now out of date. Someone needs to revise this ‘one size fits all’ measurement for people. There is a school of thought who say all women should have a certain sized waist. No consideration for height, hip (bone) size, shoulder (bone) size. I am NOT the same as my 4’11″ cousin at 5′ 10″. My genetics are different from my sister ( 5’3″) yet all my life I was compared to her. I could NOT be her height, her width, her look. Comparisons are odious believe me, hurtful, cruel, undermining and dangerous.
When I was little (looking back at photos) I was fine, fit and healthy, but I did not ‘fit’ the expectations of a little girl who would NOT grow up to be 5’3′ but 5’10″. I lost weight when I was 17. I starved myself. At 21 I became ‘myself’….so for the past 37 years I have been ‘fighting’ for the look. All through this time I got married, have a wonderful husband, three amazing children, cared for them and my dad, am a full time carer for my man….and still because I am not thin I am a drain on our society ( or a potential one). I have paid my dues and I want now to be relaxed and comfortable in my skin. I would rather die of a heart attack than live a long strong life being stupid, thoughtless, ignorant and cruel.
Thank you for the article and for starting the conversation of hate talk to the obese. YOU do it and someone dies, YOU should pay.-
sunnygirl62 March 22, 2012
thanks for your helpful comments Annie – I thought I would share my own story, and in doing so expressed my opinion which is based on my experience with fat stigma.
Sorry to have written something which you (and maybe others) found insensitive and arrogant.
Enjoy your life relaxed and comfortable in your skin, and I will mine.
-
-
Samantha March 20, 2012
I have been watching this conversation unfold today. I am always interested when a post about fat stigma turns into a discussion about how unhealthy fat people are.
It is true that there has been an increase in the number of people who would be classified as ‘obese’ over the last 30 or so years in Australia.
However, there is general agreement that these numbers are decreasing in some groups (kids in particular), and leveling off in others. If you would like some references you can see the articles here:
http://www.drsamanthathomas.com/blog/2011/07/can-we-please-just-focus-on-the-facts-about-fat.html
As a population do we need to focus more on healthy eating and activity? Of course! And that involves a combination of personal responsibility (individuals doing things to help themselves where they can) and social responsibility (things like making sure there are places for people to exercise, that healthy food is affordable AND accessible for people, and of course responsibility from the junk food industry not to excessively spruik their products to kids etc).
HOWEVER. The point of this post was to highlight that at the moment fat people experience excessive stigma and discrimination. And my research (and the research of many others) shows that that cause negative health and social outcomes for individuals. This stigma (sometimes called weight bias) comes from many sectors in the community – employers; medical professionals; the media; teachers; family members; etc etc etc etc.
My point is, that if we tackled some of that stigma – just like we have done in things such as mental health – then it may be easier for people to engage in a range of healthy activities. It may increased their social opportunities. That may or may not lead to weight loss. But it would surely improve peoples physical and emotional health.
Of course there are a range of environmental factors to tackle as well.
But maybe we need to reframe the conversation to talk about building healthy, happy communities. Not ‘thin’ communities.
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
I actually find this amazing now. (I know I should have stopped but I can’t – will now!)
I have said, consistently, no-one should be disrespected or vilified for anything, ever. Bullying is wrong.
But, unless I agree fat is nothing but a genetic condition and that morbidly obese is just “different”, I’m a bullying hater?
I’m not saying everyone should be thin. BMI is rubbish. Just be fit. Be healthy. Forget conforming to a look. That’s ridiculous.
But I just don’t think being 180kg is a natural state either. That’s not being yourself or doing those around you any favours at all.
And there is an obesity epidemic. It can’t be ignored. The health system is clogged with fat. That’s a just fact, like it or not.-
Frances March 20, 2012
“I have said, consistently, no-one should be disrespected or vilified for anything, ever.”
And yet you have been consistently disrespectful.
-
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
Fully agree with your comments Sarah.
-
Phil Barker March 20, 2012
Gawd, mean agree with Samantha …
-
Samantha March 20, 2012
Thanks Phil.
I don’t think basic respect for people and their experience is too much to ask for. I’m glad you agree. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
-
-
Melita March 20, 2012
What a great article, thank you.
-
Tandah March 20, 2012
I agree with you Phil, not all obese people are are healthy lifestylers with unfavourable genetics – there are overweight people who are obese because of an unwillingness or inability to address their lifestyles – ie they’re not victims, they are just making (non) choices.
-
Kath March 20, 2012
Whether they are healthy or not is none of your business Tandah. The only body that is your business is YOURS. If it’s not your body, it’s not your business.
Just because you judge someone as unhealthy does not mean they are worth less than someone you judge as healthy.
-
Tandah March 22, 2012
Actually I’m totally entitled to have an opinion – and that opinion is that not all overweight people are overweight because of medication or genetics – some are overweight because they eat a poor diet and don’t exercise … And what’s more I’ve had a total gut full of people telling me that that opinion is inappropriate.
-
-
-
Michelle March 20, 2012
Great article! And spot on. I think it is discrimination full stop. My god we have TV shows calling them losers and saying they can’t find love, can you imagine if that show was about a race of people.
Some of the responses above are so condescending. At what stage do we realise that we are all different shapes and sizes and that’s good. We are in a society that watches Mel B being celebrated for losing weight after having a baby…as if she was fat not pregnant!
On a TV show once they put the husband of a big woman in a fat suit and weighed it so it equaled her weight and then they told him to run 100 metres….because he could never understand why she wouldn’t just go running. He soon realised just how much effort she was really putting in!
I think they are in enough pain.
-
Disillusioned March 20, 2012
Hey Phil. I’m a 33yo woman who eats nothing but junk – chips, chocolates, biscuits every day, I have take away at least 3 times a week, I do NO exercise (unless walking from the lounge to the kitchen counts) & I’m approx 5’3 & have never weighed more than 50kgs. What does your “kiloujoules out vs kilojoules in” make of that, hmm? What makes me any less deserving of judgement & discrimination simply because I don’t look fat? Or more to the point, what makes a “fat” person MORE deserving of those things? The fact is, genetics, environment, diseases, etc. play a much larger role in any individual’s appearance than many would care to admit. How about, instead of focussing so much on people’s SIZE, we start focussing on their HEALTH instead?!? Oh, but you can’t necessarily judge a person’s health based on their appearance, can you? :-/
-
Michelle March 20, 2012
Thin people get hyper-tension, suffer diabetes, have heart attacks (Jim Fixx anyone?) and get a whole range of other diseases regardless of their size.
Human beings tend to be visual critters. What we see we believe to be true. We’ve been led to believe that anyone with a BMI of 25 or more must be deathly ill and therefore untouchable and “disgusting”.
Why have we been led to believe this? I don’t really know other than LOTS of people seem to make a LOT of money from it.
-
Lynne March 20, 2012
I have been a member of a 12 step program for twenty years to deal with my binge-eating behavior. I believe there are certain foods & behaviours that trigger a craving in me and through this program have been able to arrest the problem. One of the key factors for me is knowing that everyone has a weight set point and what it is is none of my business ( just as my height is Pre-determined). If I eat good quality mostly unprocessed whole food of a moderate amount as well as abstain from certain trigger foods then my weight will find it’s own set point. I struggled to the point of insanity to contol my weight prior to this but have been able to drop the struggle & become a healthy weight.
-
Lynne March 20, 2012
I am writing this to make the point that it is a very complex issue and claiming to know what others experience is self righteous and may make people feel superior but does nothing to solve the so-called problem ( for me it was a problem). if we dropped the focus on numbers & weight & instead focussed on health it mat help to take away the stigma.
-
Kitt March 20, 2012
Thanks for the article, its refereshing to know that more people are recognising the sinister effects of weight discrimination. One thing I cannot understand – let alone appreciate – is the number of negative commentors whom, despite hearing how painful and damaging body/behaviour shaming is, still believe that the issue is up for vote. The number of people who are fuelled by obesity hoax hysteria appoint themselves to be medical experts, that they can judge a fat person’s health and behaviour just by looking at them. Then they maintain their stance because it is more important for them to believe they are right despite fat people taking the time to tell them how hurtful their attitudes are. Listening to Dr Oz, Dr Phil and the advertisements of a $60 billion weight loss industry does not make them experts, doctors, morally or physically superior.
-
Tia March 20, 2012
If people really and truly cared about the health of “obese” people surely they’d pay attention to the large amount of research which says that stigma and discrimination and going on and on about how “fat is bad” actually makes people unhealthier mentally and physically. And the research which says that if people get exercise and eat a balanced diet they are healthier regardless of whether they lose weight. So if you really do care about health, then you need to stand up against stigma and discrimination and hate. Including stopping thinking about fat people as stereotypes.
I gained a lot of weight while eating a healthy, moderate diet and exercising. How? I had undiagnosed Coeliac disease. Since I was actually getting barely any nutrition, my body went into starvation mode and held on to every calorie I managed to actually digest. My gastroenterologist said I probably won’t lose much weight as my metabolism is like that of people who have strictly dieted for most of ther lives – chronic starvation changes you. But I’m ok with that because my gut has healed, I don’t have vitamin deficiencies and I feel so much better. And if anyone wants to claim I know nothing of nutrition or exercise, they’re welcome to go take a long walk off a short pier. And you know what? I reckon even if someone is fat because they like to eat at a lot and/or not exercise, you still have to treat them like a human being. That’s just basic decency and manners. Your “concern” is unlikely to magically make them lose weight, so you’re just being a douche.
-
Kaz March 20, 2012
This is a fantastic article Samantha.
Perhaps we should all think about the word overweight – over…..weight. The term itself is nebulous – weight being defined by who, comprising what? I’m not sure what it could be replaced with, but strikes me even the terminology we use in everyday language about body image leads us to make assumptions and draw conclusions that are unfair.
I’m in the process of “healthifying” my diet as per the Aust Govt guidelines for healthy eating – reducing my portion sizes, increasing and decreasing proportions of certain foods (protein, carbs, fats, fruit and veges etc) and targetting my exercising. My goal – to establish some patterns that will we set me, and my kids, up for a more healthy lifestyle resulting in less chance of contracting disease (heart, blood, cancer etc). I view this not as a weight loss regime, but an opportunity to teach myself about what I need to eat & what I need to do with my lifestyle to give myself the best shot at living a long life with maximum quality. I think ultimately that intention is what should drive any personal discussion we have with ourselves about our diets and our exercise levels.
I think it’s dangerous to make any assumptions about other peoples individual circumstances, whether it be about their weight, their cultural status, their religious beliefs, their appearance (even their sporting preferences!!). Once we do that we deindividualise people, which makes it easier to target them in a hurtful, and ultimately dangerous way.
Just on the ernergy in/energy out equation mentioned above (if energy in is less than energy out, weight loss will occur), My understanding is that up to 70% of our daily energy expenditure can be attributed to our metabolic rate (which can be affected by any number of variants both within and outside of our individual control). Sure there is more you can do to increase your metabolic rate and therefore increase your energy expenditure, but there are things you just can’t influence – for example your sex, age, your genetics, your fertility status (pregnant or lactating). This doesn’t negate the need to, as I mentioned above, monitor our diet, lifestyle and health to ensure we are giving ourselves the best opportunity to experience a long quality-filled life, but it does mean we CAN’T generalize about what leads to a person being overweight and staying overweight.
-
B. March 20, 2012
Thank you for this article and the discussion below. It has been quite isnightful for me.
I would like to focus on a point that has only been brushed so far. Just for the mindgame let’s assume that Phil and Samantha are right with their thesis that the majority of fat people is simply unwilling to maintain a healthy lifestyle (I don’t agree with this, but let’s just play it for a moment) – so what? Why should this mean that we are allowed to attack them, because they enjoy watching tv and eating chocolate while doing so? People who smoke are causing a huge burden on the health systems as well and yet the society does not keep on telling them that they are disgusting (yes, they tell them that smoking is bad for their health but that is not the same thing as degrading them). Something that is also never mentioned athletes are also a burden on the health systems, because they are prone to costly (long term)-injuries. However we don’t blame because after all what they are doing is healthy is it not? And we don’t blame them because they are too few in number to put a strain on the system as such. But can we blame the obese individual just because they are many of them? You cannot blame an individual because others have the same lifestyle as well.
I don’t argue that there is a strain on the health system and yes, we should find ways to promote healthier lifestyles, but pointing fingers obviously doesn’t work. Let’s not forget that people basically live of “fattening” society (Food and media industry) and at the same time telling them to loose weight (Media, Fitness and Beauty Industry).
The argument of health only goes so far as well – has anyone ever heard of a driver of a motorcycle that was bullied? No? But it’s dangerous as well. You don’t think that’s the same? Why not? There’s the POTENTIAL of injuries and death but it does not necessarily lead to it. Same with obesity. Yes, chances are higher that you will get ill, but not necessarily everyone who is obese will get sick or die because of that. That is also something that is quickly forgotten.
Why can’t we just let them live their “lazy”, “gluttonous” lifes if that’s what they want?-
Samantha March 21, 2012
I did not say that obese people are unwilling to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I do not believe that and my research would not support that statement.
-
-
Michelle March 20, 2012
I had a ‘friend’ of over 30years tell me (after not seeing her for 2years) she ‘didn’t have time to waste on me if I was still fat’……this woman was the closest thing I had to a sister & Godmother/Aunt to my child……..I’ve NEVER forgotten how I felt that day, or how hummiliated I am every time I think of it.
-
Hoot March 20, 2012
I am fat. I am very fat. In fact I am about 60kg over my so-called ‘healthy weight range’. You know why? Because of antidepressants and antipsychotic medication. If I don’t take those medications I will be actively suicidal within days. So I have a choice, be fat or be dead. I know which I would rather. Ultimately it doesn’t matter why someone is fat, their body is none of anyone else’s damn business be they lazy glutton or not.
-
JJ March 21, 2012
I too am in the same boat – in fact the only time I have been in the ‘normal’ range I was anorexic. I remember one doctor telling me, after I said that I hadn;t had a period for ten months, that I ‘must be relieved not to have to deal with it’. For me, thin is NOT good!
-
-
Lynn Lee Novak March 20, 2012
I usually hate the headless fatty pics – and maybe this is because I’m learning to appreciate all body types- but I think the women in that photo look beautiful. Faces would have been nice, though.
-
Kerry March 20, 2012
I really love what this article illustrates, that given the opportunity to talk and understand the issues that exist within a group of marginalised people you can begin to learn what is really happening rather than merely thinking you know. Now we just need more professionals and researchers to actually speak to and with fat persons about the issues that concern and involve them.
-
Veronica March 20, 2012
This was a lovely read! And, I expect, a great way to introduce people to a more size positve view by coming at it from their viewpoint.
-
Kate March 20, 2012
I hope we can run the same article tomorrow on drinking…. so everyone can start walking up to drinkers and shaming them and getting in their business about their unhealthy habits which cost taxpayers a fortune…. after all it is an epidemic!
The cost of the “epidemic” has only really been toted up recently and it was found that average fat person may knock 3 years of their life expectancy but also they cost the system way LESS than those who lived longer.
I am overweight and in 17 years I have had 8 days sick leave (3 of which were “preventative” i.e. to nip something in the bud). No-one else has used so little at my place of work… most use more than that a year. So tell me about health. If that is your concern with my business.
I agree with the experience described here – i have been given so much shit when I attempt to join in/walk/attend gym i would never ever do that again. I exercise in the safety of my own house only. I know it isn’t enough. But it soul destroying and stops me altogether heading into a public place to workout. SO thanks for that all you shamers out there.
So many people comment on what I eat (it is always fun to know they are watching every spoon) and their shock that i don’t eat badly (admittedly the expenditure is lower than it needs to be) and amazement i have never been to mcdonalds. i cant wait for day their “shortcomings” are up for public discussion and advice…
We can talk about Kens bedwetting or Simons narcissim or Jim;s drinking, Leeanns’ smoking,, Kazs’ passive aggressive tendencies, Andreas hypochondria all of which affect prodcutivity/health/the public purse/industry.
I once went to a party where a guy smoking cigs and cannabis and drinking beer all night (also sleeping with the hostess behinds wifes back) lectured me on being a drain on purse…. i think it was kharma when he had a heart event 2 months later and his STDs were all discovered and treated… no no his lifestyle choices aren’t up for debate. He wasnt a drain on the purse.-
Sharon :) March 21, 2012
brilliant comment
-
blue March 21, 2012
“I hope we can run the same article tomorrow on drinking…. so everyone can start walking up to drinkers and shaming them and getting in their business about their unhealthy habits which cost taxpayers a fortune…. after all it is an epidemic!”
Yes, Kate. Great point.
-
-
Kylie March 20, 2012
Well done dissallusioned !
I was exactly the same – spent years anywhere between 10- 15 kg underweight was constantly told I was starving myself but ate constantly..
After kids I put weight on and to this day I feel people are judging me because of it and yet I too could run and had an incredibly physically demanding job and was fitter than my skinny friends – my case does turn out to be medically related but I feel that the rather rare condition was not diagnosed for over 3 years because I had 2 kids under 2 worked full time and wasn’t exercising so as soon as I started doing half an hour a day I would be healthy .. Instead of doctors looking further and realizing there was actually something very wrong – would they have taken so long if they were not letting my weight cloud their judgement ???
And as for the thin being healthy – my dad is 6″3 and weighs 60 kg he has always lived an obsessively healthy life – we had no processed food, rye breads , no salt, sugar tomato sauce anything like that all my life and he had a massive heart attack at 30 years of age 40 odd years ago which was very rare – doctors said he couldn’t possibly have had one no cholesterol , blood pressure problems and skinny as a rake but the pathology assured them he had .
My best friend ran 6 km weekdays and 15-20 kg on weekends ate salad every day and was a size 8 – she passed away at 45 after 3 massive heart attacks and a transplant – the one thing they both had in common – incredibly stressful lives running big businesses NOT FAT but still in the hospital systems “draining” resourcees !
Specialists and nutritionists I have met all agree the BMI system is flawed . Rather than criticize anyone – why not be incredibly thankful that you are able to achieve a body and lifestyle that you are proud of and happy with rather than bleating the kilo joule in vs output means healthy ! -
Badu March 21, 2012
The point of the article, apart from the obvious, meanness should never be used as a health aid. Even if you ignore this and societies have, there is a limit to how mean you can be before you start destroying people more than their so called “sickness”.
If people are so bothered about ‘obesity’ they can solve how human metabolism creates weight; properly. If not, they can save it, because we no longer agree to be told off as we once naively did.
-
Cranky Aunty Lou March 21, 2012
Great article, and very keen on the idea of a non-headless fatty image archive!
Did any of you catch the article in the Australian magazine (don’t judge me) about obesity? It made an interesting point – a former fatty must eat significantly fewer calories to maintain a thin frame than someone of the same size who has never been fat. Makes you think, eh?
As an aside, I think very thin people also get abuse in public, but people are more afraid of them than disgusted. I’ve had bottles thrown at my head from cars, surely no one deserves that however fat they are?
-
Kath March 21, 2012
Yes Cranky Aunty Lou, bodies of all sizes do get shamed – but thin bodies are not referred to in the media as an epidemic. Nobody has suggested that thin bodies should be eradicated/cured/prevented. Nobody suggests a thin body is “disgusting”. Nobody suggest that thin bodies must hide themselves away because the site of them is offensive. Nobody suggests that thin bodies cost the taxpayers money. Nobody suggests a thin body is dirty/smelly/lazy/greedy.
Thin privilege is very much a real thing and in conversations about the vilification of fat bodies, we shouldn’t have to “make room” for thin ones.
-
Samantha March 21, 2012
Hi Cranky Aunt Lou.
Having things thrown at you must have been horrible. I agree with you that people of all shapes and sizes can be ‘shamed’ for their bodies (very tall and very short as well as fat and thin, able and disabled).
Any type of body shaming/discrimination is unacceptable.
-
-
Cranky Aunty Lou March 21, 2012
I didn’t say, I am fat myself, but while I have experienced a fair bit of fat shaming personally, I don’t think that other body types are immune from abuse either. Especially women’s bodies, if that’s not opening a can of worms?
Can I also ask that people stamp out the old “Not YOU, I didn’t mean YOU when I said fat people are gross an lazy” bulltwang? You totally meant me, don’t even lie. (Deep breath, moves on).
-
Frances March 22, 2012
Absolutely, it’s part of a wider body shaming culture. Some bodies are seen as public property and therefore open for comment; fat bodies and women’s bodies are amongst them.
-
-
Phil Barker March 22, 2012
Was discussing this whole thing, including people being fat due to genes or medical conditions or whatever – not their own habits – with a friend and he said “Mate, have a look at a pic of the diggers on the Burma railway. There aren’t any “medically fat” 140kg blokes standing there among all the skin-and-bones starving, are there?”
Interesting point …-
Samantha March 22, 2012
Not quite sure what your point is Phil?
-
Kath March 23, 2012
Phil thinks that fat people should be starved to the point of death in the name of “health”. Yeah, that makes sense.
-
-
Weeze March 22, 2012
Nice one Phil – I think the “POW/concentration camp” analogy is the Godwin’s Law on any discussion about obesity. It’s a wonder it took you so long…
-
Phil Barker March 28, 2012
Well I didn’t mention Hitler so not sure Godwin’s Law applies here but my point was that in all pics of situations where people, for whatever reason, are eating a reduced kilojoule diet for a period of time, there’s no “medically obese” person lurking in the background. Judging from the nearly-100 comments here, you’d think there would be at least 50 percent of them still overweight, because no matter how little they eat, the medical obese are still fat.
This has been argued loud and long. The Burma Railway example my mate raised counters it rather sharply, I thought.
And the reason I’m continuing down this path, despite annoying everyone, is that when I point this out I’m being somehow offensive is ridiculous.
I think overweight people won’t be happy until …
a) they’re totally absolved of personal responsibility for the state of their bodies and …
b) No one’s allowed to notice, mention or react to the fact someone’s morbidly obese.
I don’t think anyone should ever be vilified for anything, ever. And I wouldn’t usually carry on this stridently about anything and I’m usually very left wing and tolerant, but this is just nuts. No-one’s saying fat people should be vivlfied. Nor should they be skinny. But maybe some of them are responsible for the state of their own bodies – that’s all I’m saying. You’d really think I was saying worse, from the bizarre responses. Sheesh. -
Len April 9, 2012
Nobody cries harder than a bully when they’re called on it … You have the right to an opinion but when your opinion causes harm to other people, don’t be surprised when they react …
Phil, there is a difference between people who are surviving and people who are not. I am a medically healthy fat person but if you starved and abused me, I would become thin. Right before I died. You know, while my body was infesting its own muscle and organs. Your analogy went a bridge too far. Please don’t go there again.
And please don’t react in shock and hurt if people who will never share your thin privilege are angry that you imply they could be ‘fixed’ by being tortured. This reaction is not ‘bizarre’: it is, in fact, shocked and revolted.
-
Len April 9, 2012
Another quick response to your last comment Phil:
a) In our society, personal responsibility for the state of our bodies is pretty much that: personal. This is the freedom I am grateful to have. It means that I am legally allowed to eat the way I choose/can afford, exercise the way I choose/can afford, within cultural parameters I can appear the way I choose. I must obey road rules, uphold health and safety measures to protect myself and others, I choose to get regular health treatments and vaccinations. None of us require your absolution, Phil.
b) Speaking for myself only, I embrace the word fat. I know I’m fat and have no issues to other people referring to this obvious fact – in context. A flight assistant asking if I would like a seatbelt extender? Fine. My doctor suggesting safe ways to exercise certain muscles? Yes please, trusted GP. But some random stranger observing that as I’m fat, I must be lazy? Or somebody telling me off at the supermarket for buying bread because it’s fattening? Or somebody whose opinion means nothing to me going to great efforts to inform me that they don’t find me attractive? Socially and culturally inappropriate. If you wouldn’t say it to a ‘normal sized’ person, don’t say it to me. My body is not up for public discussion. Neither is yours, nor anybody else’s. Being publicly fat does not invite anybody to ‘notice, react to or mention’ my body.
-
Len April 9, 2012
I just want to point something out to a couple of people in this discussion.
The excellent article was about how weight discrimination can negatively impact health and wellbeing.
A few commenters (only a few) have oh-so-thoughtfully pointed out that in their opinion, some people are fat because of dietary habits and lack of exercise.
Okay, accepted, but this is to what purpose exactly? Why is it so important to maje this point? This can apply equally to fat people and thin people. Thin people who don’t exercise and eat well are rarely shamed for it. All fat people are shamed, whether this applies or not. Pointing out that some people don’t eat well or exercise is shaming. It is also none of anybody else’s business. Bodies and health are private.
Those people who were at great pains to comtribute to this public shaming by earnestly sharing their opinions, are now complaining that they never intended to shame anybody.
Oh, you poor creatures. You chose a public forum to air your opinions that SOME people just don’t act the way you want them to, even though it is neither your problem or your business. You were then shouted down by a lot of people who get told, every single day in myriad ways, this exact message. This message, which is painfully bigoted.
You can protest all you want that you are ‘not being a bully’ or ‘don’t think people should ever be villified’. But until you appreciate that commenting publicly and negatively on another person’s body or choices because they’re not privileged like you are IS bullying and IS villification, then you remain – whether you like it or not – part of the healthist, anti-diversity culture of body-shaming that destroys lives.
Whereas – as Dr Thomas points out – keeping your precious opinion to yourself and instead actively participating in a culture of weight-neutral non-discriminatory accessible public health, does everybody a favour and encourages the type of healthy lifestyle choices you hold so dear. What is so difficult about that?
Rant ended.
-
Phil Barker April 11, 2012
Len – you now what? – you’re right. I should have kept my opinion to myself. How anyone else looks is none of my business. However people want to be is entirely their own choice.
I’m not thin, though. I’m not “thin privileged”. How I want my body to be is entirely up to me. I control it. -
Len April 11, 2012
Thank you for saying that, Phil. That was decent of you.
It is great that you control your body. However I do want to advise readers that if you don’t regularly have the experiences of being sneered at, laughed at, shouted at in public; if you can go into a regular department store or clothes shop and expect to find something in your size; if you can get onto public transport without fear of being shamed and possibly kicked off (talking about certain airlines here); if the only characters on TV and movies that resemble you are portrayed as stupid, lazy or humorous; if medical professionals prescribe diet for everything from torn muscles to depression; if you know your appearance won’t lose you a job; if you don’t get denied benefits at your work because it is assumed you are too lazy to deserve them … if these things don’t happen to you – you have thin privilege.
-
Phil Barker April 11, 2012
Alright, and please bear with me here, I’m genuinely interested in a considered answer.
As it’s such an horrific experience, why continue to live with it? -
Len April 11, 2012
Same reasons any people live with bigotry and prejudice. I have privileges in society too, and try to be aware of them and fight on behalf of my fellow people who don’t have them.
Now what question were you actually asking? Why I don’t lose weight? Beats me. Decades of dieting and exercise later – you tell me. Why I don’t get bariatric surgery? Because I would rather live my life as fat and healthy without expensive disfiguring surgery while I’m not actually sick, thanks so much.
Or are you wondering why I don’t … you know?
-
Louise May 30, 2012
Im one of the lucky ones. I lost 86kg 8 years ago and it stayed off. But then I did my research and used a lapband, one of the few methods that statistically prove effective over 10 year studies. I can most certainly say then when I was overweight, life was harsh, people treated me at times with contempt. In particular stangers were difficult – I constantly had to push extra hard to get them to see the ‘me inside’ to create a decent interaction. Now I am damn well gorgeous and loving every second. Heck even at 42 I have people propositioning me … which is now a bit of a pain, but quite a brain spin! Recently I had to have the band loosened right off, and discovred that even a diet of 600 calories a day was too much – was still putting on weight!! At that low intake its darned hard to balance the diet too. So I can only imagine how impossible my new body size would have ever have been to keep without my handy band. Even when overweight, I regularly visited the gym, had home cooked meals full of vegetables and so forth. It annoys me that we can all feel sorry for smokers as its recognized that its hard to give it up. But fat people receive just contempt. Oh and don’t eat an ice cream in public!!
-
Rhoda July 22, 2012
I have a friend who is obese and has health issues – thyroid, blood pressure problems – all sorts of problems. She also suffers depression and anxiety. She buys a carton of organic fruit and vegies every week but most is wasted. She doesn’t cook and hates housework. I was invited into her bedroom to look at something not so long ago and there were boxes of chips all over the place. Must admit I was a little shocked.
But she is the loveliest person, looks after her elderly Mum, is very family orientated and adores her children – went to University as a mature aged student some years ago to get a degree in IT. She works part time for her sister from home.
I have never made any comment to her about her weight as I know she didn’t choose to be obese – it happened – life happens – but she has mentioned how inconvenient it can be on planes and so on.
Giving her instructions/hints or advice on what to do about it would not help. She is as smart as me – smarter – and besides I was taught there is such a thing as manners. I think a lot of people could use some.
-
Jenna July 24, 2012
I have always been the tallest girl out of my friends, and the heaviest. My weight fluctuates from 80 to 100kg (I’m 6ft tall) and while I hate how I feel at 100kg, neither weight had anything to do with what or how much I eat. I can drop 15kg without even thinking about it, as soon as I am relaxed and unstressed.
But, with an impending wedding I tried everything, even Michelle Bridges 1200 cal a day diet. Nup. Then, one day I read an article on here about the book ‘If not dieting, then what’. And finally I am at peace. I don’t care! I don’t care how I look, I know it is a result of stress, and my partner who loves me regardless of how I look.
So hopefully I will fit back into my normal clothes soon, but I am three weeks away from my wedding at 95… and I couldn’t care less!
Thanks, Hoopla.
