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Is one out of four people you know obese? A new study out by the Trust for America's Health found that 24.4 percent of Illinoisans are obese, putting us squarely in the middle of the country (we are 25th). What is more troubling is that we have the the 14th highest rate of overweight youths (ages 10-17) at 15.8 percent. If you like to make comparisons, Colorado is the skinniest state and Mississippi was the most overweight, as measured by the percent of the population that is obese.
We're no strangers to hearing about how fat we are in the land of Lincoln. According to Men's Fitness, Chicago is the fattest city in the land. Clearly, Men's Fitness never made it Vegas. We do think it is interesting that in each study, different criteria are used, and we end up either being half as fat or twice as fat as before. Perhaps the moral of the story is to ignore the numbers and just get some exercise, as 24.3 percent of adults in Illinois said they do not engage in any physical activity. That isn't good!
That being said, we're taking these numbers with a grain of salt. We read U of C professor J. Eric Oliver's most recent book, Fat Politics. It traces the evolution of the contemporary obesity epidemic and finds that our conception of "obesity" is created by an industry that needs people to feel overweight in order to thrive. We're talking about big pharmaceutical companies, bariatric surgeons, weight loss clinics and on and on. These companies and organizations have a vested interest in making sure we all feel overweight all the time. Read it. We promise it will change your understanding of the words "fat" and "obese," both for the better. As for us? We need to go on a run; we're doing our part to make Illinois the 24th fattest state in next year's study.
Image via AllPosters.
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What's the point of that picture Laura, is it you?
That is so funny you would say that spook... People tell me all the time I look like a pin-up girl with strawberry blond hair!
One of the more disgusting things to come out of the last 10 years is the politically-correct celebration of obesity. Big is not beautiful, it is slovenly and unhealthy.
Slovenly - habitually negligent of neatness or cleanliness, esp. in personal appearance. I know quite a few obese people who are neat and clean all the time. I know many skinny people who are slovenly all the time.
Don't stop there. There are so many industries out there that take advantage of the increasing number of people eating increasing numbers of calories. For instance, the evil fitness and sporting goods industries, who have a vested interest in profiting off and shaming you out of inactivity and making you do things to make you less overweight. Or the underground bicycling conglomerate, who seek to get people out of cars and onto bikes...while they quietly (gasp!) profit. And don't get me started on the freemasons that run the park district with their "kids programs" and "walking trails". It's all connected, you just have to know where to look.
One of the more disgusting things to come out of the last 10 years is the politically-correct celebration of obesity.
What planet are you living on? Really, where besides fringe groups is obesity celebrated?
All this talk of an "obesity epidemic" is a complete friggin' joke. What is the benchmark for obesity? BMI is about as reliable as licking your finger and sticking it up the air to gauge the weather. Only a fool thinks that weight alone cannot possibly determine a person's health. I mean, skinny people are by default perfectly healthy, right?
I do, however, notice a lot more fuckin' fat kids walking around then when I was a boy. This one's easy to solve. You want skinnier kids? Then quit parking them in front of the TV all day and make them go outside. Don't like what the schools serve them? Get off your lazy ass and make them their lunch.
Oh and sorry. My distraction by the idiotic picture, kept me from responding to the trifling post about an “industry” that needs people to feel overweight in order to thrive"
Yea and I’m sure the scales are not tipped at all to the fat side, with the fast food industry, cattle, dairy, sugar, trans fat, associations, etc. Please, Americans are exploding with fat and using their multi cars like they uses shoes.
Meanwhile walking and excising is at an all time low.
I'm also sure that their are far more medical professionals who recognize the seriousness of the obesity epidemic, than bariatric surgeons who you claim promote if for profit.
And when you mention big "pharmaceutical companies", I bet far more make money on all the drugs needed to help people when they get numerous fat related diseases like diabetes
etc?
Then you get pseudo-feminists weighing in, screaaming that its o.k. for women to be fat.
But still I recognize the plague of eating disorders. But American obesity has nothing to do with that. Not to mention the little fat kids walking around
Crap, I meant to say "Only a fool thinks that weight alone can possibly determine a person's health." Damn.
technically, i am obese.
wow, and i hate fat people.. hahahahaha
Then you get pseudo-feminists weighing in, screaaming that its o.k. for women to be fat.
I don't think it's anybody's business who's fat. And if you say the words "insurance premiums," I present Exhibit A -- cigarettes.
Girls here are on average 10 pounds heavier than any other city I've been to. What is up with that? Lose some weight ladies.
"Little fat kids" -- what a delightful oxymoron! At least they're "walking around" instead of using their multi cars. What exactly is a "multi car" anyway? Another innovation that Detroit is trying to keep from the American consumer, I bet.
Love the McDonald's ad that just showed up for me -- perfect.
I definitely think that while it is easy to frame it as a "personal choice" issue, really, it is an economic one.
Cheap food is easy, fast and unhealthy.
Multi-grain bread is expensive, so is salmon.
Poor people are fatter than rich people.
Regardless of whether you think it's any of your business if someone is obese, I am shocked and disgusted by how much overt fat-bigotry there is right now. Is being obese unhealthy? Yeah, usually. That's a fact. Are obese people slovenly, as guest 3 says? Are they all lazy? Are they all stupid (which I hear a lot, too). Sure, some of them (us) are, but some of us are not. And some skinny people are also lazy and stupid and unhealthy. Obesity does not by definition equal lazy, stupid, slovenly, so if you think that it does, I'm sorry, but you are a bigot. Why is there so much fat-hatred? And don't even think about making the health-care costs of obesity argument. That would only work if America's health care system actually WORKED.
And by the way, yes, I am obese, but 1. I am probably cleaner than anyone you know, 2. I am always neat in my appearance, ESPECIALLY because I'm obese, 3. by obese defintions, you probably wouldn't know I was obese (as opposed to overweight), and 4. I actually am trying to lose weight and get healthy, but that's my own business. And still that doesn't stop the fat-hate. It's like the evil looks you get in the gym for being fat. What the hell, people. We're there actively trying to lose weight and still we can't get a break?
I was watching a show on PBS last night on anti-american sentiment in Europe. Some French lady was like "I went to Chicago and I couldn't believe all the fat people, I was afraid it was going to be contagious or something since so many people were so fat" and I was like "Hey Asshole!" at the t.v. but then I was like "Oh, wait,...yeah, right".....
"We're there actively trying to lose weight and still we can't get a break?"
It's not "Fat hate" I just think people find it unattractive. Sorry, just like smoking, being over weight is a sign of being unhealthy - and thus not sexy.
That said, it seems like the standards for what is hot keeps tilting higher on the scale. In chicago chicks are plain fat everywhere you go (so are the guys, but no as much as the girls in my estimation). It's downright embarassing.
Spook, I think the idea of it being ok for women to be fat as a feminist issue was totally lost on you. The larger issue is that it's ok for women to look different from society's and the media's conception of beauty...meaning it's ok for women not to be anorexic OR blonde OR six feet tall OR a DD OR white.
But my stance that my obesity is none of your business doesn't mean I don't agree that our culture and economic situation is not a large cause of it and should be reformed.
and i also think it might have something to do with the fact that we are like the #5 drinking city in the US as opposed to LA and NYC which are, like, #30 #35 or something like that.
I propose we bring more cocaine into the city - that should help.
It turns out matty has only been to Addis Ababa and Chicago, but I'm sure all of Chicago's zaftig women appreciate his concern and his health tips nonetheless. "On my next trip, I'm gonna take a year to circumnavigate some Chicago fatty, yo!"
Why is there so much fat-hatred?
Because fat people are the only people left who can be ridiculed safely and publicly without the protections of political correctness.
Little Fat kids = a kid who is four-foot-seven and weights 100 pounds
multi cars= families with more than one car
Matty, no, finding someone unattractive is not the same as fat-hate. If I find short guys unattractive, I don't also consider him slovenly and lazy to boot. Just that he's short and I don't like it. That's just an example. I like short guys fine. But my point is that you shouldn't have to be sexy in a gym. If anything, fat people should be given support in a place like a gym, not further ostracized.
And I don't agree at all that women on average are fatter than the men in Chicago. Not at all. Perhaps you are just looking at the girls closer because you're a dude. I'd say both are about average heavier.
I hope that asshole men like "matty" end up having fat daughters. Then maybe they'll regret flippantly telling women to lose weight when their little girls are crying on their shoulders after being ridiculed.
guest 24, that wouldn't happen! matty would be the one ridiculing his own daughter for being fat!
I'm just stating an observation (supported by data in this article). This city is too darn fat. I'm sorry if that hurts anyone's feelings but don't blame me, blame yourselves.
i'll be sure to lose that last ten pounds just so i can get in your bed, matty.
Matty is ugly because he has a fat head.
matty, don't be a classless pig. you can have an opinion about the obesity epidemic without being cruel to people. men look at this issue like women who are overweight are seriously wrecking the visual buffet they should have a right to or something. how about health? how about well being? in any case, you should get some manners and compassion. no one benefits from a negative attitude like yours. i challenge you to express your opinion in a more constructive way.
interesting that the pin-up girl depicted in the illustration above would be considered obese by the fashion industry, and yet would be classified thinner than 90% of chicago. i think the key here is that we all get a grip.
"don't blame me, blame yourselves"
people are angry because you agree the city is too fat, matty--they're angry because you're a judgmental prick about it.
people AREN'T angry because you agree...
"Girls here are on average 10 pounds heavier than any other city I've been to."
Matty, I have to disagree. I'd say 15-20 is more accurate. I don't understand Chicagoans' aversion to exercise and healthy eating.
I GOT MAD FAT KID LOVE!
HOORAY FOT TRANS FATS AND X-BOXES!
Navin:
I got an international story for ya!
My X g.f went to a famous opera in Italy. She sat in the back because she could only afford the cheap seats.
A fat American couple next to her could not easily fit into the seats. Italy,although a food loving culture doesn’t have an Obesity Epidemic. Neither is it so O.K to be lazy.
Any way the couple made a big public stink and refused to shut up. Some people yelled call the police. Instead the manager moved them up to
the wider front row seats. On the way up to their first class seats, The Fat American couple acted like they had been wronged by the Country of Italy. They kept asking “what kinda county is this”!
Dear Mo: If you read my post, you can see I
differentiated between fat and eating disorders
But Keep on with the keeping on Sister or Brother!
Get your work out on,daily! If they give you dirty looks, Give them one in return and say “what am I suppose to do, stay fat”!
And its not just poor people who are fat, middle class suburban people are fatter than people who live in the city.
Isn't it ironic that 24.4% of Illinoisans are obese when we are one of the few states that REQUIRES physical education through high school?
I mean, 14th highest in youths. #32
Spook,
I'm a Sister, by the way. No one would give a rat's ass if I was fat and a dude. But see, it's a tricky situation because if I lose weight, it's because I want to do it for myself, but I also hate for people to think that their prejudices are what influenced me. Does that make sense? It's not an issue of being sexy...because I would never ever ever be attracted to a guy who is so fixated on physical appearances that being overweight would disgust him. So who cares if THAT guy doesn't like me because I would hate him. (There are guys out there that love girls for who they are--body AND mind--I know because I've dated them.)
But just in general, in life, people need to let other people live their lives. You can disagree with something, you can be turned off by someone, but you don't have to be cruel and ridicule. That never solved anything.
Guest #29 put it into words really well.
I feel ya Mo, but trust me, I feel the same way about fat American men.
And I know it’s about letting folks live their lives, but obesity has an economic price tag on an already broken heath care system. And I don’t think I should be squished on a plane, bus or el by a big fat American. But my beef is more about our whole American hyper consumer consumption super size Me, Me Me Me First, TV watching, Red Eye reading market mentality sports addicted culture. This includes skinny blondes on bill boards. Heck look at my first post!. It’s all tied together.
And when I see middle class parents with fat kids, I think child abuse, although in the scheme of things, I won’t call 911.
I would agree fat is becoming contagious. Just look at all of the gay men throughout Chicago who are getting fatter by the day. Whatever hapenned to living on carrots and vodka?
mo: i feel you, sister.
i've had an eating disorder for 20 years that has threatened my life on more than one occasion, so when this issue comes up, i'm a big advocate of seeing the complexity of it and not painting it in one big swath or with a pithy headline. i'm not saying that we should glaze over the epidemic of obesity, but i'm also saying we don't have to be cruel pricks about people who suffer with being obese. it's true that diet and exercise are the keys to lose weight. it's also true that in our time, eating disorders are passed out to young girls with the training bras and tampons. do you know what the after effect of having an eating disorder is? your metabolism doesn't work anymore. you can't eat more than 500 calories a day without gaining weight. and there are medical issues that come about that can cause issues too.
i'm just saying - let's be critical if we must, and concerned because we have to be, but let's not be cruel. it's just not necessary, and indeed, could be harmful. just reading these posts make me feel like shit.
guest 29
guest 39 - i know, they're just not doing meth and coke as much anymore, and it shows.
sheesh.
Well, to echo your last post, let me reiterate what I said in an earlier post... While first and foremost I want to be allowed to live my life without fear of ridicule and cruelty, I do agree that so many elements of our current culture promote obesity and need to be reformed. I guess my problem is when people attack individuals instead of the system. But I still do not adhere to the health care argument. There are too many giant flaws in the way health care works as is that it can't sustain that argument. What I mean is, even if every person in America was thin and free of weight-related illnesses, health care would still be a giant gaping festering system... And also it could lead to (sorry for using this term, I hate it too!) the slippery slope of using health care to justify anything. Avid outdoors sports enthusiasts? Nope, no rock climbing for you. It's too dangerous and expensive. Heck, let's just dump driving cars, too, because of too many accidents. oooh, wait, but that would solve the obesity problem! It IS all tied together! haha. Anyway, you see my point.
I do think it's important to start educating kids at a very young age and get them accustomed to exercise. That would be key. And also to improve walkability in non-urban areas by putting businesses, schools, and entertainment areas in centralized areas. Let's be fair, some rural areas are not feasible to walk or bike if there is not public transportation, which rarely there is.
guest 29,
I'm so sorry to hear that you've struggled with an eating disorder for so long, and I hope you are in good health now. Everything you say is so true. I am right there with you, too. Reading posts like some of the ones here are so depressing and enraging, like I am worthless for how I look. So many haters say stuff like, just get off your lazy ass and exercise! And eat less! Wow, really? Is that the key? Of course that is true-exercise more eat less-but unless you grew up fat, or have struggled with food for years and years, you will never know the psychological issues that go along with that struggle. So how exactly would insulting a fat person in any way help them? It seems like people have this idea that fat people just don't care at all, that they all love being fat and refuse to help themselves. Well, obviously this is not true based on the massive bloat of the diet industry. The problem is just that the diet industry is flawed.
Sorry, just like you, this is a hot topic for me, so when I read ignorant comments, I want to scream!
"I do think it's important to start educating kids at a very young age and get them accustomed to exercise. That would be key. And also to improve walkability in non-urban areas by putting businesses, schools, and entertainment areas in centralized areas. Let's be fair, some rural areas are not feasible to walk or bike if there is not public transportation, which rarely there is."
Mo, you hit the nail on the head with the first sentence. Walkibility in non-urban areas is a non-issue.
First things first: I'm fat. Gained twenty pounds in my first two years living in Chicago. Make of that info what you will.
Dr. Oliver's take on BMI and "obesity" is reasonable but rather unimportant. How obesity is defined is really insignificant. Of course there is no perfect mathematical model for calculating if an individual is "obese," "overweight," or the like. That doesn't matter. We, as a people, are still way too fat - and we don't need statistics on "obesity" to make us concerned. Indicators of public health show a dramatic rise in diet-related maladies like diabetes over the last 15 years (would Dr. Oliver be more comfortable if we called it a "Diabetes/Heart Disease/Colorectal cancer Epidemic" rather than an "Obesity Epidemic"?). Culturally, we've become accustomed to being overweight - stairwells are wider, dress/pant sizes have been adjusted, commercials for cholesterol medications and diabetes supplies are prevalent. There may be an industry with a vested interest in making us feel fat, but who's to say they aren't just serving a growing market?
As others have noted above, fixing the problem is much harder than convincing millions of individuals to alter their personal choices. A public health problem requires a public solution. We've subsidized corn (which goes primarily to feed beef cattle and make high fructose corn syrup) to the point that a two-liter bottle of soda costs less than a one-liter bottle of water. That's a reflection of seriously misaligned priorities at the governmental level. It would be nice if public health rather than political considerations were to guide policy decisions.
But what do I know, I'm a fat-ass from Chicago.
Just as people in chicago continue to smoke so long as it is a smoke friendly city to live in, people in chicago will continue to be overweight if it is a place where people (gasp! women included!) can feel comfortable being so.
So unleash the fat apologists, but I think being overweight is as bad as smoking - hopefully with a bit of shaming people will change their ways.
yep. classless pig.
well i'm not a pig and that's kind of my point guest 47
matty, i've seen your comments on other posts. please don't window dress your incessant need to be cruel and malevolent to people with some kind of feigned interest in public health. it's ridiculous.
it seems you're ever at the ready to make some disparaging remark about some person or group of people. there's a term for that, isn't there? bully?
do you have friends? do they like you?
also, given the above, your opinion means about nil, so save your keystrokes.
break the hate, brother. life is beautiful.
Mo, to say that unhealthy eating and an unhealthy life style( not excesing) is not a drain on our health care system is a total cop out, and a way to get out of personally responsibility. I a not saying it’s the only problem, but it is a big problem. And frankly I lose respect( not that it means any thing) for you when you say that in a country where people are eating far less healthier and exercising far less is not a big/growing problem with regard to our heath care system only feeds into a fat American stereo type
please point out these "hating" comments "GUEST"
you can see every comment i've posted here in my profile. i talk about a lot of things and i happen to like this site and my ability to post opinions on it. If you want to do the same maybe you should register.
Matty--
I'm a girl.
I'm from Chicago.
I'm not overweight. ;)
But I would also never consider dating someone who exhibits the type of prejudice that you have in your early posts today.
Compassion is what's sexy, folks. As is a lack of hypocrisy. So I hope that you, Matty, aren't showing that bit o' belly that accompanies regular beer drinking; that you are not only strong, but flexible, with good endurance. I hope that you don't smoke or tan, or binge on pizza or booze.
I hope, because you seem so concerned by this issue, that you share your time teaching kids in poor neighborhoods and grocery deserts about nutrition, and that you volunteer-coach a youth soccer team.
But "shaming" people into losing weight because you don't enjoy looking at them--that, itself, is shameful.
Shaming people into action may be effective, but it will never be the act of an intelligent, enlightened society.
Spook, I guess I'm not making myself clear if what you are taking from my posts is that obesity is not a problem for the care of our medical issues. The fact of the matter is...obesity affects our care of medical conditions. It affects the cost of caring for our medicine and treatment. But what I am saying is that the argument, in regards to our current "healthcare" system, is akin to the knee-jerk reactionary argument, "But think of the children!" My point is that you can't take a broken concept, a system that doesn't work at all to begin with, as reasoning to fight obesity. I don't know if I can put it into words exactly how I mean. I guess I mean: argue against obesity on the level of human health and not on the level of a payment industry that should be completely overhauled anyway.
BUT, your argument does bring up the issue of whether personal responsibility (by your definition) can coexist with personal freedom...
Please don't let my wife see this post -- I want her to stay nice and chubby. I love it in every way.
And, to say that so many Chicago women are fat: #1, they're not (at least, there's not enough), and #2, I can't resist a woman who actually manages to fill out her jeans (or even work pants). Finding one willing to wear a skirt is something else..
I don't get the "obesity" thing -- I've heard people talking about fat thighs on a size 8. Are you serious? I'd love to see a nice size 12 -- Marilyn Monroe was really hot, you know -- and I love to see more than that. Fuck you for making girls feel bad about showing it..
I'm not suggesting we laugh at fat people. When I see obese people in the gym or out exercising I appreciate their effort.
However there is an acceptance of obesity that seems stronger in Chicago than in other cities. It's perfectly acceptable, almost encouraged, to order the XXXL fries or chug a few more beers or martinis. Muffin tops hanging over jeans or a gigantic butt testing the limits of polyester are odd badges of honor here.
For some people it's socioeconomic as poor people struggle to afford fruits and vegetables. But for many it's overabundance, laziness, or a lack of understanding that Calories In - Calories Out = Weight Gain/(Loss).
People are free to be as fat as they like, just as I am free to shake my head in disbelief.
Di Urrea,
#1: Fuck You.
#2: You have no idea what you're talking about. Move somewhere and spread your point-on generalizations any place else..
"I hope, because you seem so concerned by this issue, that you share your time teaching kids in poor neighborhoods and grocery deserts about nutrition, and that you volunteer-coach a youth soccer team. "
That is the first "healthy" (hah!) rebuke I've read in this post.
How can i make a change for people? I dunno, the best I can say is that I ran a 5k with some friends and i play tennis with my girl twice a week.
I can't fix this problem, but that doesn't make my point moot in that I think people in my age group (20-40) can fix themselves.
I have problems too (including a bit of a belly) but this city needs to lost weight and complacency about it cause it is a "sensitive issue" needs to go out with the fat we need to lose.
Fat is Whack! Yeah!
Fat girls give the best head.
#57 - Chicagoans desperately need to lose weight. We are probably the fattest city in the fattest country on Earth. I'm not going to sugarcoat my comments for thin-skinned people such as yourself.
Matty is right, we need to confront Chicago's obesity epidemic instead of tip-toeing around it.
I can think of one way to make a dent in the problem. Lose Matty and Di Urrea.
Di Urrea and Matty:
Is obesity an epidemic? Yes. We should do something about it. Why is Colorado the thinnest state in the nation, and what can we do to be more like Colorado?
I like the idea of eliminating trans fats and soda in public schools. I also think that we could serve healthier foods in the school system, and excercise a lot more--making gym mandatory. For many poor, a school lunch may be the healthiest (or only) food they get that day. Often it's hot dogs and tacos and pizza.
And, from my experience, I would guess that many obese people realize that they are obese and have enough self shame and loathing every time that they try to go clothes shopping, or sit in a small chair, or look at magazines that glorify the image of the extremely thin. They don't need additional shame from you. For some obese (not all) hormones, diabetes, eating disorders, medications, and diseases such as PCOS can all contribute to their obesity. For others, it simply is a matter of eating too much and excercising too little. But, before accusing obese people of eating too much and excercising too little, you may want to educate yourself on some of the diseases that can exacerbate obesity. You may suffer from one of those someday.
And thin people are not exempt from being unhealthy. Visceral fat can make you sick too (heart disease, diabetes, etc). Look that up.
We need to encourage people to eat healthy and excercise. This idea can be reinterated in this country regardless of size and weight. There's a way to tackle this issue without shame.
Just my two cents.
This also may be contributing to the national problem:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/offtopic/sns-ap-odd-deep-fried-fare,1,1936583.story
Marilyn Monroe was much smaller than a 12, but it goes to show that attractive female shapes (curvaceous, athletic, boyish, etc.) are something that are socially constructed, not a definatively healthy or unthealthy measure.
Matty is right that Chicagoans could use more exercise, though his delivery sucks. To be an apologist, it is difficult to find the time to exercies when you aren't into a sports culture and work full time. Also, and this cannot be stressed enough esp. for the ladies, not every neighborhood is exactly safe to walk through - esp. when you get back to the time constraint issue which leads to having to work out in the evening / early morning.
So a sollution to obesity - which is epidemic but not an epidemic of lazy slobs - lies in a change in government as well as individuals (and individuals MUST change their behavior). Better urban planning, a fair job market with adequate pay and time off, improving welfare, and especially the farm bill all play into our problem with obesity. It's not for nothing that Chicago is also considered one of the most segregated cities in the U.S. I cannot help but think this has some contributing factor.
Of course people could lose weight without all that, I know I have. But the majority are rarely moved to action without serious scares to get them to do so. Maybe Matty's visciousness is on target - scare people and hurt them to get them to change. But then we wouldn't be living in an at least semi-civilized society.
"But, before accusing obese people of eating too much and excercising too little, you may want to educate yourself on some of the diseases that can exacerbate obesity."
I've heard this argument, too. I just don't believe that we have considerably higher instances of these diseases than in thinner locales across the country. Chicago's problems are primarily poor diet and lack of exercise.
Colorado is the thinnest probably due to its yearlong outdoor recreational opportunities. Since we don't have mountains I suggest looking at Minneapolis for ideas. They have a reputation for outdoor winter activities and a reasonable obesity rate, and their winters are harsher than ours.
Shaming people into losing weight won't work. What might is positive peer pressure. We need to make healthy eating, exercise, and reasonable body fat % the norm. When we view obesity as the norm then we will get more obese people.
I'm tired of this f_ing peer pressure nonsense. I had an ex-husband who was an exercise nazi and was constantly criticizing my average athletic abilities, clothing choices, and the relative flatness of my stomach. He's now happily married to a vegetarian.
An old friend looked me up and was visibly disappointed that I hadn't retaining my figure from my 20s. Hell, no! I'm 52, don't have the V02 blood uptake I used to for sports, or the metabolism. I get out for walks, swim when I have time, and use my Nordic Track, but I'm not going to starve myself or stop drinking wine. I keep a weight that's comfortable for me, and when it's not, I lose a few pounds. Sorry to pollute your eyes, which I do anyway because I'm old, but that's life, buddy.
Mind your own business.
It's one thing to carry extra poundage at 52. However when people in their 20s and 30s are hauling around 30+ extra pounds that's not right.
I'll mind my own business as soon as fat people don't affect me. It's a pain in the -ss trying to maneuver around obese people when boarding a crowded bus or train. When I'm in a hurry to walk somewhere and obese people are sauntering around three abreast blocking the sidewalk it's bothersome.
Let me ask you a sincere question, Di Urrea. Do you ever tell these fat people to their faces that they're in your way?
http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/mmdress.asp
Hot!
thanks to whoever mentioed PCOS - i suffer from it, and it really sucks.
i just lost 45 of the 70 pounds i gained when i recovered from my anorexia and bulemia - by reactivating my eating disorder. everyone has been telling me how great i look, and yet i'm having chest pain and leg cramps and i've been starving myself for 5 months with weeklong fasts, and recently ended up in the hospital with an electrolyte imbalance. i tried losing weight the old fashioned way - i used to work out for over an hour (45 minutes elliptical, 30 minutes lap swimming) but with my slowed metabolism (after having an eating disorder for 20 years) i got stronger and more muscle-y, not smaller or lighter. my PCOS make losing weight impossible with just diet and exercise.
btw? i've also been a vegetarian for over 20 years.
if you think fat people are thin skinned, you have another thing coming. what we're meant to endure on a daily basis is insane.
moral of the story? shame me, please. because i need it.
assholes.
i think there are some excellent points here.
but i think what people should stop doing is making recommendations for the faceless masses. that is easy to do.
how about this - pick one person in your life that you consider obese or unhealthy. (and that unhealthy person could be *gasp* skinny!) then start encouraging them to live a healthier lifestyle. devote your time to helping make their life better.
they will either tell you to fuck off or will be extremely grateful. anyways, its more productive than sitting and ranting on a website.
Ferdy, if three fat people are blocking the sidewalk when I'm in a hurry I can either say "hey, could you three hefty folks either pick up the pace or walk single file?", or I could just wait for a break of daylight and veer around them. Option 2 is quicker. Also telling people they're fat doesn't accomplish much as they already know they're fat.
For those who have diseases that lead to obesity I truly sympathize, but for most people obesity is a result of bad habits.
the point, di urrea, is that you don't know what someone is going through.
so don't shame people into submission.
period.
O.K, I know, I'm gonna be lumped into the Di group! But it’s also sooooo annoying when the "larger folks" (generally its them!) get into the walking lane of the escalator off the CTA el. They stop and halt the whole line!
Come on! How arrogant! They see people walking on the left side and standing on the right side of the escalator. But they go to the left side and just stand there, daring people to say something.
I'm not talking about those with diseases, I would give them the best healthcare for free, but I can't stand it when it’s just lazy big people!
Haven't studies come out in the past stating that obese pregnant women increase the likelihood of their newborn children becoming obese? Exercise people!
I call b.s. on those who say they are blocked by fat people on sidewalks. I have had way more experiences being blocked by thin ppl. Gaggles of athletic white men and women encroach way more than the average fat person. Fat people stay on the sidelines and cower as they are embarassed to be what they are in this society.
1) There is no obesity epidemic. An epidemic is defined as "a sudden, widespread occurrence of a particular undesirable phenomenon." There is nothing sudden nor particularly widespread about the perceived increase in the number of obese people. And before you point to the 24.4% figure, remember that BMI is a complete joke.
2) Believe it or not, there are plenty of folks in this world who, for no other reason than genetics, will always have a spare tire. Therefore, a healthy weight for that person might be 30 pounds more than it would be for you. And don't forget that when people's knees go out, that limits your ability to exercise. Swimming is one of the few options that remain, but it seems like you have to wake up at 5am to be assured of a lane at the Y. Most people wouldn't do that, so why shame a fat person for not being willing to?
3) The fuel on the fire of this debate is the bigotry and discrimination against fat people everyday. The notion that shaming will help them is idiotic.
4) I've always felt a bit of a kinship with fat folks because I have a slightly different undesirable trait, one that I can't really do anything about -- I'm a pretty pale guy. Growing up, I was ridiculed for it, not unlike how the fat kids were treated. Even today, people say "well, why don't you just go lay out in the sun?" Because it burns my skin. The tannest I ever get is still lighter than the average white person's ass cheek in winter. I know that I'm pale, I don't need to be reminded. And I often seem to be the only person who doesn't have a problem with it.
5) I trained for the Chicago Marathon in 2004. The week of the race, my legs basically died. I can no longer run any sustained distance. I got really depressed, and because I was still eating like I was training for a marathon, I gained a lot of weight. Luckily, my metabolism is good enough so that I didn't fall into obesity. But if I had, I'd shove both of my middle fingers in your face if you didn't like it. It's nobody else's business.
... or, spook, when you're sitting next to a pleasantly plump person on the airplane i think it should be common courtesy for them to offer one of their fat rolls for you to lay you head on and sleep.
Di - In other words, the answer is "no." I didn't ask for your justification. If you can't take your complaint to the real world, then don't bore us with it.
hmmm, one of the hallmarks of bigotry and prejudice is to see a phenomenon that everyone does, regardless of race, sex, age, religion, or WEIGHT, but only single out the group you hate to blame for it all.
People, fat folks do not block sidewalks and escalators. RUDE people do. And after reading these posts, a ton of you skinny folks fit this category. Sure, it may take 4 skinny jags to block the same space as 2 heavy folks, but how does that make it more of a crime for the heavy folks? Please, at least be fair in your hatred. I hate anyone who blocks an escalator, and if you think only fat people do this...well, see the paragraph above.
yeah, dan, more rights for fat people! maybe you guys should get together and have a fat person political party - that way you can preserve your inalienable right to be as fat as you want and suffer none of the social consequences of being so.
ok, maybe that was out of line, but some of you guys are acting as though being fat makes you part of some sort of opressed minority - which i think is a slap in the face to actual opressed minorities.
Lose the weight, feel great. You'll make yourself and your city proud.
Do you know how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off? Do you understand that eating habits formed early in life, like all other habits, are hard to break? Do you realize that bodies have set points and that a body will try to maintain that set point, even if it maintains obesity, in the face of dieting? Do you realize that emotion triggers eating in some people, just like it does fanatical exercising and bullying about appearance?
Do you realize that fat people are discriminated against - a lot? Gee, you mean appearance matters? That's why black faces get discriminated against more than white faces.
The important thing here is that under no circumstances should any Chicagoan bike either to work, to run errands or just for fun. Please clog the city with your SUVs, Jettas and Volvos. Sit around and wait 15-20-25-30 minutes for that bus. Do not walk or bike. What will you do with that extra time while your friends are searching for a precious parking space? Remember folks there's no time for excercise!
Ferdy, you're 52 years old. This thread is talking about able bodied 25 year olds who are - obese is not the right term - just plain OVERWEIGHT. These people can lose weight, they just refuse to do it.
Matty, your classless rants are tempting me to resort to childish name-calling, but I won't stoop to that level. Let me just say that people don't waive their right to dignity because you don't like their waistline. You even admit to having "a bit of a belly," so who are you to judge other people for their own weight problems? People in glass houses... well, you know the rest.
k, well my point has been entirely missed so I'll not post in this thread anymore.
If you look at the story itself, it doesn't say anything about just 25 year olds. In fact, it talks about 10-17 year olds, which is exactly the right age group for setting up lifelong eating habits and set points than are higher than normal. So maybe all those 25 year olds, who have these problems in addition to the emotional problems of being picked on for being fat when they were in school, are going to have a doubly hard time finding the way to a healthy, trim body.
Have a little tolerance and stop thinking weak wills and laziness are the only things stopping everyone from being a supermodel or stud. Jeeze what a Puritan!
Matty,
It's possible to make your *basic point* without needlessly being a dick.
Dan Boland - Your qualifications point to what I think is the key thing some people are missing: It's not necessarily the absence of will that makes people fat. Any number of factors - genetics, disease, injury, etc. - can keep an individual, however strong his/her will, from losing that "spare tire."
But I don't think the issue should be about individuals. Whether you agree with the method (BMI) of describing 24.4% as obese or not, the fact remains that too many people are eating too much shitty food and not burning enough calories. As I noted above, if you don't want to call it an obesity epidemic (cause what's obese, anyway?), call it a diabetes epidemic, a high blood pressure epidemic, or a high cholesterol epidemic. All have spiked in the last decade-plus, largely because of changes in our collective diet and lifestyle. To me, that sounds like a serious problem that must be confronted collectively.
Individuals can and will do whatever they want. But we can and should demand that elected officials consider public health concerns when establishing financial priorities. That seems to me to be the best way to tackle the problem.
No, it's not a conspiracy - you're fat.