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Fat Acceptance Movement
Replies
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midwesterner85 wrote: »I was in line at the grocery store last night. Two people ahead of me, there was a noticeably over-weight man going through in a scooter provided by the store. After he left, the guy in front of me said to the clerk, "I wonder what his disability is?" in a sarcastic tone. After their conversation went on to clarify what I had figured (the second customer thought the first customer was too fat and shouldn't be using the scooter because obviously he isn't disabled... he is just fat), I had to speak up. I pointed out that, while I don't know the other person's situation, some disabled people become overweight after becoming disabled and not moving as much as they had before becoming disabled. He then argued that a lot of people just use those because they are fat (the way he said it implied that fat = lazy). This went on for a couple of minutes, and it really got to me.
Anyway, I understand the societal medical dangers in "fat acceptance," but fat shaming irritates me... especially in cases like that were someone really could be disabled.
Were the scooters intended for people with disabilities? Was this person able to walk? If yes, then I would consider this as shaming someone for laziness and abusing something meant for people have disabilities, not as fat shaming.
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Part of me admires the FA people because even at my best thin weight, I don't have the self confidence these people seem to have.3
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I abhor passing judgment on others. I'm human so I acknowledge I do it, but at least I have the decency to keep my opinions to myself. Commenting on someone's weight, size, or the choices they've made are just counter-productive and therefore, pointless.
Having said that, I do struggle internally with the societal health implications of obesity and what price society as a whole is paying. Ultimately, we are all paying NOW for the health implications of eating too much food and not exercising enough as a society, and those costs are going to explode - it's just that the most visible marker of that is the weight of individuals, so these people make the easiest targets.
On the flipside, it does gall me, in moments of weakness and if I'm honest, to think that all the effort I put into my weight loss and focusing so much on my own health, with no help from the medical profession or support in any shape or form, other than the wonderful MFP, will not excuse me from paying my share of the costs associated with those who haven't achieved what I have. But I'd never say that out loud.12 -
midwesterner85 wrote: »I was in line at the grocery store last night. Two people ahead of me, there was a noticeably over-weight man going through in a scooter provided by the store. After he left, the guy in front of me said to the clerk, "I wonder what his disability is?" in a sarcastic tone. After their conversation went on to clarify what I had figured (the second customer thought the first customer was too fat and shouldn't be using the scooter because obviously he isn't disabled... he is just fat), I had to speak up. I pointed out that, while I don't know the other person's situation, some disabled people become overweight after becoming disabled and not moving as much as they had before becoming disabled. He then argued that a lot of people just use those because they are fat (the way he said it implied that fat = lazy). This went on for a couple of minutes, and it really got to me.
Anyway, I understand the societal medical dangers in "fat acceptance," but fat shaming irritates me... especially in cases like that were someone really could be disabled.
Were the scooters intended for people with disabilities? Was this person able to walk? If yes, then I would consider this as shaming someone for laziness and abusing something meant for people have disabilities, not as fat shaming.
I didn't notice anything to indicate that scooters are limited to any particular customers. From what I can tell, they are for any customer who chooses to make use of them.
It wasn't clear at that time whether the person using the scooter could walk or not. At no time did I see him attempt to walk or stand. This was my point. The 2nd customer assumed that an overweight customer using the scooter is not truly disabled, but is just fat. I don't believe that is a fair assumption to make any more than if I see a customer using the scooter who is a healthy weight. The conclusion that overweight people cannot be disabled is baffling - something I bet some disabled people wish were true.14 -
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People need to mind their own business.midwesterner85 wrote: »I was in line at the grocery store last night. Two people ahead of me, there was a noticeably over-weight man going through in a scooter provided by the store. After he left, the guy in front of me said to the clerk, "I wonder what his disability is?" in a sarcastic tone. After their conversation went on to clarify what I had figured (the second customer thought the first customer was too fat and shouldn't be using the scooter because obviously he isn't disabled... he is just fat), I had to speak up. I pointed out that, while I don't know the other person's situation, some disabled people become overweight after becoming disabled and not moving as much as they had before becoming disabled. He then argued that a lot of people just use those because they are fat (the way he said it implied that fat = lazy). This went on for a couple of minutes, and it really got to me.
Anyway, I understand the societal medical dangers in "fat acceptance," but fat shaming irritates me... especially in cases like that were someone really could be disabled.
Were the scooters intended for people with disabilities? Was this person able to walk? If yes, then I would consider this as shaming someone for laziness and abusing something meant for people have disabilities, not as fat shaming.
^^This.
Doesn't matter if the customer using the cart was disabled or not. The other customer was an a** hole and had no business commenting. Kudos for Midwesterner85 speaking up.
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I am all about people having a positive body image, because I myself never had that and I still struggle with it.
No matter what shape or size you are, I think it's awesome to love yourself. When I see a big girl who is confident, I see the type of person I wish I could have been at her size.
What I don't like is when fat people complain about low self esteem and poor body image, but do nothing to change it. I have a friend who is often, you could say, "fat-shaming" herself and feeling sorry for herself, yet she will turn around the next day and talk about all the junk food she's inhaling. If you don't like it, do something about it. If you're happy with your size and your health, then more power to you!10 -
I liked what GaleHawkins had to say. I was riding my obesity acceptance right into being disabled (overloaded arthritic knees). No more.
My challenge will be not gaining the weight back.8 -
meganridenour wrote: »I am all about people having a positive body image, because I myself never had that and I still struggle with it.
No matter what shape or size you are, I think it's awesome to love yourself. When I see a big girl who is confident, I see the type of person I wish I could have been at her size.
What I don't like is when fat people complain about low self esteem and poor body image, but do nothing to change it. I have a friend who is often, you could say, "fat-shaming" herself and feeling sorry for herself, yet she will turn around the next day and talk about all the junk food she's inhaling. If you don't like it, do something about it. If you're happy with your size and your health, then more power to you!
I especially agree with your last paragraph, here. It annoys me to no end when people complain about anything, really, and refuse to do anything about it. I try not to let my reaction to this type of behavior color my judgments. I don't always succeed.1 -
I agree with what others have posted, first and foremost don't be jerk. Doesn't matter if you are fat, thin, fit, healthy, obese, etc. Also, everyone's body is different and reacts differently to diet and exercise. If you don't look like an athlete, that doesn't mean you aren't healthy. That's what we use measurements, blood work, blood pressure, etc. to determine. But as a person that lost 65 lbs and 10" from his waist - you can only carry so much extra body fat and it not have an effect on your health. All of my bad measurements, bad blood work, fatigue and malaise disappeared when I lost all that extra weight.4
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Humans tend to forget the down side of a bad decision but remember upside where it is an affair with food or another person. Hence we repeat and repeat.3
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I liked what GaleHawkins had to say. I was riding my obesity acceptance right into being disabled (overloaded arthritic knees). No more.
I really don't understand why people connect self-acceptance and not hating oneself for being fat to being okay with being unhealthy and disabled. Personally, when I accept and love myself (something that I think makes me more likely to love and accept others too), that makes me more determined to treat my body well, and pursue healthful behaviors and do what I can NOT to be disabled (not that I was ever close, as I was lucky enough to be pretty active and healthy even when fat). That's related to losing the weight.
I've been depressed and self-hating too, and that was likely to make me feel like I didn't deserve anything better, so I might as well give into slothfulness and easy comforts like food, even if I knew at the back of my head I'd feel better if I was more active and took control of my weight. I just couldn't believe I was someone who could do that. Becoming a more accepting, confident person who could decide that I could be as capable in this area of my life as others, that I wasn't worthless, was what helped.18 -
Being severely overweight or underweight for that matter is unhealthy. We are naturally repulsed by things that are unhealthy. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it, but all other things being equal, I do have a lower opinion of people who are obviously unhealthy than of people who appeared to be good physical condition. It's a logical reaction.9
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ArmyofAdrian wrote: »Being severely overweight or underweight for that matter is unhealthy. We are naturally repulsed by things that are unhealthy. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it, but all other things being equal, I do have a lower opinion of people who are obviously unhealthy than of people who appeared to be good physical condition. It's a logical reaction.
Seriously? It may be logical for you, but it is not for me.
How do you know that they are obviously unhealthy?
The human race still has a long way to go.............
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How do I know an obese person or a malnurished person is unhealthy? Is that a real question?9
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ArmyofAdrian wrote: »Being severely overweight or underweight for that matter is unhealthy. We are naturally repulsed by things that are unhealthy. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about it, but all other things being equal, I do have a lower opinion of people who are obviously unhealthy than of people who appeared to be good physical condition. It's a logical reaction.
I don't think we as a species are naturally repulsed by things that are unhealthy. You might be, but I'd think you'd be in a minority, there.6 -
ArmyofAdrian wrote: »How do I know an obese person or a malnurished person is unhealthy? Is that a real question?
Yes, it is definitely a real question3 -
When I see an obese person, my first thought is empathy and compassion. I have impulses of wanting to help, as a former very overweight individual. I know it can feel overwhelming, and difficult to just get started (thanks MFP). Truth be told, I don't support the idea of fat acceptance on a personal level, though I do not support discrimination in a public sense. And I totally cannot get behind a movement that celebrates it, or creates a "movement". I would support my tax dollars going toward some serious health and nutrition education, beginning in kindergarten. Now that would save us plenty of money down the road.11
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snowflake930 wrote: »ArmyofAdrian wrote: »How do I know an obese person or a malnurished person is unhealthy? Is that a real question?
Yes, it is definitely a real question
I base that on the literally millions of studies done on the subject which have reached that conclusion.6 -
ArmyofAdrian wrote: »snowflake930 wrote: »ArmyofAdrian wrote: »How do I know an obese person or a malnurished person is unhealthy? Is that a real question?
Yes, it is definitely a real question
I base that on the literally millions of studies done on the subject which have reached that conclusion.
So you are telling me that every person that is overweight or underweight is unhealthy? And, your "literally millions of studies" have concluded this?
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