Why do people care so much the weight of others?

[simmeringexistentialdread]

Thread after thread after thread on here...discussing weight.

Lots of...'genuine question..why can't people just lose weight when they know it worsens covid outcomes/increases the risk of poor health etc?'

My question is why do you care?

I never see the same strength of questioning directed to the myriad of others with self-inflicted illnesses.

Why are there not the same amount of threads asking why people can't stop smoking, stop drinking to excess, stop engaging in risky sexual behaviours etc...

If it's a matter of overweight people 'being a burden on the healthcare system', well all the above are as well!

But really, why do you care about someone else's weight? These threads run into several pages, and it's just people constantly saying that 'oh, obese people could lose weight if they wanted to, but they just keep trotting out excuses' or similar.

But why are you even on this thread hypothesising potential reasons and berating overweight people. Would you also go on thread where someone has asked why people keep smoking when they know it can cause lung cancer/COPD/ hypertension....and say 'oh, people can stop smoking if they want, they just choose not to'?

I'm just wondering why these weight threads provoke so many opinions from people.

And yet you have started another thread to discuss weight

Yes I have. I have not seen this particular question asked so I want to get some opinions on it.

I often wonder this as well op. Like horrible people who make a point of mentioning if someone is overweight. Its very odd behaviour, but imo it reflects badly on the one commenting not the over weight person.

It's because they're really worried about other people's health.

Self righteousness.

Being thin or slim has in recent times been linked to self control and traditionally self control is seen as a virtue.

In short, the issue of weight has entered into the realm of religion.

With the overweight being preached at by the virtuous slim.

The aim of their preaching is to shame others.

Without realising the greater sin is their own sanctimony.

I care about my sisters weight because I love her and don't want her to get type 2 diabetes or have a heart attack.

I care about people’s weight generally because I care about them and want them to be healthy and have a good quality of life. My Dad has been motivated by Covid to lose weight and it’s given him a new lease of life. He’s happier and healthier now and I’m delighted for him.

They've normally got their own issues and take those out on their chosen target. Fat = greedy, disgusting, no self control, etc etc.

If you scratch the surface of their contempt you see there's something lacking in them. It's not about a stranger's weight. It's about the person judging.

If you got kneecapped every time someone added a pound then I could understand it but since it doesn't actually impact you if someone else is fat, the only reason for spouting shit about them is it makes the spouter feel good.

Which makes them a twat.
Fat is better than twat. 🤷‍♀️

I have wondered this too OP. Why does obesity get treated with so much vitriol when other eating disorders aren't ?

If you post about being at the lower end of BMI you get just as much vitriol as obèse posters get. It's normal to have a BMI of 24.5 but a BMI of 19 makes you someone with an eating disorder 🙄

At an individual level, I'm not bothered. It's not my life.

At a societal level, I'm interested in the trends, the impact of that trend and the various causes of it.

I care about keeping my weight in a healthy zone because my dad died prematurely from a health condition caused by his lifestyle and weight. I don't want my children to go through that before they reach secondary age, or at any point before I reach a decent old age and they are well into adulthood.

I don't mind what other people weigh but obesity is an issue in this pandemic, so I worry more for overweight family members including myself.

@VettiyaIruken You are my Spirit Animal 😁

Interesting isn’t it. We’re allowed thread after thread of calling people selfish cunts if they break the current lockdown rules, wild hypothesis about if someone takes their car out, crashes, and has to go to hospital putting a strain on the NHS and how selfish that is. But we can’t mention the strain on the NHS resulting from dire lifestyle choices. No one gets called selfish for comfort eating, or drinking through lockdown. That’s personal choice.

@Hiphopopotamus

Interesting isn’t it. We’re allowed thread after thread of calling people selfish cunts if they break the current lockdown rules, wild hypothesis about if someone takes their car out, crashes, and has to go to hospital putting a strain on the NHS and how selfish that is. But we can’t mention the strain on the NHS resulting from dire lifestyle choices. No one gets called selfish for comfort eating, or drinking through lockdown. That’s personal choice.

Is disordered eating actually a lifestyle choice though or an emotional or brain issue? I mean, compulsive or comfort eating on a regular basis so you get very fat..I would say that Is in same league as bulimia. Just no vomiting involved.

If people post something I think is delusional I itch to say so.
I am getting better at pressing HIDE but it's a struggle.

I had an eating disorder long ago so I guess i can view obesity as a state I could have reached.

@ragged

If people post something I think is delusional I itch to say so. I am getting better at pressing HIDE but it's a struggle.

I had an eating disorder long ago so I guess i can view obesity as a state I could have reached.

Eh?.I must have missed this? Where's the delusional post?

@ragged

If people post something I think is delusional I itch to say so. I am getting better at pressing HIDE but it's a struggle.

I had an eating disorder long ago so I guess i can view obesity as a state I could have reached.

I think you can scroll down if hide is difficult?

Because it's a serious and growing health issue affecting society snd now as a result the next generation. Fat has stopped being a descriptive word and instead become this whole personal identity which is wrong and enabling. Medical research shows that it doesn't matter how much exercise you do - excess weight is damaging to your health and a risk factor for many diseases and chronic conditions. I don't disagree that there are numerous reasons for excess weight often rooted in mental health, but in the same way I'd encourage anyone wjth substance abuse to get help, food and weight related problems can often be just another addiction and a way of not feeling your feelings. There are plenty of places to get help... see your GP if you need support they are there to help. And if they don't, see another GP.

@Jemenfouscompletement

If you post about being at the lower end of BMI you get just as much vitriol as obèse posters get. It's normal to have a BMI of 24.5 but a BMI of 19 makes you someone with an eating disorder 🙄

Rubbish.

@boysonthesofa

Because it's a serious and growing health issue affecting society snd now as a result the next generation. Fat has stopped being a descriptive word and instead become this whole personal identity which is wrong and enabling. Medical research shows that it doesn't matter how much exercise you do - excess weight is damaging to your health and a risk factor for many diseases and chronic conditions. I don't disagree that there are numerous reasons for excess weight often rooted in mental health, but in the same way I'd encourage anyone wjth substance abuse to get help, food and weight related problems can often be just another addiction and a way of not feeling your feelings. There are plenty of places to get help... see your GP if you need support they are there to help. And if they don't, see another GP.

I can understand your point in caring about it at a societal level and the NHS etc but I thought the OP was referring to threads about weight at a personal level.

I consider an individual persons weight to not be my business as such. I mean. I don't give it headspace much as I would assume the person is aware of their weight and the dangers of it

There cannot be a fat person alive who doesn't know it is potentially unhealthy

I suppose if I’m brutally honest, I find it frustrating.

I hate to see a body that is being abused and unhealthy.

I think the same with alcoholics, drug addicts and any other sort of addict.

Life is short, and I want everyone to enjoy the party, but I wouldn’t say I judge people.

I have a friend who is morbidly obese and now we are ageing, it’s incredibly disabling. It’s hard not to feel sad about that.

@hamstersarse

I suppose if I’m brutally honest, I find it frustrating.

I hate to see a body that is being abused and unhealthy.

I think the same with alcoholics, drug addicts and any other sort of addict.

Life is short, and I want everyone to enjoy the party, but I wouldn’t say I judge people.

I have a friend who is morbidly obese and now we are ageing, it’s incredibly disabling. It’s hard not to feel sad about that.

True, but as I said before, why isn't the same frustration reserved for other eating issues? Not saying that it should be. It just seems obesity is singled out? Or is it that obesity is the most common ED and therefore causes more strain on NHS?