Too fat to work..

[Huntersmum15]

Slightly controversial for a Sunday morning I know.. But am I the only person who is angered by people who are too fat to work and claiming disability.. Being fat is a choice (I am aware there are many medical conditions that influence a persons weight and obviously this is not a choice) but it angers people that these people are such a drain on the NHS and cost thousands in obesity related illnesses and then claim benefits aswell?

Considering that tax credits are being cut and (according to reports) many children will live in poverty, is it not only just that obesity related disability benefits also be cut too?

AIBU?

Not in your OP you didn't. Yeah further down the thread in a massive drip feedy trying to justify yourself kind of way you did. Just be honest. You hate the fatties. :o

Lookatallthephucks apolgies I didn't open the thread by stating my dads a fattie too

This is what I'm talking about.. And again before you say it yes I know it's the mirror.www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/couple-too-fat-work-marry-4922866

Mm, interesting, those statistics. It appears that in 2014 the number of people claiming out of work benefits for obesity was fewer than 1800 in the whole of Great Britain. Disability Living Allowance (7440 claimants with obesity the primary disabling condition in 2014) is, as of course we all know, not an out-of-work benefit. One of the papers is a call for evidence rather than a completed study; as it explains, "We are keen to learn more about how and when people currently access medical help and specialist employment support – and how these interact. Whilst many longterm conditions are potentially treatable, the current system fails to ensure everyone receives effective healthcare or specialist employment support. This keeps many people out of work – trapping them in worklessness and welfare dependency". Not, you note, "these people are disgusting and ought to pull themselves together".

Still awaiting an analysis of how many of this massive epidemic have an underlying cause other than "ate too much and cba to exercise", as the OP has kindly excluded medical (but not psychological) causes. Unfortunately neither of the linked papers addresses this aspect.

Anniegetyourgun so the government spending around £10 million a year on obesity related illnesses etc isn't an issue? Forgot we had change to spare...

Bringing in physiological issues.. Again like I stated before isn't it important to resolve the issues, therapy, CBT, counselling etc rather than dishing out money, letting them carry on their ways and not help the long term situation.

Oh, if what you meant was that people should receive more help in overcoming the problems that lead to obesity, addiction etc, with consequent savings to the health and benefit budgets, then I'd be right with you. Perhaps if you'd worded it like that in the first place you'd have had a lot more support. What you actually said was something rather different.

Bringing in physiological issues.. Again like I stated before isn't it important to resolve the issues, therapy, CBT, counselling etc rather than dishing out money, letting them carry on their ways and not help the long term situation.
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Well they may be getting therapy/cbt that whilst also claiming disability allowance, the two aren't mutually exclusive, in fact I'd imagine it's more likely that they are. Although funding for those kind of things have been cut massively.

OP, would you like all benefits withdrawn from morbidly obese people, if their obesity was not due to a physiological illness/condition? What about just obese people, not morbidly? And would there be a sliding scale for those that are just overweight as opposed to obese?

Also, if you're advocating counselling, CBT etc how will this be paid for? Will obese people have to fund it themselves compulsorily in order to avoid being a drain on resources better used on the deserving?

Bringing in physiological issues.. Again like I stated before isn't it important to resolve the issues, therapy, CBT, counselling etc rather than dishing out money, letting them carry on their ways and not help the long term situation

You'd try to solve physiological issues with CBT and therapy?!

Please put the NHS down and back away from it slowly.

Nothing you've said on this thread makes you sound up to the task of commenting on any of this this.

Bringing in physiological issues.. Again like I stated before isn't it important to resolve the issues, therapy, CBT, counselling etc rather than dishing out money, letting them carry on their ways and not help the long term situation

You'd try to solve physiological issues with CBT and therapy?!

Please put the NHS down and back away from it slowly.

Nothing you've said on this thread makes you sound up to the task of commenting on any of this.

I don't know how you dare claim you weren't targetting fat people with that thread title and op.

You didn't get the fatty bashing response you wanted so you drop in a supposed drip feed to justify your faux concern for the NHS. Drop the act we can all see through it.

I assumed it was a typo for "psychological". Just as "angered by" was a typo for "would like to see more help for", apparently.

My turn with the

I'm not quoting you Annie. I'm quoting OP.

Sorry meant phycological - phone auto corrected.

Look at the long term and short term fixes of situations. By plying people with aid in terms of finances we are not fixing the root cause of the issue.

Yes therapy and CBT etc would be provided by the NHS but this in the long run saves money, than continually plying them with benefits causing more health conditions which have a bigger impact on the NHS.

Are you all too dumb to see that fixing the root cause is the most beneficial thing in the long run?...

There are lots of reasons people are overweight but it is acceptable to complain about them getting help and benefits. The thinguy is though - less than 10k isn't that many really considering our population. And the government burns through billions on things like trident and allows corporates to avoid tax to the tune of billions. But no let's turn our energy to fat shaming instead rather than tackle the real drains on the public purse.

Being fat is not a choice. I have an auto immune condition. I can cut my calories to 1000 per day and lose perhaps 2lb in a month. But I feel like shit because my body simply refuses to use its fat stores. I have to get the auto immune thing under control first. It is also a mental issue - it is comfort and soothing. Going out to exercise is fraught with issues - people do so love to judge and engage in some live action fat shaming. ..

So please, let's have some compassion. Be glad that you don't have these battles to face and let's put that energy into shaming the government into getting to grips with the things that really drain the public purse.

You think the NHS doesn't treat eating disorders, endocrine disorders, spine and limb injuries etc etc?

Are you all too dumb to see that fixing the root cause is the most beneficial thing in the long run?

OP I appreciate that you're trying to sound (belatedly) coherent, incisive and reasonable.

But you still sound like a provocative, ill-mannered, tabloid journalist of the worst kind after a very long lunch.

I feel it diminishes the struggles of people with binge eating/over-eating disorders by implying that this is a significant cause of the obesity epidemic in this country. Of course, you cannot tell if someone has an ED or is just greedy by looking at them but it's the same for Anorexia, you don't know if they are mentally ill or very thin due to a physical illness.

Strawberry no they do... Eventually..

If you read before I also have suffered with MH issues before. Doctors are too easy to prescribe quick fixes like medications rather then therapy which are the long term solutions.

Doctors are too easy to prescribe quick fixes like medications rather then therapy which are the long term solutions.

Nope, sorry, not recognising that.

CBT (for example) is the treatment of first resort under the guidelines of the majority of NHS trusts now.

You're just plucking 'facts' of the 'we all know' variety from the air to suit tour rant.

Strawberry I think it's a case of agreeing to disagree. You don't see my point and every thing I do bring up you shoot down as clearly you are right with everything.. Need I continue..

Sorry StrawberryTeaLeaf, didn't mean the to be aimed at you. I entirely agree with what you have said so far. (But I was right about the typo, apparently!)

I don't think I'm right about everything Hunter. I just think I'm correct in my assessment that you are yet another goady internet bigot lacking a coherent argument.

The pointless hate on MN recently is getting a bit boring, I'm sorry to say.

I don't know why I'm even engaging, TBH.

(You were indeed Annie )

I don't think I'm right about everything Hunter. I just think I'm correct in my assessment that you are yet another goady internet bigot lacking a coherent argument.

The pointless hate on MN recently is getting a bit boring, I'm sorry to say.

I don't know why I'm even engaging, TBH.

(You were indeed Annie )

"CBT (for example) is the treatment of first resort under the guidelines of the majority of NHS trusts now."

That's because it's cost effective (computer CBT, anyone?). It is often not appropriate. Many people need intensive therapeutic intervention to address the deep seated psychological needs.

I agree saucony that there is a debate about types, depths, lengths of therapeutic intervention and the effectiveness for different problems but OP's assertions that "Doctors are quick to prescribe quick fixes like medications" and that there is a shortage of therapeutic provision are just plain WRONG.