Reply to: Should fat people be allowed a seat on trains?

[SueEllen]

True - stress, being bullied etc etc

But what gets me is that if someone gets fat (and I mean really fat), too fat to work 'fat' then we call it a disability. But the same triggers cause people to drink too much, or take drugs, but this isn't classed as a disability.

I still say being fat is not a disability, just like being a drunk or a junkie is also not a disability. These are lifestyle choices - many many disabled people (maybe all?!?) would all choose not to be in the state that they are but have no choice.

Actually if you drink too much or are a junkie and it causes you to have illnesses that are regarded as a disability then you are disabled.

Someone on the road where I use to live was an alcoholic and due to his illnesses caused by his addiction was on disability benefits.

[Whorty]

In terms of physics, yes (although not even that is so clear-cut when you consider issues such as water retention). In terms of adding anything useful to the discussion, no. There are many reasons for people having weight problems because there are many reasons why people eat more than they need / more than they can metabolise.

True - stress, being bullied etc etc

But what gets me is that if someone gets fat (and I mean really fat), too fat to work 'fat' then we call it a disability. But the same triggers cause people to drink too much, or take drugs, but this isn't classed as a disability.

I still say being fat is not a disability, just like being a drunk or a junkie is also not a disability. These are lifestyle choices - many many disabled people (maybe all?!?) would all choose not to be in the state that they are but have no choice.

[d000hg]

So then, they are disabled. Question answered

[SueEllen]

Body image is a lot more complicated than that. The brain gets in the way.

That's going to end badly when they have obesity-linked diseases such as diabetes. Plus, how are they going to pay rent in the meantime if they cannot work?

They live on benefits as their obesity has caused them other illnesses so they are too disabled/sick to work.

Channel 4 has "nice" programs on all this like this one - linky

[d000hg]

No I agree but the point I was trying to make is that it is still very preventable in most cases if caught early.

It's also very visible - it is not hidden away like a cancer - just look - when you can no longer see your feet you need to loose weight....

Body image is a lot more complicated than that. The brain gets in the way.

When people are so fat they get bed-bound, who keeps bringing them food? Shouldn't they starve until they are well enough to go to the shops?

That's going to end badly when they have obesity-linked diseases such as diabetes. Plus, how are they going to pay rent in the meantime if they cannot work?

[BrilloPad]

Being overweight is primarily a mental health issue. If you don't hate yourself enough to do something about it then something is wrong.

HTH

[SueEllen]

interestingly enough I read that most diet plan type things you buy do not work mainly because the company running them is actually more interested in you being overweight so they make more money out of you than anything else.

The diet plans do work. However you need to do them for the rest of your life.

Most people stop go back to their pre-diet eating habits then have to restart again at a heavier weight.

[SueEllen]

Yeah but there are some people who get of on keeping a fatty upstairs...

have a look for feeders or I think there is a pretty strange program called Fat Girls and Feeders...

you can get it on Really - it is on their I player to if you need to catch up.

There are also mothers who are happy to over feed their children and have done it since they were young. linky

You can see this in person by going to a Macdonalds, a waterpark etc at a non-meal time and look at the kids who are eating.

[original PM]

interestingly enough I read that most diet plan type things you buy do not work mainly because the company running them is actually more interested in you being overweight so they make more money out of you than anything else.

[SueEllen]

Sorry to disappoint the bleeding heart liberals but this is actually the reason most people who are over weight are over weight.

Yes you could argue now they cannot take exercise because they are too big - but that is because 10 years ago when they could take exercise and do something about their diet they did not.

Most people who fall in to the obese category can easily change their lifestyle, however there is lots of ignorance around about:
1. What you should be eating - not helped by food industry advertising, medical profession and the charities that support them
2. How much activity you should be taking.

If you are that overweight even taking daily 20 minute walks and eating less would result in you losing weight.

However there are a minority of people - and I know and met a few of them - who have been told by the medical profession NOT to do any exercise. One woman I use to know was told by her GP not to do any exercise as she had congenital joint problems. She then spoke to a personal trainer who had sport science degree and knew something about her disease. He told her the opposite plus try certain exercises and if it hurts stop immediately.

[original PM]

When people are so fat they get bed-bound, who keeps bringing them food? Shouldn't they starve until they are well enough to go to the shops?

Yeah but there are some people who get of on keeping a fatty upstairs...

have a look for feeders or I think there is a pretty strange program called Fat Girls and Feeders...

you can get it on Really - it is on their I player to if you need to catch up.

[FatLazyContractor]

When people are so fat they get bed-bound, who keeps bringing them food? Shouldn't they starve until they are well enough to go to the shops?

There is only one way to know.

[BrilloPad]

When people are so fat they get bed-bound, who keeps bringing them food? Shouldn't they starve until they are well enough to go to the shops?

[original PM]

It's the reason everyone is overweight (barring very rare conditions). It's the reason why they do this which is important. Ignorance about diet/food, upbringing/culture, body image issues, laziness, a medical condition, sudden changes in circumstances which aren't adapted to, mental illness, or just plain greed / love of food. Probably there are others.

I would say in the UK most obese people are to blame for their condition but certainly not everyone.

Saying they could've prevented it 10 years ago doesn't really help, does it, until the NHS builds a time machine? If you're disabled, you're disabled.

No I agree but the point I was trying to make is that it is still very preventable in most cases if caught early.

It's also very visible - it is not hidden away like a cancer - just look - when you can no longer see your feet you need to loose weight....

[d000hg]

Sorry to disappoint the bleeding heart liberals but this is actually the reason most people who are over weight are over weight.

It's the reason everyone is overweight (barring very rare conditions). It's the reason why they do this which is important. Ignorance about diet/food, upbringing/culture, body image issues, laziness, a medical condition, sudden changes in circumstances which aren't adapted to, mental illness, or just plain greed / love of food. Probably there are others.

I would say in the UK most obese people are to blame for their condition but certainly not everyone.

Saying they could've prevented it 10 years ago doesn't really help, does it, until the NHS builds a time machine? If you're disabled, you're disabled.