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.”

Racism has a long history and has resulted in ingrained poverty and vulnerability in society, which people are only just beginning to be able to counter.

Prejudice against fat people has nothing like so much structural, historical power.

edamsavestheday

The scientist did say the research shows 'it's one of the last socially acceptable forms of prejudice'. Which it is - alongside others inc. making hurtful remarks about people with red hair.

But it isn't Edam, smokers and other forms of addiction get just as much vilification. It is nowhere near the last form of socially acceptable prejudice.

A few point - firstly, no, it is bloody NOT 'easy' to lose weight - I wish it was.

Secondly, as an obese person, I do feel judged whenever I step out of the house.

Thirdly, whilst I do not agree that it is as bad as racism, I do agree with one point the article made - that judging and shaming fat people for their weight is not going to motivate them to lose weight - it is far more likely to make them miserable and depressed! which will make them put on weight.

I use food to medicate my depression - and being judged and ridiculed for my weight makes me more depressed.

Basically, I hate myself - and unless I like myself enough to care about myself, I am not going to care for my health. The judgement and fat-shaming only adds to my self-hatred.

The point of the research is that fat-shaming, insults and negative pressure actually make obesity worse. A stress response causes more over-eating." To clarify, the article states that it causes a 1 kg gain over 4 years. I wonder why the anti smoking campaigns have worked then?

Excellent point goodness.
Shaming worked for smokers.

(these studies make me laugh)

Both are awful and there are plenty of reasons why someone can't easily lose weight. Fat-shaming, as another poster said, has become a very real and unpleasant issue. Just as someone shouldn't be targeted because of their skin colour people shouldn't have to put up with snide/rude comments because of their weight.

Nancy that's a different situation all together. That person was infringing on your space and comfort, the same way if someone was smoking (obviously not on a plane) or drinking heavily and bothering you. That's a personal thing.

Prejudice against fat people in the workplace, etc is totally different. I would never judge you for asking to move in that situation.

Twostucktogether - my post might help you understand why shaming won't work for me.

I am near tears just reading this thread and responding.

Racism has deep deep roots. We had the slave trade, huge nations of people being classified as subhuman, they were routinely beaten in the street, lynching was common. That's just one race. In today's society different races are still trying to shake off the shackles that such an awful history has placed upon them, it is one of the most deeply emotive topics you can ever discuss. Prejudice against fat people doesn't even come close and never will.

anyone any size eating an unhealthy diet causes nhs additional costs therefore society as a whole

I hate this fascist weight talk

Many people have health problems such as under/ over active thyroid, autoimmune conditions, ME, fibrogladyma, or people with muscle wasting or mobility issues. There is no way these people will be able to fully control their weight.

Anti smoking campaigns have had a huge amount of money thrown at therm - always tempered by the fact that the tax on cigarettes provides a lot of revenue, so there is a reason smoking will never totally disappear.

With smoking or drinking you can go cold turkey and never use them again - if you gave the will power. You can't stop eating. Therein lies the problem - alcoholics don't won't to have a drink in case they get their cravings back. People who overeat have to deal with those feelings every time they have a meal.

Kitten
The difference, in my opinion, between smokers and fat people is fat people don't harm anyone else with their weight. Yes you could go into children being brought up with an unhealthy lifestyle, but again that would only be the case if the fat person ate unhealthily, served unhealthy meals to the whole family and discouraged exercise, not purely through being fat. But it wouldn't be direct harm like secondary smoke inhalation and the risk of burns and fires.

I disagree, I think obesity does affect others. From the fact children learn more about healthy lifestyles from their parents action than anything else. The cost to society in financial terms.

The fact that we don't think obesity is harmful to others shows that other addictions are far more frowned upon in our society. All addictions have consequences. It does not mean we should be prejudice but thinking obesity only harms the over eater is not true.

goodness, I said 'alongside others including...'. I did not list every single one. You are right that smokers, gamblers and others are also victims of prejudice -sheesh, even having a different accent to most people around you can cause grief (lots of 'ho ho ho' funny remarks that add up overtime - my sister says she never realised how much it wore her down until she moved home).

I don't want to sound like a schmaltzy Hallmark card, but clearly all prejudice is wrong - why can't we all just get along and stop judging people before they've done anything to annoy us?

I think being fat is actually too acceptable, I think if there were less tolerance people may think twice about having that burger. Even if it is the person's first burger in 6 months, if you are massively overweight, its really not a good idea to eat it. The majority of slim people are that way because they don't eat too much crap and do some exercise.

The NHS spends a huge amount of our money treating the side effects of obesity - and its all avoidable. Why should so much money be spent on people who simply succumb to gluttony.

Cherry - I agree, however the cabin crew accused me of being prejudiced and were unwilling to reseat me. It was only when I said I would not fly at all and they'd have to take my luggage out of the hold that they relocated me

I bent over and split my trousers a month ago . Luckily I was at home at the time.

But, I was so ashamed of myself, that I vowed to lose weight from that point on - It's been a struggle, (especially with thyroid problems (levo treated) and I take an older type of anti-depressant which causes weight gain) but, with determination and sheer bloody-mindedness, I am now half a stone lighter!
I still need to lose another 2 stone, but I'm getting there.

If I had thought: ''So what, and reached for a forgiving pair of tracky bottoms or leggings instead, I would be about 1 stone heavier already.""

Surely a 'little' bit of shaming isn't such a bad thing?
(it worked for me)

But then, I'm the type of person who likes to take control of my own body. I refuse to be a victim of anything.

YANBU. Of course it's not as bad.

Really feeling the love on this thread.

Perhaps the fat-haters would rather I took my own life, and saved the NHS some money, or would you rather I simply never left the house?

Kitten
Are you trying to say there is no general correlation between being obese and ill health?

twostuck - but no-one shamed you. You took a decision for yourself. You may have felt ashamed but that was a conversation inside your own head.

If someone had yelled insults at you in the street, I doubt it would have helped.

I'm just managing to give up smoking after several decades (fingers crossed, am wary of claiming success in case I relapse). BUT I'm now crunching a lot of Werther's Originals - and I ain't skinny to start with. I've decided it's better to risk putting on a few pounds now in order to get free from smoking, and then deal with weight later. If someone is rude to me about being overweight, they really won't be helping.

NB before anyone has a go, I can't do lots of vigorous exercise atm because I've got an inflamed disc - but despite my back going quite dramatically leaving me in severe pain I didn't go back to smoking, am quite surprised and relieved about that.

It depends whether you really believe that people choose to be fat, or not.

Abuse is abuse and should be acted on, but being overweight does sometimes need to be taken into account. I work with buddies for disabled children and have not hired very overweight people as they need to be able to fit in harnesses, canoes, etc whilst closely looking after a disabled child. Doctors, employers (police, fire brigade etc) should be able to speak about a person weight without fear of being labelled. But a gang of youths shouting vile comments is abuse that should be treated like all abuse.