To wonder why people let themselves get fat?

[Judgeywedgiepants]

I am frequently amazed at the number of women at 15/17/20 stone who suddenly realise how fat they are and want to do something about it.
Why do people let themselves get so fat? It's unhealthy, unsightly and very life limiting.
Why not just keep an eye on your weight and keep it nice and steady?

Well exactly "bennifer. DickyDavis* I only came on a few pages ago so you are confusing me with someone else. However I am keeping on because (a) you don't have to be fat to be entitled to an opinion and (b) I'm just wondering if any of the overweight posters will see some home truths in the type of stereotypical viewpoints of the plumper posters and see a connection. (so far we've had men prefer curvy women, slim people are thin and have thin faces, and slim people are unhappy and have issues). Oh, and (c) I don't believe in bullying.

Still waiting nijinsky

Earlier in the thread someone said I didn't want to change and was just going to find excuses not to do whatever was suggested. I feel that the most important thing for me to tackle in my life is my depression - it is that which is stopping me from achieving the things I want to achieve, and making my life so dark.

In order to achieve this, I have been attending a psychotherapy group every week for the past 18 months, and will carry on going until I have achieved the peace in my life that I want. I am getting better - I now look forward to things instead of dreading them, and have added activities to my week that I think make me feel better (choir, knitting group, art class), and am making myself go to these even when I am wading through treacle to get there. I'm finally being able to cut down the antidepressants too.

nijinsky not all larger sized people say curvy. I am fat, I havent said otherwise. Curvy is curvy - broad hips, large shapely bust. I am not curvy, I am fat. I havent so far as I am aware made any stereotypical comments about anyone.

Over the years I have learned never to comment on somone's size whether large or small, getting larger or getting smaller unless they raise the topic first.

My being fat is of no concern to anyone else but me. The only way my being fat can hurt someone else is if I fall and land on them.

The OP's comments about the unsightlyness of fat people was offensive. Does the OP have the say on who is unsightly? Should all people who are unsightly do something about it? What does the OP suggest? Makeup? Plastic surgery? Or should all ugly people be removed from the streets so as not to offend the OP's eyes?

I have spent 34 years trying to figure out why I am overweight and find it very difficult to stick to a diet.

Conclusion: it is easier not to.

And when you have lots of other things going on in your life, like with most things, you have to prioritise. And, like with most things, your priorities might not be the same as mine. For some, being slim, dieting, watching weight etc is always top priority. For others, me included, it is not.

Just seen a stat on the BBC related to American health care costs

"For every dollar spent on health care, 83 cents is spent on a patient who is overweight or obese"

Yikes!

STDG I would say that dealing with your underlying issues must be your priority.

You could diet, you could run the marathon...but until you have dealt with those deeper feelings being thin will not make the slightest difference and you may even put it all back on.

I think you're doing the right thing by prioritising your mental well being first. Then in time you can start adding in a little exercise etc.

Hopefully you will find a longterm solution to both your depression and weight issues.

Staying you are showing considerable courage and determination in tackling the things that trouble you most, and have also shown quite remarkable forbearance in not calling Nijinksy an unimitigated little cunt.

Bennifer that's interesting, but skewed!! firstly, those who are only 5lb overweight (for instance) would stil fall into that category. In addition, that is all healthcare expenditure, not all obesity-related expenditure. By that measure, a 5 ft 8 woman weighing 10 stone 10lb having surgery for an in-growing toenail would fall into that figure - not really owt to do with fat-epidemic!

That's true bluefer,

In the UK, 60% of adults are overweight, so pro-rata, at least 60% of health spending here will be on the overweigght

Yar, but not 60% of expenditure on overweightness, to use an, ahem, entirely technical medical term.

When they wheel out the stats about % of people overweight they of course 'catch' people who are nothing of the kind - like I say, those who are just that pound or two into the 'overweight' category at any given time. Why, there will be thousands merely a good healthy poo away from being a healthy weight !

Thank-you BlooferLady and wordfactory. BL - I have sidled into your weight loss thread.

I take anti-psychotic medication that makes me put on weight so now I am over weight. If I hadn't have taken the meds I'd be dead so what choice did I have.

Footnote - A 5'8" woman is well within the healthy weight range at 10st 10lbs. In fact it gives an ideal BMI of 22-23, though BMI is just a guide anyway.

Overweight does not always mean you will develop health problems, just that you are at a greater statistical risk. So you can't say every fat person is going to cost the NHS. Clearly some people can't control their overeating and have deep rooted pychological problems. Pychological illnesses are just as valid as physical ones. Are we to tell all depressives that they cost money with their antidepressants and are a burden?

I mainly am talking about the very obese who have a compulsive eating problem. The size 16's probably just need to look at their diet and how often they exercise. But it isn't always that clear cut.

Nice one SDTG :)

Insomia that'll teach me to listen when a telly programme tells me the healthy range for a 5' 8" woman is 9.5-10.5 stone . Lord, it's like you can' even trust Channel 4 these days .

My point still stands though, in essence...

Bennifer is that spent on people who are overweight or obese or because people are overweight or obese? Be very careful of statistics such as these, the devil is in the detail.

Gnome,

I think Bloofer was right, it's the proportion spent on those who are overweight, and if 80% of americans are overweight, 80% will be spent on overweight people

What I am saying is:

a) in that 80% category are those who are very very slightly overweight, and thus whose health is not impacted;
b) that that expenditure does not mean 80% of money spent is spent on obesity-related illness; and
c) that supposes that pro-rata spending is just per capita and I'm not sure that's the case - I would imagine (for instance) that a higher proportion of funding would be spent on the elderly, so the money would be 'clustered' up that 'end'

In a minute someone who can count will be along to explain better than me

But it's just a dodgy statistic to look at, because said casually and accepted off-the-cuff it sounds as if that means 80% of all healthcare money is spent because people are fat, which is manifestly not the case.

I now need a cup of tea and a sit down.

the OP hasn't returned has she?

I smell troll

There are many, many prescribed medicines which make you put on weight.

Even though I am fat I am healthy and active.
I walk a lot with the kids, I can't run as I have asthma and after 50 yards I collapse wheezing. Also my legs just don't seem to know how to run so I don't bother.
I can walk for miles and I often do, yes I ache a for few days but it doesn't bother me.
I really like swimming but with severe excema I'm not allowed to at the moment.

And can I just say are fat people really that unsightly?
I think bodies look a lot better with a bit of flesh on them, who wants to see bones and tendons poking through your skin

Gawd I'm hungry...

So what are we all having for tea then?

I'm going to have smoked mackerel kedgeree. And stewed apple all hot and lush with a bit of honey in

Nip round to mine then, Orm - I have some melon and pineapple I would be only too happy to share.

I think we need to get more people cycling (that's my little bugbear). Something like 60% of people don't cycle in any one year. I can understand the disabled, and the over 75s, and those living in the Hebrides, but it'd be great to get more out on the bike.