To think Prejudice against fat people is NOT as bad as racism.

[goodnessgracious]

To think the article in the Times today claiming that prejudice against fat people is as bad as racism and that it is one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice is ridiculous.

Firstly, obesity is normally caused by an addiction and has health implications for the obese person and further implications on society as whole. How can this be compared to racism in any way?

Also, it is not the last socially acceptable form of prejudice because I believe society is just as (if not more) prejudiced against smokers, alcoholics and gamblers and all people with addictions which have costs toward society.

AIBU to think that although it is not right to be prejudice against obese people it is ridiculous to compare it to racism.

Copied article extract below...

"Prejudice against fat people as bad as racism, say scientists "Dr Jackson said that prejudice against overweight people pervaded society and needed to be challenged. “People think it’s one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice. You just have to look at the comments section on media reports on obesity to see that obese people are subjected to labelling and even abuse and attack.”

Of course it's not as bad.

You can (easily) change your weight, you can't change the colour of your skin.

YANBU.

Bunny would racism become acceptable if you could change the colour of your skin?

It's no where near as bad.

I think both are unacceptable.

I'm with Latte. Completely unacceptable.

BunnyLebowski I'd drop the "easily" if I were you. I have binge eating disorder and have been in therapy for it, not to mention the anti-depressants I was prescribed because I felt so helpless and depressed. It's a recognised eating disorder and trust me, there is nothing easy about overcoming it. I struggle every day. I've lost two stone, I have three to go and every day is an uphill battle.

OP, YANBU, of course it's not as bad as racism. It does seem to be a sort of socially acceptable form of prejudice, but you could say the same about anti-smokers.

I agree with Latte and dawn.

I agree with you OP, it's not as bad.
(But, I fear this thread will not go well).
Also, you're right, there's a lot of prejudice against smokers, drinkers and drug addicts, poor people... the list goes on.
Why does fat get to be top of the list?

HAven't read the article so going on the OP alone.

Of course prejudice against fat people isn't as bad as racism. You can hide your size on an application form - not that you should have to, but you can if you feel you need to. Most people can change their size (medical exceptionsof course). There is no historical precedence of systematic brutality to fat people.

I agree that it's not as bad as racism, but I do think it's worse than the prejudice against smokers, gamblers etc purely because it is so visible. An employer wouldn't be able to discriminate against a gambler unless they knew they gambled, whereas a fat person has no option to hide the fact that they are fat.

Similarly, I think that people know that they are prejudiced against smokers, gamblers and alcoholics, whereas prejudice against fat people is more ingrained and to do with associations with a whole host of other negative traits such as laziness, lack of self control etc which they don't even realise they are attributing to a person based on their appearance.

Being overweight/obese is not the equivalent of race. Race is something that a person is born with and nothing whatever will ever change it, neither through intrinsic or extrinsic influence. Being overweight/obese has a genetic component in some cases but is greatly influence by both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators.

Meant to say, any kind of prejudice is not good - hopefully that is one of those things that doesn't need to be said, but just in case, thought I'd best state it!

The point of the research is that fat-shaming, insults and negative pressure actually make obesity worse. A stress response causes more over-eating. So telling people not to make nasty remarks or discriminate is an important public health message.

The scientist didn't say it was 'as bad as racism', that's the headline written by a sub-editor.

The scientist did say the research shows 'it's one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice'. Which it is - alongside others inc. making hurtful remarks about people with red hair. The vast majority know racism is wrong, even racists realise their views will elicit general disapproval.

There are, sadly, plenty of ignorant and rude people who cloak their nastiness towards anyone overweight in the guise of 'I'm only trying to help'. Just search the MN archives...

They are hypocrites just exercising their need to put others down in a way that doesn't get them into as much trouble as racism or homophobia. But I hope they hear this message, and anyone who hears them or sees them insulting or demeaning anyone who is obese or overweight will now be encouraged to challenge them.

Of yourself it is not as bad as racism. If we want a sensible discussion about serious forms of prejudice it would include disablism, racism, sexism and ageism.
Obesity might not be easy to change but it can be changed and therefore isn't comparable to the other forms of prejudice. Thin people often get mocked too and that is no more acceptable than mocking an overweight person but the media rarely discuss that end of the scale.

no agree it is not

but all prejudice needs to be challenged it does not need to be competitive what is worse but I think at times (not always) it is important to recognise how prejudice impacts on individuals and society as racism has shaped our history and for many it still does have an impact on their lives. racism has a bigger impact than say prejudice against people who suffer from alcoholism, it will be against that person not their family, loved ones etc

neither acceptable

not as bad and I also don't think it's 'socially acceptable' either.

Is it alway prejudice though?

If I were an employer and I was after somebody to do a very physical job, I would be looking for somebody who could move quickly, was light on their feet (no pun intended) had lots of energy and was very fit, because that particular job requires a person to be all those things, in order to carry out the tasks correctly.
So, I'm not going to go for a person who is extremely overweight, because when you're like that it isdifficult to move quickly.

Does that make me prejudiced as an employer? Or am I just after the best person for the job?

Kitty
It's not as bad as racism no, but it is still prejudice for no good reason.
Somebody's health (which unless you have access to their medical records you have no idea about) affects you no more than their skin colour does.

I agree that any prejudice is bad, however, I disagree with your post. The colour of someone's skin has no impact on anyone. An obese person does, just as smoker does.

As a yardstick and I hope I word this correctly

It's it as bad eg it is not acceptable to discriminate on grounds of race but in some jobs being overweight or obese and their comorbities exclude the applicant on grounds of health.

It's also complicated by people choosing an unhealthy lifestyle against people with medical issues and recognised conditions.

Smokers have been excluded from public buildings because their action are detrimental to other users, and I think some peoe who choose to live unhealthily incur excessive social and financial costs to society. Whereas skin colour does not and that's why there are not seen on the same page.

"The point of the research is that fat-shaming, insults and negative pressure actually make obesity worse. A stress response causes more over-eating."

To clarify, the article states that it causes a 1 kg gain over 4 years.

I wonder why the anti smoking campaigns have worked then?

I asked to be moved on a flight once when a hugely overweight person was seated next to me.

It was a 12 hour flight and the person next to me was so large that he was spilling over into my seat and crushing me.

I don't think I was prejudiced in my actions. I didn't see why I should be uncomfortable for 12 hours on a flight I had paid £700 for. If, however, I had asked to move because the person next to me was black then, yes, I would be horribly prejudiced.

I see a big difference