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?

I don't mind debating Obesity at all. I do mind inflammatory finger pointing (not to mention judgemental) questions.

ExpatAgain I think that discussion on the subject is fine but I felt the OP had rather let herself down by saying that being fat is unsightly. That is offensive. I am unsightly whether I am fat or slim (I know because I lost a huge amount of weight once and was still ugly at the end just in a different way).

Many people do things to excess including so called healthy things such as marathon running (IMO to excess where it is in detriment to family time). Many of the things people do to excess could be considered to be addictive (in an amateur sense). They all have negatives. No one is perfect.

Many things that the NHS treat are in fact preventable in some way. Most accidents are preventable in some way but the victims tend not to be lectured to the same extent as an overweight person is.

Chandon speaks a lot of sense. People become fat because they eat more food than they need. Whether this is 50 calories or 500 calories a day, eating more than your body needs will eventually lead to weight gain. In the majority of cases, I think this is due to an emotional relationship with food. We no longer simply see food as fuel and have access to an abundant supply of it. In our society, people use food in emotional ways - for comfort, to celebrate, as a reward - and this leads to overconsumption. We can choose to control our intake and maintain a healthy weight, or we can eat more than we need and gain weight.

Of course, there are exceptions where medication, for example, can upset the balance, but I think too many people make excuses for their being overweight. Yes, scientists have found genetic evidence for being overweight or obese, but many people take this at face value and use it as an excuse, rather than reading the full articles. Most seem to say that although having a certain gene can increase your chances of being overweight or obese, this can be overcome by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly - i.e. if you have the 'obesity' gene and you control what you eat, you are no more likely to be obese than someone without the gene. Genes seem to make people more likely to overeat, not more likely to gain weight. If you control what you eat, your genes generally will not make you fat. There are always exceptions, but these are very rare and would not account for the vast numbers of overweight people we see today.

What I'm trying to say is that people become fat because it is normal to have emotional relationships with food and to place the blame on factors you can't control.

Stupid OP but Chandon speaks a lot of sense.

And Mamazon - comparing being fat to having cancer is ridiculous, trite and insulting.

You can stop yourself being fat by shoving less cake in your gob and moving your wobbly arse more. Don't think you can shift a tumour the same way .

bimbo, huh?? Gay people cost more, really?? I think if you examine the NHS budget you'll find billions spent on obesity-related conditions..

Few skinny people are quite so skinny enough to be hospitalised compared to morbidly obese people...NHS is having to spend lots more of taxpayers money on bigger ambulances/operating tables and beds for the morbidly obese as well as staff being off sick with back problems etc..

"These threads all go the same way you're only allowed to thin- bash"

Oh come on. Fat people are always getting bashed. This thread alone proves that.

I absolutely hate judgemental wankers like you, OP.

I'm fat because I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I also have hip dysplasia which means I cannot do any kind of impact-exercise (it's nothing but swimming or pilates for me), and I also really like my food. I've been big since I hit puberty, and ignorant fuckmuppets like you, with your jibes and judgemental wankery drove me to hate my body, hate my "weakness" for eating, hate how ugly I felt, and so I began putting my fingers down my throat from the age of eighteen until twenty-five.

Let's be honest here, I still hate the way I look, I still wish I could exercise properly to help my health and yep, I still feel ugly and disgusting and it amazes me sometimes that DP can bear to be with me.

Am I eating shit everyday? No.

Do I like being a size 22? No.

Did I let myself get this way? Hell no.

So go fuck yourself OP, and then when you're done go fuck yourself again you ignorant tit.

HTH.

Not really as its not classed as 'gay related' conditions just cancer- but seriously the research is there, gay people are more likely to get cancer. But thats fine as long as they aren't actually enjoying food or anything.

Chaos - *As the OP was written to be deliberately hurtful and incendiary, I propose we starve it of the oxygen of attention and hide this thread.

Anyone care to join me on the IgnoringTwitsSofa?*

Ok that didn't work, how about diversion?

I am joining those adding fuckmuncher to my book, anyone got any others?
doesn't have to be a word, maybe a phrase. Like my DHs favourite,

"why don't you take the day off and stop being a cunt" he shortens it to 'take the day off' now we all know what he means.

In response to the OP's question.
Lots of reasons - depression, compulsive overeating/comfort eating - basically the other end of the scale to anorexia.

But also lack of exercise, large portion sizes. I could go on and on.
I don't think you should focus on the fact that they got overweight but they should be congratulated that they have seen the problem and are wanting to do something about it.

Gnome, I missed the "unsightly" reference first time, well yes obviously unfair and doesn't help her cause...

Yes but you can prevent cancer by not smoking/drinking/eating crap- which slim people do as much as fat people in a lot of cases! This is why I despise the 'its because it costs the NHS so much money' as an excuse to slam overweight people- so do loads of bloody people and their unhealthy habits!

Expatagain you speak sense

You know, people like OP make me seriously angry. I mean, seriously.

I'm going to repeat what I said in the thread about motability. My best friend used to be very slender. She developed a condition, which I can't remember the name of, which caused her weight to balloon. She's done everything she can to lose weight, and she's still not getting anywhere. She's a vegetarian, eats healthily, yet still can't shift that weight. So feel free OP. Go ahead and ask her why she got fat.

I'm nowhere near as slim as I used to be. In fact, during my teenage years, I was borderline anorexic. I still look in the mirror and consider myself hideous and fat. Now consider what kind of effect threads like these could have on people like myself who still, occassionally, slip into periods of not eating.

Now, let's go and ask the Eating Disorders unit why they've let themselves get so ill.

Oh, and have a fuicking . If you're not too scared of ending up "fat"

Obesity occurs for a number of reasons but I would say eating disorders are right at the top. I have binge eating disorder, I eat to cope with distressing feelings about childhood sexual abuse. Knowing this is a vicious cycle of feel bad/eat/self loathe does not make it any easier to manage. Walk a mile in my shoes OP and you might understand.

You'd hate me.
I weigh 20st 5lbs.
I also work full time in childcare.
I walk around 4 miles a day.
I do not sit in my butt all day.

I DO eat the wrong foods.
I joined weight watchers last night and am hoping to loose around 6 stone.

It must be nice to be perfect as you sit in your lettuce surrounded ivory tower.

I'm sick of being the nations whipping boy. Because fat people have no choice but to wear their addiction/downfall/weakness physically most people think they have a right to pick on and judge me. Personally I don't cost the NHS anything. I'm not having any weight related treatment at all. I take medication for depression. I also had PND. I brought that on myself by having kids. But its ok. Thats one of our socially acceptable ailments. Its also hidden. People only know I have depression when I choose to tell them.
Fat people can't win. Don't seek help and be accused of not caring or wanting help? Seek help and be constantly reminded just how much my fat ass is costing you? And people wonder why we get so defensive. Hmmm let me think...

"Not really as its not classed as 'gay related' conditions just cancer- but seriously the research is there, gay people are more likely to get cancer. But thats fine as long as they aren't actually enjoying food or anything."

Really?! Am intrigued... Why? I thought most cancer was genetic, or just really horrible bad luck?

i am always suprised at a group of people i consider 'fat-phobic'. they are usually skinny themselves and cannot bear to think about fat people/fatty foods etc. often these people say things like 'well it's just self control isn't it?' and stuff like that.They normally exercise a lot too, and won't eat chips (which i consider a sign of insanity) Has anyone else come across fat phobia or is it just me?

in relation to thin/fat and cost to the NHS... no offense to anybody, but most of the smokers I know myself are thin/slim/normal weight, rather than overweight, and I would have presumed that smoking was a bigger health problem to being overweight. Even if you factor in that smoking can damage those around you, e.g. passive smoking, I'm not sure there are health risks with passive eating...

I have come across somebody who is fat phobic. She's a lovely girl, always trying to "help" others eat healthier, and sending people diet / exercise plans.

ok, so where's Judgewhatsit gone? Ever come back? Most unlikely name ever for a poster, carefully chosen no doubt

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13295300

Eating less and exercising more makes you lose weight.That is science

Elfonthetopshelf. I used to work with a girl like that too. Trying to 'help' people with their lifestyle. Diet & exercise was all she ever talked about. She was dull as shit.