Society & Obesity

[Francisco d'Anconia]

I'm bumping this thread because I've been doing some research for school and I've been seeing some things which VERY disturbing.

We've all heard that here in the states over 62% of people are overweight, almost half of them (about 30%) are considered obese. Now what are we doing about it?

Short of the government changing the food pyramid and the bevy of weight watching books, videos, clubs and what not; Americans have not as a whole been getting any more healthy. What have we done? We've changed what we consider as "fat" or even avoided things that shows just how fat we are! WTF???!!!

Everything from removing numeric sizing of clothing and going with generic denotations of Small, Medium, Large and XT (Extra Tall ), to changing how we personally describe ourselves. Do we even use the terms "overweight" and "fat" any more? I've seen more non-athletic people categorize themselves as "muscular and toned" these days than ever before.

The purpose of this particular rant is that people who are either fit or heaven help us, THIN are beginning to get flack about not being healthy ourselves! They say that we obsess over our looks, our health regime and our eating habits. Excuse me for being vain but I enjoy looking good!!!

So if anyone else would like to embrace their vanity of their health, feel free to post! Especially post if you feel that you merit dating someone who takes pride in their health and appearance! STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE FIT, THIN WOMEN!!!!

 

[diablo]

Response split into a new thread, moved to AE.

 

[LowPlainsDrifter]

A lot of feel-good liberal claptrap tells us that venerating thinness and a good physique is some sort of sick, twisted aberration, and that it's an especially American anomaly.

Hmm... how odd that statuary dating back to ancient times and many statues since then celebrate the human form in a lean/muscular build.

So I disagree with their party line - I've always enjoyed being physical with women in good shape, vs. the blobs.
I admire both men and women who've achieved a lean figure and a good physique.

I'm always stunned when I see thin, decent-looking guys with very rotund women of girth.

 

[Lost In Translation]

chicks using the line they are models

they can't all be models

then i see the fat b*tches saying it so i ask them wtf ?

they say OH.... I AM A PLUS SIZE MODEL

society is encouraging people to be unhealthy by changing the language

 

[LowPlainsDrifter]

Oh yeah, my favorite lines from personal ads:

1. The "few extra pounds" category in profiles
2. "Rubinesque."
3. "I'm a BBW - Big Beautiful Woman"

 

[MindOverMatter]

very good post, and I agree with it 100%, but honestly this isn't something that you can change. the fact is, people have less willpower now then ever before and they are used to getting everything the easy way. if it's hard, they give up and make excuses.

whatever, it was bound to happen. the healthy people live long and fullfilling lives and mate easily, the obese people can't walk up the stairs and end up dying alone from heart attacks. theory of evolution right?

only thing that bothers me is when I see fat kids that are not even 10 yet. wtf are their parents thinking?

 

[LowPlainsDrifter]

I saw one kid who was all of eleven or twelve at Border's one day.
He was short and very, very stout - his stomach protruded so far, he was actually using it as a handrest... in a standing position.

 

[Oxide]

I just dropped $200 on my gym membership and i can tell you... i've never been happier.

I ALWAYS get advice and critique from parents/friends about my diet ( very specific ) and supplements (scares them) but what i always think is "HAVE YOU LOOKED IN THE MIRROR LATELY?!" MY dad has a huge gut and he used to be skinny athlete. 2 strokes by the age of 40. My mom is a bautiful woman and in last 7 years started storing fat and complaining "why you make the pcitures of me look fat" My step brother tells me not to worry and has a gut at 21! What the Hell?!

I see plenty of people working out at my university and lifetime fitness but the truth is, we are the minority. Everyone wants to look good but they end up not putting effort into their own bodies, they'd rather buy the hype and get "an amazing pill that makes you lose 100lbs in two minutes!"


Guys, i took a look around yesterday while i was at a piano concert. Out of 30 guys there 28 were balding and 27 were with guts.... welcome to america.


P.S. DEFINATELY watch Supersize Me. I stopped drinking soda/pop about 8 months ago. I eat fast food may be 3-4 times a year.

The choice is yours, but dont you dare whine to me when you have a heart attack at 35.

 

[themanwithnoname]

There's a difference in making fun of someone looks versus putting them down to make yourself look better.

 

[Jake-inator]

You'll love the new crase that's going around: 10 lb burgers. I saw some guy trying to eat one... it was bigger than him.

here's the link:
http://auntliz.blogspot.com/2005/05/can-you-finish-this-burger.html

 

[Julian]

I dont care about fat people honestly.

its just the ones that ***** about everything that piss me off.

The ones that do something about their weight i have the UTMOST respect for.

But people who stick to a diet or a workout plan for a week then quit and ***** about it just piss me off. feed em to the lions i say.

 

[harwell]

I can't stand any overweight individual who says something like "it's genetic, i can't help it." (I know there are exceptions, but i'd be willing to put money on it that it's a lack of motivation/determination) Do they seriously think that everyone who has a great body was born like that?! Hell no they weren't! Most of them probably worked their asses off in the kitchen and gym to obtain good muscle mass and a decent body fat percent! A good HEALTHY AND BALANCED diet can do A LOT more than people think!!

I definitely agree with the post above about determination. Not many people have it anymore. Everybody wants the "quick-fix" without a hint of work or sweat.

 

[diplomatic_lies]

Am I the only individual in the world who wants to get fatter? (well, bulkier, not fatter).


Anyway here are common excuses for people to avoid getting healthy. Eh, and some comebacks to them. Feel free to throw out your own when you meet a fat person who makes excuses

"Only vain people care about their looks"
(Only morons deliberately shorten their lifespans)

"I don't have time."
(Of course not, you're gonna die of fat-related diseases soon!)

"Fat people are people too!"
(More like 3 people)

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

I keep in shape, i do more excersize then almost anyone i know. People Have told me i am boring for doing so, yet the same person latter asked me how he can gain muscle mass.

Do not be haters, these people are jelous of you, they do not like being overweight but when you attack them they autmaticly defend themselves there for convincing themselves that they are right.

In my oppinion what is happening is ridicilious but by fighting fire with fire you will only make them resent you even if you do win you will there for still lose.

Next time some one you know criticizes your lifestyle firstly try and understand their lifestyle and their point of veiw, sympthasize with them, telling them you understand where they are comming from completly only once yu win them over can you try and explain to them where you are comming from otherwise you will make them feel stupid and they will resent that.

 

[Porky]

Excuse me for being vain but I enjoy looking good!!!

More importantly, I bet you enjoy feeling good.

And we've all seen this: http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/15/news/funny/hardees/

although damn, it pales in comparison to that 10 pound burger...I'm drooling right now.

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Originally posted by diplomatic_lies

"Only vain people care about their looks"
(Only morons deliberately shorten their lifespans)

"I don't have time."
(Of course not, you're gonna die of fat-related diseases soon!)

"Fat people are people too!"
(More like 3 people)

:crackup: :crackup: :crackup:

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

Originally posted by check_mate_kid_uk
...

Do not be haters, these people are jelous of you, they do not like being overweight but when you attack them they autmaticly defend themselves there for convincing themselves that they are right....

Although they may be jealous, there are those that berate those that aren't fat. We see them on the television in the states all of the time. They feel that anyone who's fit and trim must be addicted to health clubs and health foods; that we're shallow and vain.

Hell, I have to be careful about talking about the sports I play because some people take offense to my passion for cycling. Just because they don't want to take up a sport, they feel persecuted because I enjoy talking about cycling and how it makes me feel.

Yeah, there's jealousy on their part and condemnation on our part. it may be hard work to stay healthy in the states nowadays, but it isn't impossible. What's difficult is listening to people constantly complain about the lack of facilities for overweight people. Instead of changing themselves, they'd rather use their energy changing the system.

[rant=on]
Americans in general are typically clueless about how we are perceived by the rest of the world. We're a joke around the globe. We seldom do anything in moderation. This is why the Parisians look so much better than us, moderation. It's amazing what a bit of self control does for your life.
[/rant]

 

[Bonhomme]

This fat farm called America

Yeah, everyone should definitely see Super Size Me.

I won't hate anyone for being fat, but, unless they're anorexic, I surely won't congratulate them for it...

Let's face it: Americans spend most of their non-work waking hours watching TV, and eating crap that is full of empty calories, bad fats (and too little of the good fats), and meats that are from critters that were megadosed with female hormones to make them soft and fat ... just like the people who eat them (duh)!

A formerly very fit friend of mine complains about his gut all the time, but half of what he eats is white bread and potatoes, and he won't touch green vegetables. Genius level IQ, too.

Welcome to the fat farm...

 

[Aztec]

Originally posted by Francisco d'Anconia

The purpose of this particular rant is that people who are either fit or heaven help us, THIN are beginning to get flack about not being healthy ourselves! They say that we obsess over our looks, our health regime and our eating habits. Excuse me for being vain but I enjoy looking good!!!

So if anyone else would like to embrace their vanity of their health, feel free to post! Especially post if you feel that you merit dating someone who takes pride in their health and appearance! STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE FIT, THIN WOMEN!!!!

It's a mindset that branched out from ultra left libertarians. You know the P.C. culture that is destroying, in this case, our outlook on health. I agree that he/she should love what God has given them but giving excuses for not taking care of themselves is just preposterous. On the other end of the spectrum we also have that tofu-eating, tree-hugging groups that irritate me. But I rather be in that group than the being a candidate for lipo on Dr. 90210.

 

[check_mate_kid_uk]

Francisco i love cycling aswell and i get the same problem! People could be babling on aobut computer games for half an hour, if i mention cycling for a second then they tell me i talk about it to much!

At least here in the UK being overweight is still seen as an undesirable thing. Yet actuly staying in shape is seen as shallow and i have had people say i am boring because i do no drink beer.

Fact is people like themselves and there for the voice of the majority always comes out on top.

At least girls apreciate me working out, although they still think £1100 for a bike is crazy