To think Prejudice against fat people is NOT as bad as racism.

[goodnessgracious]

To think the article in the Times today claiming that prejudice against fat people is as bad as racism and that it is one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice is ridiculous.

Firstly, obesity is normally caused by an addiction and has health implications for the obese person and further implications on society as whole. How can this be compared to racism in any way?

Also, it is not the last socially acceptable form of prejudice because I believe society is just as (if not more) prejudiced against smokers, alcoholics and gamblers and all people with addictions which have costs toward society.

AIBU to think that although it is not right to be prejudice against obese people it is ridiculous to compare it to racism.

Copied article extract below...

"Prejudice against fat people as bad as racism, say scientists "Dr Jackson said that prejudice against overweight people pervaded society and needed to be challenged. “People think it’s one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice. You just have to look at the comments section on media reports on obesity to see that obese people are subjected to labelling and even abuse and attack.”

You may be able to get bras in your area but i cant and i dont internet shop because i dont have a credit card because i DONT like debt. There is a v. small department store in my town and the bras in there DONT go below a 32 back size.

Im continuing to lose weight but fuck all comes off my boobs. What do you suggest next? That i cut them off?

And bras aside i still have a small back trying to support big boobs. John Lewis???? check your privilege!

That's because of decreased muscle density as opposed to 'permitting' increased overall fat Suzanne - a natural side effect of aging (not happening to you for obvious reasons ). I don't believe the BMI chart doesn't alter for age/weight.

'doesn't alter' - 'alters'

Scarlett you have a point there. My doc told me to try to get down to 12 and a half stone I got down to 11 stone.

If you tell an overweight person to try to get down to a weight that seems impossible.........well you know the rest.

When you say 'fit' Scarlet, what do you mean?
A good level of cardiovascular efficiency?
Or a good level of overall health?
Or something different?

High body fat doesn't necessarily preclude good cardiovascular function, or the response thereof to cardiovascular training, but it does have a negative impact on overall health and metabolic function.

I'd like to take issue with you Sleep over decline in muscle mass, but I need to get to the gym, it's leg day!

Darkest - you don't need a credit card to buy online. A debit card will do. This prevents getting into debt.

And as for "check your privilege" - if you're insinuating that I'm wealthy, that is extremely far from the truth. I shouldn't be having to explain this, but my bras are all John Lewis T shirt bras, in three different colours, all bought in the sale for £5 each.

I don't know where this "cutting your boobs off" nonsense has come from, either.

All I said in the last post was that bras are relatively easy to buy below a 34" back size.
This is something I have a lot of experience of, as I went from a 34H to a 30FF. I am not however, well versed in the back sizes available near you, as I neither know you nor know where you live.

But just briefly I'd say loss of muscle is a side effect of reduced levels of activity rather than a side effect inherent to aging

Absolutely Scarlett - this is the problem with charts and a mentality like 'Msunreasonable's' whose definition of 'too much' fat is having a muffin top. It's only too much for your preference/aesthetics, no other reason. That's fine, worry about your own waistline but don't sit in judgement on others when you know nothing about their diet/medical condition/life history or situation.

So much damage is done by the media and diet industry trying to make everyone fit a (literally) narrow definition of attractive. Fat shaming does not work. Diets do not work. The whole basis of both is hatred and punishment. If the focus was placed instead on health, enjoyment of good food and quality of life, on respecting our bodies as they are rather than battling constantly with food and body, many overweight people would actually be healthy and happy and a healthy weight would actually follow naturally. Constantly hitting people over the head with the message that they are 'less than' or failing at life because of their weight only does more harm.

Cant shop online. DH thinks it isnt secure enough.

YYSleep And you feel you have to explain yourself all the time. Even after weight loss you feel you have to explain why you have a bit of loose skin. And i have to knock a few pounds off on the scales because of said loose skin.

Because it never ends. As this thread patently shows.

When I was 9 stone, I saw 8 stone as the holy grail. It never ends...

A lot of people over 40 who are skinny don't look a picture of health to me when they are unfit and have poor muscle tone- they rather look like the air has been sucked out of them. I'd rather be fit, plump, curvy and toned.

A good cardio fitness, but good muscular strength and endurance too.

I don't actually generally bother with weight at all, I just know mine over the last year because I've been weighed a lot; I usually do cardio and interval training and weight bearing resistance training because I know that this is what will look after my body as I get older (the weight training is the most important for old age tbh)

I usually judge my own size as fine or not if:
No excessive fat (soft is fine, but rolls are not)
Measurements stay constant (waist, bum, upper arm, upper thigh)
Clothes fit comfortably (usually wear a 10 or 12, currently a 16).

Sarcopenia is probably exacerbated by inactivity Suzanne but a certain level is unavoidable unfortunately (we should probably discuss this elsewhere though - definite derail!)

Absolutely Scarlett - this is the problem with charts and a mentality like 'Msunreasonable's' whose definition of 'too much' fat is having a muffin top.

IMO having a muffin top (excusing loose skin due to pregnancy or rapid weight changes) is the evidence of having a body fat percentage which is too high. Do you have any evidence to the contrary? Do normal weight and healthy bodies have fat (not loose skin) which splurges out over the tops of waistbands?

Depends on the size of the waistband relative to the waist wouldn't it ?

Sorry, that last post was to answer Suzanne!

I agree with everything you've said Sleep (I am a fawning sycophant!); I think everyone has a natural 'level' and their body will find it itself, providing it isn't being bombarded with too much processed junk or neglected through lack of use through lowered activity levels.

If you eat right and keep active then it will get there, sometimes though that level will not be 9 stone and it's at that point where you have to decide whether you want a lifelong battle with your body over that errant stone or if you just accept that 10 stone is fine and get on with enjoying life.

If the waistband is too tight then the person either needs to buy new clothes and stop deluding themselves that they are still that size or they need to lose weight to fit into the clothes that are currently too tight.
If a person doesn't have much excess body fat then the clothes will likely dig into the skin rather than forcing a wedge of fat over the waistband (as there isn't much fat to force over).

I think a muffin top is mostly indicative of having the wrong size trousers personally!

Well as least reading this thread will save people money.

They wont have to buy a copy of Grazia or Closer!

Miss Unreasonable I have a similar problem BECAUSE I HAVE LOOSE SKIN AROUND MY TUMMY FROM WEIGHT LOSS.

IT IS NOT FAT IT IS LOOSE SKIN
LOOSE SKIN

And I did state with the exception of loose skin resulting from pregnancy or weight loss. I made it clear (or so I thought) that I was talking about fat spilling over and creating a muffin top.

i know you did Trouble is though with this kind of prejudice as insidious as it is people who see me with my clothes on will assume its weight because as proven by this thread that is what people want to think.

Prejudice and consequential behaviour against those who are overweight is as bad as the person who is subject to it feels. It's not a competition. It is not possible for anyone to measure how bullying behaviour makes anyone feel. I have friends who brush off homophobic or rascist remarks; for others the tiniest comments make them feel bad
It's downright disgusting, and totally rude. All those who try to justify such behaviour by claiming that people are responsible for their size are just showing their lack of manners and ignorance.
Sad to think that there are a huge group of youngsters being raised by you who think that is ok to bully and make rude, hurtful comments because you have made a judgement about a person without knowing anything about them, just based on their appearance. That's pretty similar to rascist behaviour - judging on appearance and acting in a negative manner to a fellow human being.