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.”

An apparently slim person may have loads of fat surrounding their abdominal organs, which is the most dangerous type of fat to have.

The idea that onlookers can tell who is 'heatlhy' and 'unhealthy' and are being helpful in insulting fat people 'because I'm only trying to help' is ludicrous. Just a cover for bad manners and cruelty.

A fat person does the same and they're disgusting, shouldn't be allowed out in public looking like that,

I used to be fat (still am slightly, but am really working on it).

In all the years I've been fat, I have never had anybody tell me:
''you are disgusting''
or
''you shouldn't go out in public like that''.

I don't think there's as much so-called 'prejudice' as people seem to think there is!
Yes if somebody is super morbidly obese then people will do a double-take and might say something.
But otherwise, people are pretty good.
--sometimes I think people like to invent problems (victimhood) where none exist.

I work with buddies for disabled children and have not hired very overweight people as they need to be able to fit in harnesses

Exactly! That's not discriminating against fat people. It's hiring the best person for the job - which in this instance is somebody who is not too overweight and very fit, because the job is very physical.

twostuck - lucky you but your personal experience isn't universal. Other fat people have suffered insults and prejudice.

Kitten

Good grief! Just as walking passed a smoker on the street will not affect me? Or a man drunk in the gutter does not affect me? They have wider consequences for society.

It is not right to abuse someone for their addiction whatever that may be but if you think an obese person doesn't have any impact of others you are very much mistaken.

Kitten

Just as you can't judge a person who looks drunk. It might be the first time they have been drunk in a decade, they might be a binge drink or an alcoholic . The point is that people who are obese are certainly not the last people to have socially acceptable prejudice against them.

It is quite possible to accept that obesity is costing this country huge sums of money and still think that prejudice against them is wrong.

It is not however the same as racism, as the colour of people's skin is not costing society any money.

Luck has nothing to do with it.
According to popular belief, I should find it impossible to lose weight, because I am on thyroid meds, plus anti- depressants (unfortunately an older type that is known to increase appetite)

But instead of letting somebody else sort me out, I've decided to buckle down and sort my own body out.
Nobody else can make you do something.
It has to come from YOU.
(corny but true - but a lot of people don't realise that)

If everybody started taking more responsibility for themselves then we wouldn't all be in the mess we are in.

But because its now the norm to see yourself as a victim, a whole Industry/Community has evolved at helping these victims

So it's easier to get somebody else to sort your problems out.

People can be overweight and fit. People can be thin and unfit.

What do you think fat shaming achieves, apart from a frisson of excitement in the bully? The fat person saying "Gee, I hadn't noticed, thanks for that, I'll immediately implement a lower calorie diet and exercise regime."

If everybody started taking more responsibility for themselves then we wouldn't all be in the mess we are in

Great that you are in a place where you can do that now. But how do we go about getting others to that position? By shaming them and discriminating unfairly? I think not.

We are talking at cross purposes, lucky, I meant 'lucky you' because you said no-one had ever insulted or criticised you for being fat. Your personal experience is not universal.

As for your attitude of 'I can do it, everyone who doesn't just isn't trying hard enough' that's exactly the kind of negative stuff that the scientific research shows stops people losing weight. So stop doing it please.

Kitten

People have given examples of the tangible effect on this thread! I don't want to get into an argument of spelling out impacts of obesity because as i said at the beginning I disagree with prejudice.

However, obesity is costing us all, just a smoking does. However, the colour of someone's skin does not.

They're as bad as each other.

If an obese person could easily change themselves, don't you think they usually would? Nobody likes being obese or feeling ugly. They might pretend they don't care but deep down it bothers them.

You make it sound easy for people to lose weight but don't you think all those who could, would? For some people it's a real struggle.

I feel pity for obese people and think it's mean spirited to act horribly towards them just because they're fat. I am just thankful that it's not me.

So yes, YABU to think one is better than the other. Neither is nice.

I am posting this again, because I would really like some people to think about the pain and damage their comments are causing - I am fat, but I still have feelings, and right now I am in tears thanks to some of the comments here.

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?

People can be overweight and fit. People can be thin and unfit.

This. I am a size 14-16, I run, I do bootcamp sessions 3-4 times a week, I go to spin classes, I lift weights and I swim. I eat a fairly balanced diet of home cooked food and I don't smoke or drink at all. One of my (male) best friends is 5' 9" and 9st but lives on Greggs and chippies, smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and couldn't run for a bus. It's hilarious, because his dad ran the VLM in just over 3hrs a couple of years ago and is the absolute picture of health.

Being thin doesn't mean that you're healthy. I'm not saying that being obese is healthy but it's possible to carry a bit of padding and not be at death's door.

How can you compare the two?

Prejudice is not a good thing whether it is racial or not.

It is not as simple as fat people are making a choice - there can be serious emotional issues behind overeating. People tend to assume a person is just being greedy or has a couldn't care less attitude when often the fat people themselves does not know why they have a problem.

I don't think you should judge anyone based on how they appear physically. A person is more than their skin colour, or weight or outward appearance.

The difference, in my opinion, between smokers and fat people is fat people don't harm anyone else with their weight.

Unless they get pregnant. The possible risks to mother and baby are very similar to the risks of smoking during pregnancy.

cherry
I don't think anyone is saying anything different.

I think being fat is actually too acceptable,

I actually agree with this. According to some studies 66% of people are overweight. It has become more normal to be overweight than it is to be a healthy weight. Many Shops now go down the route of vanity sizing women's clothing in a bid to make us think we are slimmer than we are. We have numerous shops and websites selling clothes for obese people and boots for fat calfs. These things need to be available as people need clothes but they have become so easily available that it normalises obesity. Some shops are even selling school skirts with 50" waists as a readily available range.

All forms of prejudice are wrong. 'Prejudice is prejudgment, or forming an opinion before becoming aware of the relevant facts.'
There are not degrees of importance on this.If we do not know the circumstances we should not make judgements. The world would be a far better place if we just accepted that we are all different shapes,sizes,colours,religions etc and that we need to celebrate the diversity and show some respect and care for each other.
The size thing is a very Western jugement. I am 6'1" and built like a bus ! In this country I have experienced judgemental attitudes for my size. When I lived in Africa I had men queuing up to offer my parents herds of cows to marry me. When I used to visit a friend regularly in the Caribbean I was literally followed around by local guys.One actually jumped on a boat to follow the boat I was in and then swam over to our boat to ask me out.My slim beautiful friends who holidayed with me did not get a look in. Many cultures think women should be well padded. Blame Hollywood and Photoshop for our obsession with size. Just be yourself,be happy and care about others.

I don't think there should be any shaming of those who are overweight but people are kidding themselves if they think that being very overweight doesn't have an impact on those around them. Regardless of whether they eat healthily or not, their children are also likely to be overweight and so the cycle will continue and continue. Society forgets what a healthy weight is. I think I know only two very overweight people who do not also have overweight children. I know more people who are above a size 14 than below.

I think there should be more support for those who are overweight - and not something that costs them money. Something that shows someone how to change their lifestyle, what proper potion size is, how much exercise is required and the mental health support that goes with it. It's an addiction, you may not actively choose to be fat but you do actively have to choose not to be.

Most slim people actively make the choice to be slim, they make that choice everyday.