Obesity

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There is nothing wrong with being a overweight (unless its taken to an extreme), but what I don't like is people blaming it on stupid things like medication (my mother was perscribed steriods and she did not put on tons of weight), not having enough hours in the day (is it really so wrong to cut down on TV?) or saying they are 'big boned' - why yes that is a large 'belly bone'!

 

Acrtually, in many cases medication can cause weight gain (or loss) - not necessarily directly, but the effects of themedication can very well lead to inability to maintain former levbel of excersise and/or appetite.

As it is, my $.02's worth is thatthere is nothing wrong with obesity per se, but rather, with people's attitudes - both the ones suffering from in and those looking at it (no pun intended) from the outside.

People should give a damn about themselves and others as a whole, not just about their stomachs.

 

As far as attitudes go, I would go for a wider (and somewhat twisted) interpretation of what Ara said. As in, people should look on the whole person and not just his stomach, but the other people need to look on themselves and the others as a whole, as well, not just themselves and their stomachs.

As an example, I don't like the "make them pay for two seats" attitude, but I surely am not going to enjoy someone taking half my space in addition to his own. I would mind a little healthcare extra from my tax money. As a society, we're one big family and it works a little bit as mutual insurance. But I surely wouldn't like to be the milking cow for someone's vices of any kind, not just food.

As far as the feed the hungry children in Africa analogy goes, it works for those of us who buy a new car every two years because the old one isn't cool enough, while poor children have to walk two hours on foot for school, doesn't it? Or for those of us who own more garments than they can wear, while poor people have to wear second-hand clothes and repair them themselves.

But back to more generic attitudes for a while. Perhaps we don't like children pointing fingers at "fatsos". Well, I have to say I don't. On the other hand, though, I don't like the "if they don't like it they can shove it" attitude popular in the modern society. It sounds like do what you want, the system can hold it all. The victim mentality gives an excellent excuse to keep indulging instead of fighting urges. That and the "why should I put any limits on myself" kind of liberation. We are complaining about people who have six meals a day but I remember talking to a girl who was horrified by the idea of having to stay faithful when her man was away for a couple of weeks (not like we don't have, for example, married men collecting porn, on the other side of the gender divide). Well, just look on my face when you start talking about putting any limits on computer/internet use... Or caffeine intake.

Still, the are reasons behind overweight which are at least partly beyond control. Mostly psychological problems rather than anything related to the way food groups are being digested, I think. Still, different kinds of foods affect different people differently. Our bodies usually know what's going to be good for them. At least mine does. For example, when I looked on that red-labelled discount Russian booze they brought along, I knew it wasn't going to end well... And it didn't. Well, sometimes we ignore hunches. But I suppose disorders can mess with them hunches and send different vibes than they should.

After eating something tasty for dinner, I usually feel full and don't get another plate. If I did, I would have myself to blame for taking an appearance hit. Of course, I can still take some more and I occasionally will, but it'd better be after some break. And it's not like I care all that much. But afterwards, I know I have to hold it a bit or get a walk or something. If I didn't get those feelings, it would be quite difficult. I can imagine the pain of not getting those or getting them less strong.

So, to sum up, if it's all about attitudes, a good first step would be to come to terms with the fact that other people look like they look and we do like we do. The visual aesthetic comfort of those who aren't overweight isn't worth a significant and painful complication in the overweight folks' lives. On the other hand, the latter had better realise that they aren't exactly within limits and try to deal with it or accept the complications. By dealing with it, I understand researching the real cause instead of putting it down imaginated disorders and waving it away. As for accepting the complications, I remember an overweight person complaining that everyone was into looks and that it was so shallow. After some politically correct assertions, the person finally got some no-nonsense replies saying it was either getting another snack or getting a man. But, would a less than handsome guy really care? I guess it was a bit like why were all good looking guys so shallow to care about looks, in this case. While bad comments are rude, it was quite hard for the person to collect praise for looks which practically all women need and the sooner she would realise that, the better for her. Doesn't mean there could be no praise for other qualities, but well... if you don't care about about a certain aspect of yourself, you can't really expect to be exceptional in it and garner high praise. It's either or. Tough choice between gluttony and vanity. For other people, it might be between their dietary fancies and their athletic capabilities. Spending on groceries or spending on entertainment. Whatever. Just let's own up to the choice and not expect both to have the cake and have it eaten. If it's medical, well... some people can't run much because they're too fat. I can't run much because I have asthma. They have problems travelling because of the seats, others need crutches to walk. I guess realising some things and ceasing to expect the impossible helps anyway.

 

Chev; I phrased what I meant a buit badly.... basically, what I meant was that people should not think with their stomachs OR thought as their stomachs, so we sort of agree...

and that makes even less sense, I guess.

 

Yeah, I sort of read it like that. Call it intuition. Just needed a caveat just in case. Sort of developed the short general thought I found in your post into a bigger rant.

 

I'm going to introduce a similar scenerio to illustrate my position. As a teacher of high school animals -- er, children! -- I see all sorts of kids -- to paraphrase a classic film, The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. Many of these kids have "learning disabilities", which means more funding for the school (more on THAT little scam in another thread).

Some kids will look me right in the eye and say "I have (insert disability here) so I can't (do whatever)." Other kids (usually with the help of decent parents -- more on that in yet another thread) find ways to work around their disabilities. One of the best students in the school at this very moment has SEVERE dyslexia, but he does not use that as an excuse to shirk work or to not do his best.

Now, some diseases or conditions create insurmountable barriers ("You're in a wheelchair? You could run if you really wanted to, you little bugger!") but there are far too many cases of people using medical conditions as excuses for laziness and excess.

 

I have dyslexia. In actually confused left and right even in early teens. How many mistakes do you see me making? But my handwriting is beyond help.

 

Back on topic, I watched the final of "The Biggest Loser" last night. Man, some of those people lost some serious weight and seemed pretty happy about it.

 

I watched a documentry called 'Chubby Chasers'. Its about men that love their women *big*, but I could not help thinking that these guys had weird fetishes, as one female was so large that she had sever breathing problems.

My opinion is that as long as you are healthy, than its okay to be overweight. I cannot think of any conditions that make you bedbound and crave 10 bigmacs!

 

A few of you are speaking as though it is the prosperity of the west that makes us tend more towards obesity. This may be true, to a point. In America at least, the upper-class citizenry as a whole is much less obese than the poorer people. Why? Because wealth brings education and that education helps teach you how to avoid obesity. Of course, wealthier people are also generally less lazy and that may play a role too.

I blame the problem more on laziness than anything. If you can't step away from the TV for twenty minutes a day to exercise then something is seriously wrong with you. It's actually pretty easy since there's nothing worth watching on anymore.

 

Healthy food is more expensive than junk food; it also takes much morre time to prepare. To someone who works minimum wage till exhaustion, fast, cheap foood is much more attractive.

 

@Cesard: Somatic conditions probably can't. Perhaps hunger and exhaustion could do it on a one time basis. I remember eating 4 Italian (=humongous) plates of spaghetti for supper in Rome after a day of walking in the sun and no meal since early morning. But on a repeated basis? No... that would have to be a psychological condition if at all. Depression can make you crave candy, chocolate, bars, chips etc and the more you give in, the more it tempts you until you have to cut it altogether (like I did). Perhaps junk food works the same way. Well, I know it does.

Wealthier people tend to eat smaller portions, I think, and gourmet meals actually tend to be better composed nutrition-wise, I think.

I don't think, though, that junk food is so much cheaper than real food. For a single person, if you bought meat for two steaks, a couple of potatoes and a tomato or some other veggie, it should cost you less than a big mac. I even remember eating decent dinners out for the price of a Big Mac Menu. When I really need something fast, I'd rather get a sandwich in a sandwich bar. The bread they use is inifinitely tastier than Mac's inflatable buns, you get some pork or turkey ham instead of dubious Mac meat and a good load of veggies for half the Big Mac price. You see everything you're going to get before they put it inside. For a little extra, you can switch the ham for roasted meat in the bigger bars round here (the small ones don't have a wide selection, just the best-selling ones). Tiny little ethnic food joints aren't expensive, either. There is plenty of alternatives to Mac and crappy hamburgers in general.

 

I don't believe the government should take responsiblity for a personal fight of weight. The corporation that saturate us with junk food, fastfood, etc... should take 1/2 of the tab of obese individuals. I say this because if it wasn't for their additives, saturated fats, & hydro by products 1/2 of all obese people wouldn't be obese. Plan the companies who make junk and try to sell it as healthy.

 

Interesting that someone should repost in this thread after so long and this is in the news:

Woman Offended By Obesity Advise

Only one person is responsible for obesity -- the individual. They either need to seek medical aid or get a more healthy lifestyle. The idea that 'someone else' is responsible for a persons eating habits is ridiculous to me (except maybe the parents).

 

Oh, but does that story ever raise more questions than it answers!

Why did the Board reject its committee's recommendation? What crime was committed that the AG's office should have any jurisdiction? Who in the AG's office is qualified to determine if the doc was mistaken or not? And lastly, is the patient a clueless moron who neither owns a mirror nor listens to the news?

 

Yes being obese is the individuals fault but if we didnt' have all these convience food it would be a lot harder to gain weight than it actually is. Imagine if there was no McDonald's or Burger Kings, etc... We would actually not be consuming pure fats as often as we now. Take the twinkies and cup cakes off the shelves, again less chance of a fatter America. Yeah these companies supply jobs, but at what cost to society?

 

While your points a well taken Silver Knight, I don't think there is anybody forcing you to buy those products. All it takes is a little self control. I drive by a McDonalds and Burger King every day both going to and coming from work - but I never stop at them. Even if I'm hungry, I drive on by. I mean, if you can't resist going into a fast food restaurant, and eating there with any frequency, then there are definitely some willpower issues.

 

Sorry Silver, but I disagree. Excluding medical reasons, people become overweight from too high caloric intake and/or lack of activity. Take away Burger King, McDonald's and Hostess throughout America and you would still have just as many overweight/obese people. We, as a society, have encouraged lack of exercise by making everything more convienent -- we sit in front of the boob tube for hours at a time (or computer) and wonder why we get flabby. I worked at McDonald's throughout high school and college and NEVER gained a pound. I went into the Navy and ate on a ship (very balanced diets, low fat, but high calorie) and gained twenty pounds in six months. The high caloric intake could come from anywhere -- blaming fast food is just a cop out.

Rally: I don't understand either. The DA had no business in the issue or recommending any action.

 

I agree with Silver Knight. There has to be a degree of corporate responsibilty. Yet, it's kind of a catch 22: companies wish to make what they sell desirable, yet it's irresponsible to contribute willingly to the poor health of others in society. IMO, the blame is shared equally here between both parties.

We wish to attack drug dealers for peddling drugs; more so than casual users. And we blame them for hawking their dangerous "products" on those who should know better. And they represent a huge health risk. Thus, they get very stiff sentences (which is somewhat justified). Here again, both parties buy into the scheme willingly. So is there a double standard here?

 

If there was no Mcdonalds etc, think of the opportunity for small businesses making their own burgers etc - it would be healthier, create more jobs, better quailty of food, and there would be individuality.

When I was last in the states I did not visit one fast food 'restaurant', perfering to support small dinners, cafes etc.