Why is obesity considered deviant behavior?
Replies
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*lights up*
1. Treating smokers with ridicule and disgust has helped to reduce the number of smokers. Same should apply to obesity. Don't underestimate the power of societal pressure.
Orly? Tell me all of your disgusting habits. Let me shame you for them, then you can tell me how that makes you feel.
Shaming someone into losing weight will do nothing but destroy whatever little self esteem they have left.
Also, you're a peach if you truly believe that ridiculing and shaming someone into doing what *you* want them to do is the right way to go about life.
The high school mean girls club called. They want their tactics back.0 -
My prolific use of drugs was deviant. When i quit i got fat...didn't like being fat and took responsibility for MY eating behaviors and now im normal. Ouch that stings!0
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I don't know why people keep saying veggies are so expensive. They aren't THAT bad. Sheesh. You can buy giant bags of frozen veggies for dirt cheap. You can also find farmers markets and get them there at a lower cost. The real problem is that we've moved away as a society from cooking at home to doing everything so it's easier for us all. It's simpler to just buy food and something precooked is easier. Veggies are available and can be purchased for decent prices. You have to choose what you buy - skip the bag of horrible deep fried chips and buy bananas or bell peppers...it's all choice. The pricing isn't that horrendous. I've seen grocery carts full of sodas and artificial stuff - they could choose to eat right - they choose to not do so. We are here because we've chosen to change our lives and eat the right way. Personally, I don't think we're wasting as much food now that I'm constantly cooking and actually preparing real stuff. We freeze anything that might go bad and waste less. It's all a process.
Monica0 -
Maybe we should get rid of our cars and just ride obese people to work?
That would solve a number of issues.0 -
We clearly need the government to fix this.
Raise taxes.0 -
*lights up*
Orly? Tell me all of your disgusting habits. Let me shame you for them, then you can tell me how that makes you feel.
Shaming someone into losing weight will do nothing but destroy whatever little self esteem they have left.
Also, you're a peach if you truly believe that ridiculing and shaming someone into doing what *you* want them to do is the right way to go about life.
The high school mean girls club called. They want their tactics back.
Srs. The change in attitude toward smoking in the US *did* impact the number of smokers. If obese people weren't allowed to eat fast food inside, that would begin to gradually change the number of obese people.
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.0 -
Funny, while I am far from poor I actually spend less on food now that I am eating healthy. Amazing how much cheaper it is to pack my healthy lunch that run to grab fast food every day.
And also, I don't buy into "emotional eating" as being a cause. CHOOSING to emotionally eat it a cause. Yeah, I get the people get sad, lonely, depressed, whatever and turn to food for comfort. I am a single dad, and when my kids go visit their mom I tend to get sad, lonely, and a little depressed. But that doesn't mean you have to channel that into food. Yes, it is an easy quick fix so to speak. But so is going to the gym. Channel those feelings into moving weight around. Hell, channel them into just simply moving YOURSELF around.0 -
It's because obesity is linked, falsely in my opinion, with laziness and gluttony. Sure, I think there are a small minority of obese people who are merely feckless. Most of them? I don't think so.
Still it's easy to giving obese people a metaphorical kicking. They have very little social empowerment so will rarely fight back. If anything they will accept it gladly because they undoubtedly deserve it because of their lack of willpower or something like that.
Telling an obese person that they could be slim if only they could eat less and move more is about as useful as telling a chronically shy man that he could get laid if only he could find some confidence. Sounds great but utterly useless advice in practice.
yes, yes, yes.0 -
Wow, just wow. OP, yes, you are correct. While there is a place for talking about will power here, ridicule is NOT the answer (nor was it ever for smoking, making quitting easier and smoking more expensive and difficult has done a lot more). As a disease prevention specialist, let me explain a little about reducing "risk behavior" (overeating, smoking, unprotected sex with multiple partners, binge drinking, whatever). There's a lot that we can do as a society to help people not do these things, although the choice is always personal. A small percentage of people will always do the "right" thing, no matter how difficult, and a small percentage will always do the damaging thing, no matter how easy to avoid it, but for most people, we take the path of least resistance (socially and physically). Think about it, you are on this site because it is a tool that helps make staying, or getting, healthy easier. While the cure to obesity is already known, we still live in a society where people see fast food (they've done EVERYTHING to try and make this the easiest choice!) as easy and maintaining a healthy weight as difficult. Sites like this, weightwatchers, personal trainers and video programs all work because they make doing the things we know we need to do easier. Please, all of you, get off your high horses and remember that you needed help to get where you are now, whether that was a tool for calorie counting (let's face it, I wouldn't do it if I had to whip out a calculator and read a label every time I ate something!), a community (I'm loving the support fitness group I joined for April, it's helping me), a friend who did it with you, a prize like new clothes, a grocery list that you stick to or whatever. OP, I highly recommend you continue to look for ways to make your path of least resistance one that also leads to health.0
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I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.
Yes, I don't think that obese people should be allowed to use the same water fountains as me.
It's simply outrageous.0 -
ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and a considerable amount of cancers are not self inflicted or self imposed. Whereas obesity, more often than not, is self imposed.
I also respectfully disagree somewhat with your position that obesity is not a character flaw. In my opinion all addictions in part are character flaws. The addicted has exercised poor judgment or ignorance to the truths of the substance and lacked the self control or willpower to prevent, or in hindsight, remedy the situation. How is it anything other than a series of character flaws?
No one feeds me but me. I am fat because I made me fat. Not a disease, not an evil corporation, not a lack of intervention from the government, and certainly not because enough money hasn't been thrown at it. I am 100% responsible for getting myself here, and I'll take 100% of the responsibility and credit for getting myself out of here.0 -
*lights up*
Orly? Tell me all of your disgusting habits. Let me shame you for them, then you can tell me how that makes you feel.
Shaming someone into losing weight will do nothing but destroy whatever little self esteem they have left.
Also, you're a peach if you truly believe that ridiculing and shaming someone into doing what *you* want them to do is the right way to go about life.
The high school mean girls club called. They want their tactics back.
Srs. The change in attitude toward smoking in the US *did* impact the number of smokers. If obese people weren't allowed to eat fast food inside, that would begin to gradually change the number of obese people.
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.
No.
More information about smoking and its effects has caused people to stop smoking...cuz they were dying....so many quit...and many didn't.
Just like obese people who feel like they're dying will eventually make a choice to lose weight...or not. People need to make their choices and aholes pushing their opinions down their throats is NOT the way to do it.
Smoking outside was so that other families who don't smoke or have children don't have to inhale someone else's toxins.
An obese person eating outside? What on earth does that help to do? Having no smoking rules isn't infringing on your human rights. Telling you that you can't eat inside cuz you're fat is, IMO.0 -
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I agree the taxes definitely reduced smoking because it is pretty expensive to smoke now, but socially unacceptable isn't a reason for the laws etc, its because it was killing those who don't smoke.. Obesity is just killing the person that is eating it.. that's why its a different beast than smoking is.0 -
Yes, I don't think that obese people should be allowed to use the same water fountains as me.
It's simply outrageous.
Sorry, as much as I'd love to continue this conversation with you, I'd like to know your BMI. I'm sorry, I just have strict rules about who I can talk to. Thank you.
With love,
Burt0 -
While there's a grain of truth to culture being to blame, obesity, addiction, smoking etc are all "caused" by poor choices.People are not perfect and no matter how much money is put into studies, there will be people who make poor choices.0
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*lights up*
Orly? Tell me all of your disgusting habits. Let me shame you for them, then you can tell me how that makes you feel.
Shaming someone into losing weight will do nothing but destroy whatever little self esteem they have left.
Also, you're a peach if you truly believe that ridiculing and shaming someone into doing what *you* want them to do is the right way to go about life.
The high school mean girls club called. They want their tactics back.
Srs. The change in attitude toward smoking in the US *did* impact the number of smokers. If obese people weren't allowed to eat fast food inside, that would begin to gradually change the number of obese people.
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.
Precisely.
And once we're done with that we can decide what other behaviors we don't like as a society and start to weed those out as well. Gum chewing can be annoying. So any time you walk past someone chewing gum feel free to make rude comments towards them. You're being helpful after all.
They came for the smokers and I said nothing, because I don't smoke
Then they came for the fatties and I said nothing, because I'm not fat
Then I realized with all the smokers and fat people gone life was a hell of a lot less fun.0 -
An obese person eating outside? What on earth does that help to do? Having no smoking rules isn't infringing on your human rights. Telling you that you can't eat inside cuz you're fat is, IMO.
This is a support website. The original poster was asking why more isn't being done. Do you just go shooting down people's great ideas all day like some sort of great idea assassin?
All I'm saying is, the OP is looking for ideas to help control people's behavior. I'm offering solutions and all you're doing is being a wet blanket on my tickertape parade, so you can take this job and shove it.0 -
Not sure if srs. Totally hoping you're not.*lights up*
Orly? Tell me all of your disgusting habits. Let me shame you for them, then you can tell me how that makes you feel.
Shaming someone into losing weight will do nothing but destroy whatever little self esteem they have left.
Also, you're a peach if you truly believe that ridiculing and shaming someone into doing what *you* want them to do is the right way to go about life.
The high school mean girls club called. They want their tactics back.
Srs. The change in attitude toward smoking in the US *did* impact the number of smokers. If obese people weren't allowed to eat fast food inside, that would begin to gradually change the number of obese people.
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.0 -
Srs. The change in attitude toward smoking in the US *did* impact the number of smokers. If obese people weren't allowed to eat fast food inside, that would begin to gradually change the number of obese people.
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I think it's completely reasonable that the obese be treated the same way. Overtaxed, marginalized, excluded, and treated as something less than a person - rude comments made freely toward them because our society just doesn't stand for it anymore.
It works.
I have to say, there is a line between simply acknowledging that people generally have the body they have because they choose to have that body, and being a down right jerk. And you kinda cross that line.0 -
my obesity was caused by two things
1. I was being to lazy and not wanting to get off my butt and get moving
2. I was eating way beyond my proper portions or not eating enough most days
It is us who needs to take responsibility for our own actions. not the government. we can choose to eat mcdonald's or not to.
one the times I go out like when my child has away games I pre plan ahead of time by checking out the lowest calorie options.
I chose to be obese and weigh 250 pounds by my own actions. just like I am choosing now to do something about it. I lost 75 pounds thus far in doing so.
^ This.
There is a difference between being diagnosed with a disease like cancer or having a mental illness - no one chooses those. Addiction can be characterized as a disease, but they are also the result of choices. Once someone crosses the line into addiction their actions are often beyond their control, fueled simply by the need to feed that addiction above anything else. I chose food as a coping mechanism, for comfort, for the love of food, to escape/ whatever. There are underlying issues as to why I did what I did, but I wasn't blind to the fact that eating what I ate would have me end up obese at 33 years old.
I think it would be helpful to have more educational programs for young people to learn about proper diet and nutrition - showing a pyramid and say eat this is not enough. I think it would be beneficial to also offer programs to low income families to show them that on a limited income they can have healthy and nutritious food. There are some places where I live that offer such programs through the food bank and social assistance, and I think it is a good start.0 -
An obese person eating outside? What on earth does that help to do? Having no smoking rules isn't infringing on your human rights. Telling you that you can't eat inside cuz you're fat is, IMO.
This is a support website. The original poster was asking why more isn't being done. Do you just go shooting down people's great ideas all day like some sort of great idea assassin?
All I'm saying is, the OP is looking for ideas to help control people's behavior. I'm offering solutions and all you're doing is being a wet blanket on my tickertape parade, so you can take this job and shove it.
lol except that it's not a great idea...I would imagine the OP was looking for ideas that actually make sense and may work.
I only shove things on Thursdays. Sorry.0 -
In for the inevitable tattoo and body art bashing which is sure to come.0
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So basically obese people are choosing to engage in activities which quite literally could and will lead to their deaths?
Given that the overriding biological imperative is survival that theory seems distinctly like utter rubbish to me...0 -
Whether it's good or bad is debatable but the fact is that the demonization of smoking and smokers has had a HUGE impact on the number of smokers - it's taxed out the *kitten*, it's barred indoors, and all because it's grown to be considered "societally unacceptable".
I agree the taxes definitely reduced smoking because it is pretty expensive to smoke now, but socially unacceptable isn't a reason for the laws etc, its because it was killing those who don't smoke.. Obesity is just killing the person that is eating it.. that's why its a different beast than smoking is.
Except it is contributing greatly to rising health care costs for everyone. I am not saying I agree with any specific policy stated here, but it is true that obesity is one of the larger contributing factors to the health care problem we currently face in the US (meaning rapidly rising health care costs).0 -
Your lack of knowledge about the societal problems behind obesity is astounding. Look up Food Access and Low-Income Neighborhoods in a reputable public health journal. It's great that you've found your way out of eating crap, but your pathway was easier than it is for some: You have easy access to a grocery store that has many healthy items to choose from, you are the head of your household and therefore the "gatekeeper" for what food is brought in the house, you have the time and money to get to a gym frequently etc. I'm not saying people with financial difficulty CAN'T get healthy, but it's more difficult for more than one reason.Funny, while I am far from poor I actually spend less on food now that I am eating healthy. Amazing how much cheaper it is to pack my healthy lunch that run to grab fast food every day.
And also, I don't buy into "emotional eating" as being a cause. CHOOSING to emotionally eat it a cause. Yeah, I get the people get sad, lonely, depressed, whatever and turn to food for comfort. I am a single dad, and when my kids go visit their mom I tend to get sad, lonely, and a little depressed. But that doesn't mean you have to channel that into food. Yes, it is an easy quick fix so to speak. But so is going to the gym. Channel those feelings into moving weight around. Hell, channel them into just simply moving YOURSELF around.0 -
This is a support website. The original poster was asking why more isn't being done. Do you just go shooting down people's great ideas all day like some sort of great idea assassin?
All I'm saying is, the OP is looking for ideas to help control people's behavior. I'm offering solutions and all you're doing is being a wet blanket on my tickertape parade, so you can take this job and shove it.
lol except that it's not a great idea...I would imagine the OP was looking for ideas that actually make sense and may work.
I only shove things on Thursdays. Sorry.
Excellent. I will send you a PM tomorrow. 0 -
And just to make sure this stays Chit Chatty and Fun... I leave you with this.0
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Excellent. I will send you a PM tomorrow.
lol
Excellent...I'll be watching my inbox tomorrow. You best not disappoint.0 -
Are you serious?0
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Yes, for most people it's a choice. They don't choose to be obese, they chose not to do something about it. And please note I said "most people" before you tell me about all the medical reasons someone might be obese.So basically obese people are choosing to engage in activities which quite literally could and will lead to their deaths?
Given that the overriding biological imperative is survival that theory seems distinctly like utter rubbish to me...0
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