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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that unless caused by an underlying health condition, obesity..

173 replies

GraysAnalogy · 18/12/2014 21:04

should not be classed as a disability?

Recent story about a childminder being sacked as he was too overweight to do his job properly. He took this to court for unfair dismissal and it is being argued that his obesity could be classed as a disability.

There has been no ruling yet.

In your opinion, should it?

OP posts:
CrohnicChristmas · 18/12/2014 22:04

grays I've read and reread trying to get it to make sense in my mind.

Am I right in thinking that you mean-
In an ideal world there would be a distinction
But in the real world you can't draw that line

joanne1947 · 18/12/2014 22:05

Yes I agree those who smoke, drink and take drugs hurt others, those who overeat hurt themselves. then the lazy types who can't be bothered to try running 5 miles every day and eating less want a gastric band which I pay for. These fat people hurt me
It is so easy to lose weight, just eat less and exercise, dead easy.

Original poster
GraysAnalogy · 18/12/2014 22:05

I'm saying in the real world it would either be a disability or not.

I'm saying in my world it would be if because of a health condition.

OP posts:
Enpoid · 18/12/2014 22:09

Oh, right, we're talking personal fantasy worlds.

Well in my world you can eat cream cakes all day and never get fat Smile

JoanHickson · 18/12/2014 22:12

Joanne if you are born in 1947, you will be not accepting benefits then?

Original poster
GraysAnalogy · 18/12/2014 22:13

I'm saying that if someone was obese due to PCOS, hypothyroidism, cushings, or any of the other conditions that have been proven to lead to disability, then their obesity would be classed as a disability.

But obviously, there is no clear way of defining what obesity is caused by so we obesity as a whole would either have to be a disability or not.

I too wish we could live in a world were I could eat doritoes all day.

OP posts:
JoanHickson · 18/12/2014 22:14

I hope your ready to sell your home to pay a fatty to have a gastric band , so they can wipe your arse. I hope you have a private pension, no bus pass and no winter fuel allowance?

Enpoid · 18/12/2014 22:14

Wouldn't it be easier to classify the Cushing's or the hypothyroidism or the PCOS as a disability, in that case?

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 18/12/2014 22:17

Fat people hurt you Joanne? Do they sit on you? Or fall off the bridge you live under and squash you?

Original poster
GraysAnalogy · 18/12/2014 22:18

It is so easy to lose weight, just eat less and exercise, dead easy

If only this was true...

OP posts:
Bulbasaur · 18/12/2014 22:19

then the lazy types who can't be bothered to try running 5 miles every day and eating less want a gastric band which I pay for. These fat people hurt me

Actually, you're paying the same taxes whether they get a gastric bypass or not. So getting sanctimonious about your tax money is an invalid argument.

More over, grastric bands don't typically work because obesity is a food addiction issue, and the surgery doesn't change the eating habits of the people involved. Most people gain the weight right back or stretch their stomachs back to normal size from over eating. It's why it cannot be classed as a disability. A disability implies there is nothing you can do to prevent or fix it, and that is not the case.

It needs to be classed as an addiction issue, so that it will be treated accordingly. Obesity is a complex problem that requires a complete change in behavior and lifestyle to fix, not a blue badge so they don't have to walk as far at the store.

MeMyselfAnd1 · 18/12/2014 22:19

See it this way... A person with enphisema, is it disabled? Yes. Even if he is disabled because s/he couldn't stop smoking? Absolutely. The damage is there regardless of it being accidental or not.

Bulbasaur · 18/12/2014 22:22

Except obesity is reversible. Emphysema is not.

Enpoid · 18/12/2014 22:24

My aunty has had a serious stroke. We hope that with a lot of work she will regain the function .she has lost. Does the fact that if she works at it she may recover mean that she's not currently disabled?

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 18/12/2014 22:24

The effects can be greatly reduced from lifestyle changes....

26Point2Miles · 18/12/2014 22:24

obesity is a food addiction issue?? Er, no, no it's not

Welshwabbit · 18/12/2014 22:28

A condition does not have to be permanent to amount to a disability. In UK law it has to have lasted, or be likely to last, at least one year at the time of the discrimination. So if you broke your leg whilst climbing a mountain and the adverse effects on your everyday activities lasted more than a year, you'd be classified as disabled for the purposes of the Equality Act.

Mitchy1nge · 18/12/2014 22:30

this is simply not a very nice premise for a thread is it Hmm

it is far too complicated to unpick all the possible causal factors in an individual case of obesity and it is morally icky to decide whether people are deservingly disabled or have Brought It Upon Themselves and should be sent to some fat farm equiv of the workhouse

so you are being unreasonable

leave the obese alone, they have enough on their plate already

Original poster
GraysAnalogy · 18/12/2014 22:31

leave the obese alone, they have enough on their plate already

Blush
OP posts:
ShadowKat · 18/12/2014 22:32

It's a food addiction issue for some obese people. I would guess that's especially so when you're talking about really obese people with very high bmi's.

JoanHickson · 18/12/2014 22:34

Enough on their plate already Shock

26Point2Miles · 18/12/2014 22:34

I guess we'll find out when/if the people in this country classed as obese will get benefit payments for this Disibility.... Imagine being on the cusp of overweight and obese... Not quite obese enough to 'claim'

That problem can be easily solved with a few more pounds added. Now, would the benefits assessors be suspicious??

Welshwabbit · 18/12/2014 22:36

The definition of disability for benefit payments is different from the Equality Act definition.

26Point2Miles · 18/12/2014 22:38

shadow but how is it a food addiction? To me 'food' is nutritios green veg/nuts/seeds/proteins/fruit/grains..... Food to fuel your body and replenish when it's burnt off. That's food. Who gets obese by overeating 'food'

And then there's the crap pumped full of sugar and chemicals that passes as 'food'.... People who eat this don't stop til they become obese

26Point2Miles · 18/12/2014 22:39

Let's hope it stays that way welsh