Is fatphobia a real thing?

Exactly. Its a way of justifying an outlet for their bitterness and unkindness.

Absolutely. It’s a way of justifying the remarks.

Just wait until the summer where endless threads pop up about someone bigger wearing leggings or a crop top.

I assume that is because the “attractive” people don’t want to lose their competitive advantage?

I think it is something along these lines.

I think some people just have to have an outlet to be nasty or superior in a misguided bid to feel better about themselves.

Rightly, society has now clamped down on so many avenues for these sorts of people to find an outlet; no-one will accept pejorative comments about disability, race, sexuality etc, so the "nasties" in this world have got limited options. For some reason, obesity seems to be a blind spot in this evolved attitude, despite the fact that many overweight people have faced health challenges etc that have brought them to that situation - often in the same way that anorexics have food issues, yet it would be seen as appalling to thin-shame someone battling anorexia.

I think it's time society cracked down on fat-shamers in the same way we make criticising or blaming people for disability, race or gender unacceptable as civilised behaviour.

When I hear someone fat-shaming, I tend to think their BMI is not the smallest thing about them.

Spot on. People deliberately bring health concerns into the topic when discussing blatant fatphobia to deflect from the issue of how poorly fat people are treated.

Was the person he made the comment about female though?

When I was younger I briefly dated a misogynist man that I met online, he made a few questionable comments about bigger women before we met. When I met him ( and yeah I shouldn’t have) I was surprised to find he was actually fat himself. Despite his regular gym attendance.

I had seen pictures of him but it wasn’t clear if he was fat or stocky/muscular until I met him in person.

He even asked me if I would ever take WLI, he posed it as a general question but I felt he was dropping a hint. With hindsight I’d have asked him the same question back as he was much larger than me.

So yeah basically some chubby men don’t seem to see themselves as fat or hold themselves to the same standards as they hold women as they will be quick to call out a woman for being fat but think their weight is fine. Thats one of the links between misogyny and fat phobia!

It comes back to women being expected to look “good” according to societal standards but men often get a lot more slack if they’re not considered aesthetically pleasing.

yep, 5-10% of overweight or obese people are bigger due to a secondary (medical) cause.

90-95% are other causes which will include eating too much and bit moving enough.

No I'm not saying that at all. I am saying we don't know why someone is overweight and there could be many reasons for it, so best not to judge.

people making jokes about fat people is nothing new. Personally, I avoid fatties but each to their own.

Maybe it’s because I’m on my period but this has made me tear up.

Horrible.

And the worst thing is this will make some obese people not want to leave the house at all which doesn’t help matters.

I agree but you'll get posters stating otherwise.

in 1960 the obesity rate was 1-2% in the UK, 13% in the US.

now it's 64.5% in the UK. underactive thyroids and other conditions were still there back in the day, they don't magically appear.

people were much more active back then.

it's not always down to eat less do more, but a lot of it is for sure. The stats through time show that.

It’s very rude and totally unnecessary.

What’s ironic to me, is it’s often those who’s aren’t exactly slim who make the comments too. I had a tradesman around the other week who made a really unkind comment about someone in a local shop, but the tradesman was carrying a lot of extra pounds himself!

I think rudeness about someone’s looks is often a sign of low intelligence and low class. And too much time on their hands.

You know this is basically saying that as long as you know it isn't their fault, it is acceptable to you.

But it's irrelevant to me what size anyone else is. I don't want to be fat, for me. I'm allowed to have a preference over my own body and health.

It absolutely exists - I’ve been overweight my entire life (doing something about it now - 5 stones down and more to go!) and people do seem to think it’s fine to make rude comments about weight/size to complete strangers in public.

You definitely do get judged - a guy who I’d considered to be a friendly acquaintance, (friend of a friend) recently asked me what my job was, and when I said what it was (quite difficult job, requires degree and professional qualifications) he looked shocked and said “Christ, I always thought because you’re fat you must be thick”. Needless to say, no longer on friendly terms, at least from my side anyway!

Most people who are fat are fat because they overeat and under exercise. There are some exceptions to that rule but for the vast majority of people it’s true.

Most people would be slimmer if they made lifestyle changes. There are myriad reasons why such changes are difficult but that’s exactly why fat people are considered negatively, because to be fat suggests a lack of discipline.

I'm currently a size 12 with BMI <25. A year ago I was size 22-24 BMI 43. Total weight loss just over 8st. I've used (needed) WLI to achieve this.

People are treating me like a totally different person. My body is absolutely everyone's business to discuss at any moment. People are now worrying I'll "go too far". Lots of questions about whether I've "cheated" or done it "the healthy way". I haven't shared my use of WLI outside immediate family and healthcare professionals. It's my medical info which colleagues and acquaintances have no right to.

There's an implication that I am now a better person. I'm not. The effect of WLI has given me personally a sense of vindication. I was not a weak willed person. I was not a lazy slob. I had a medical condition which has been successfully treated.

After being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and becoming aware just how prevalent it is and how under-diagnosed it is, I soon realised that many are very overweight because of it. Literally nothing they do in the way of dietary changes or exercise could shift even one pound of weight. So I learned not to be so judgmental about the subject and to realise that every person faces their own demons, so to speak.

Size 16 at 5ft 10 must be pretty average looking weight wise - and tall. I think sometimes people forget there are just different builds. I look at some slimmer people and they clearly have a very tiny skeleton under everything! Even if I was completely slim I’d be taller and broader. This doesn’t excuse everything but it must have some impact.

This advert seems to be right on cue…

There’s one thing debating obesity and the effects on society, or engaging in conversation with someone overweight when they instigate the conversation. But to make derogatory remarks about someone’s appearance, totally unprovoked, is totally fatphobic.

And yes it does exist, people make remarks all the time, jokes behind people’s backs, comments about what people are wearing out and about and whether that’s suited to their figure. I’ve heard it out and about, seen it on this forum. It’s very much still a thing even in this day and age where people should know better.

Depends what you class as very far I guess. BMI wise I would be obese but I’m a size 16 at 5ft 10

I absolutely couldn't do cross fit and hyrox as a very fat person, and nor would I want to.

What? In the same way islamophobes are scared of becoming muslims? Homophobes are scared of becoming gay? How ridiculous. Of course it's about how they perceive and treat others.

I’ve been fat and thin, I’m currently fat. Men don’t bother me at all which is good.

People will judge negatively but I haven’t found it’s stopped me in any way. No one has said anything to my face.

I’ve probably said the worst things about myself than anyone else has about me.

It’s never restricted me from exercise at all. I do aerial hoop, netball, weights, 45 min spin classes, outdoor swimming…

In that case, no. I'd absolutely hate to be fat, but only because I wouldn't like how I looked, and wouldn't like how I felt in my body, and it would severely restrict me from doing what I love (various forms of exercise), not because I think fat people are "vile" or any of those other words.