Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The number overweight people at swimming today

588 replies

pingu2209 · 19/02/2013 18:40

I went swimming today with my 3 children. I am not exagerating to say that well over half the children and teenagers were overweight; some were seriously obese.

It really was noticable. Girls as well as boys. Anything from age 4 to 14.

Okay - at least they were exercising but I was really shocked.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/02/2013 22:58

It does feel, sometimes, as if we fat people are the last remaining group that it is OK to poke fun at.

LilMissSunshine9 · 19/02/2013 23:05

Why do you even look at a person/ child and think wow they are obese/fat/skinny instead of looking at the person/ child and think that's a happy child larking about in the pool or learning to swim. I don't walk past people in the street and think omg how fat is she/he/child, I am more likely to think the coat they have is really nice and I'd love to have it, or they look like they are having fun - so if I was in OP situation I would of thought kids having fun and it would not even have crossed my mind to think they were obese or far too thin.

fatlazymummy · 19/02/2013 23:07

Where is the Op 'poking fun' at fat people? She was simply making an observation. I noticed the same thing the other day when I was swimming - there were 3 or 4 visibly overweight children out of a class of 25 or so.
Why do some people on this forum find it so difficult to discuss weight without taking it personally? I'm speaking as a formerly obese person, who actually did go swimming in a size 20 costume. Anyone who saw me getting into the pool would have n oticed I was obese.So what? It was a fact, not a judgement.

WhoWhatWhereWhen · 19/02/2013 23:09

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

GrowSomeCress · 19/02/2013 23:10

It is sad though for the poor children to be burdened with that so early on Sad

GrowSomeCress · 19/02/2013 23:11

According to bupa:
" In 2006, around one in six children aged between two and 15 were obese."

Tortington · 19/02/2013 23:16

i have to say that - ok - there will be the minority who have a medical condition / which is contributary to weight gain

imo - most kids shouldn't be fat - and medical issues notwithstanding... the fault is the parents.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 19/02/2013 23:18

Each and every one of us form an opinion of someone/thing when we see it. It's human nature. First impressions and all that.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 19/02/2013 23:19

OP are you a bit thick?

Harsh.

midastouch · 19/02/2013 23:21

Being children its surelyl more there parents fault that they are over weight!

BlackMaryJanes · 19/02/2013 23:21

OP are you a bit thick?, to draw conclusions about the total number of overweight children in society from the tiny numbers you observed today in the pool is the science of the half wit.

Random sample, no?

TuftyFinch · 19/02/2013 23:23

Having read more if penguin's posts I feel I misinterpreted the OP. Aa others have said, the wording wasn't great but ... I'd like to apologise for my previous, early posts.
I'd also disagree with the PP whomsaid buying fast food for a family meal is cheaper than cooking from scratch. It's not.

Eliza600 · 19/02/2013 23:26

The OP is spot on.

I don't know why the UK population is becoming increasingly obese, I'm in my 50s and don't recall it being such a problem when I was younger.

But I would never go swimming in public, because although I'm slim I'm well over 50 and would be embarrassed about the 'saggy bits' (bingo wings, knees and suchlike).
By the same token I don't like seeing obese people in pools and on beaches etc.
Either do something about your weight or keep yourselves covered up. If you are overweight, there are plenty of exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home, without wearing a swimming cossy in public.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 19/02/2013 23:29

Either do something about your weight or keep yourselves covered up. If you are overweight, there are plenty of exercises you can do in the privacy of your own home, without wearing a swimming cossy in public.

Wtf?

Annakin31 · 19/02/2013 23:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AllYoursBabooshka · 19/02/2013 23:31

Sad.

chickydoo · 19/02/2013 23:31

In the 1950's the average hight for a woman was 5'ft 4 ins the average weight was 8 stone 12lbs.
Something has gone wrong since!
I think the Op has been unfairly flamed. An opinion ( and a correct one) was stated " kids are getting bigger" the fact they were in swim wear made it more obvious. People can hide a lot under clothes. (Most of us look better with clothes on...I know I do)
I don't believe it is all down to genetics. My parents are obese, my brother is very overweight. I am slim.
Op I get where you are coming from

plinkyplonks · 19/02/2013 23:31

Seriously, people need to get a grip on this forum. It's actually to the point where I think people are close to bullying the OP. Some of the comments here are absolutely disgusting.

Being overweight is not normal, being obese is not normal. It's not healthy, it's more likely caused by bad diet - food and nutrition education is provided by parents.

It's a valid question to ask to be honest. OP - I went swimming at a centre parcs type retreat with some family members a few weeks ago and I too was really shocked at how many young children were overweight. I was even more shocked at the poor food choices kids were faced with - eating deserts before main course, eating nothing but chicken nuggets and wedges for food. Some of the older children (aged 7-8 or so) still couldn't use cutlery- something I definitely know i was using at their age.

Maybe lack of time, fast food and the cost of fresh food has something to do with it. I can't really say. But it seems a shame we are setting up a generation of children who have no idea what being a normal weight is about.

HoHoHoNoYouDont · 19/02/2013 23:31

As my Ma used to say...'suits the wearer not the starer

WhoWhatWhereWhen · 19/02/2013 23:36

wow

WhoWhatWhereWhen · 19/02/2013 23:39

Eliza, how would you feel if I said I wish people of your age would just stay inside because I don't want to see saggy wrinkly faces and hands?

diaimchlo · 19/02/2013 23:40

If I had been swimming with my DCs I would certainly not have had the time to notice and count how many people were overweight in my opinion, I would have been enjoying the quality time with my children.

Children's physique changes all the time one day they are chubby and next day they have had a growth spurt..... teenagers are going through hormonal changes and the dreaded puppy fat etc

My DD2 was a very small and slight child up until the age of 8 and then all of a sudden filled out, no change in diet. My youngest son seemed to fill out overnight at the age of 11 and got quite chubby, by 12 he had slimmed back to his slight build with again no change in diet.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 19/02/2013 23:54

What a vile and unpleasant thing to say, Eliza. I could lose the weight - could you ever lose that nasty mindset? Or perhaps you would rather I committed suicide. Then the world would be rid of the horrific sight of me.

BurningBridges · 19/02/2013 23:57

Hello playmates, I was on the other pointing and staring thread earlier, so I thought I'd come and be fat on this thread. Its a pity you can't see me as you could have a really good gawp but never mind, you did that earlier eh OP?

Anyway. The way it seems to go with these threads is the OP is a bit like a bully in a playground who runs up and punches someone. When the punched person objects, they say "oh but I was only being friendly, YOU took it the wrong way!!" and then bursts into tears and is immediately surrounded by lots of supportive friends, who then take her to the teacher, sobbing "Punched Person is being MEAN to me!!!"

Just telling it how it seems from this side of the screen.

diaimchlo · 20/02/2013 00:00

Eliza600 how rude and small minded you are. I am over 50 as well and overweight and cannot exercise due to various health issues. But if I could I would and am pleased to say that I wouldn't have to cover my legs as I don't have saggy knees!