Benefits:Too fat to work

sweetdixie92 wrote: »

Why should people who actually discipline themselves have to pay for someone who doesn't? Obesity can be helped. It's not a real disability. Eat less.

megladgrl wrote: »

Obesity is not a disability it's a choice.

I'm sorry, but blanket statements like this really get me. That's like saying all Muslims are members of ISIS, or all Christians are members of the KKK. Not cool, at all!

Not EVERYONE who is obese, is that way simply due to eating too much. Accidents, medical conditions, all can play a part. Yes, some people are just lazy and eat bad, but don't put everyone in the same box because it is quite disrespectful (and potentially disheartening/upsetting) to those who don't actually have the control they would like...

As for the show, I didn't see it.. But i'm glad after hearing the stories of some of their attitudes mentioned in earlier posts! But yes, all countries probably have people scamming the system... And if it's not due to obesity, it'll be something else... Some people just don't like working, and will find any excuse unfortunately

Didnt dare watch it.. knew I'd be fuming. Last January I was 20+ stone... oops, technically obese and in a bad place... still working for myself though, no benefits for me.
Sometimes obesity is due to genuine illness, but most of the time, as proven, it's down to slovenly, lazy, badly educated bludgers. There is no excuse... my god, what I'd give for the dole to pay for a gym pass for me.. never gonna happen... and yet they get to sit on their ever-increasing arses without a care in the world.
.gov should cut their dole, or give them hampers. In the long run nhs pays more to look after them so .gov should be doing all they can to encourage/pay for gym access instead of readies for beer and maccy d's
and waits...

HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »

That's a hard one. Where do you make the line? What if the disabilities were the result of a life of too much liquor? What if the disability was the result of an auto accident while speeding? Yes, you can always find a few individuals who will use their own bad behaviors to game a system but most folks don't. It is extraordinarily difficult for any system to build a set of rules that will separate the few cheats from the many who truly need the help. So the better system would be to give folks appropriate help such that they get what they truly need.

I think you've raised some valid points. The other thing to consider is mental health. How many mentally together people have weight that's THAT out of control? Are folks who are 700lbs genuinely happy, driven, and motivated, or are they perhaps secretly struggling with depression or an untreated injury that makes walking difficult? If these folks had the tools to handle their relationships with food better, they probably wouldn't be on tv.

The "system" as it were, isn't set up to help people mitigate their issues. Give them food and shelter and maybe a pat on the head, but that's it. Anyone who "gets out of the system" does so because they're individually motivated and driven. In the case of these folks, if it hurts to walk to the bus, if you can't fit into your car, if they don't make work clothes or office chairs that are comfortable, I would imagine that it starts to feel pretty hopeless.

So yeah, if my tax dollars are going to fund public programs anyway, why not fund programs that address the underlying causes, and not just treat the symptoms?

I watched it and shouted atthe telly so much... The kebebs, the bolognaise, the poor carer cleaning them, the attitude of the young scottish girl "its not my fault". I could go on - I was nearly 20 stone 10 years ago (one of my photos) and I worked damn hard at my job! It never occured to me I was 'sick'........