I was VERY slim until my mid 30's when following an accident my mobility took a serious hit. That, worsening asthma, a nervous breakdown and ageing have all contributed I believe to my weight gain. I did lose a couple stone with ww a few years back and so am now "overweight" but not "obese". I'm now 46 and due to health issues food is one of the few pleasures I have.
I've another thread running regarding the misogyny within healthcare which I feel this very much ties into.
Drs don't take other factors into account. I'm on TWO medications that are KNOWN to affect weight/metabolism, documented physical disability yet REGARDLESS of why I'm speaking to a dr it's repeatedly mentioned! Even if it has ABSOLUTELY NO relation to the condition I'm seeing them about.
And yes, as I've said on other threads on the subject, I think British culture (longer working hours, poor weather meaning we don't have an outdoorsy culture, expensive formal exercise options, poor food culture - as in what we're sold/have advertised to us, what's cheap to buy short term etc) really doesn't help matters yet the govt are reluctant to make REAL changes (ie ones that would really affect big business!) that could help matters.
In terms of getting jobs I definitely found it MUCH easier getting work when I was young, slim & if I do say myself more attractive. Even though of course I had fewer qualifications and less experience then. ESPECIALLY jobs with a physical element. But this didn't surprise me as I've friends and relatives who have always been overweight as adults, are extremely well qualified and experienced in their fields who've over the years whenever they've needed to go for a new job or promotion said they're dreading it because they know their weight will be held against them.
Yet I've worked in physical jobs and certainly come across people who although slim were either unfit or plain lazy! While also meeting overweight staff who were efficient grafters!
"It's an eyeopener when you've been both slim AND big." DEFINITELY! Generally dd is quite good but she occasionally gets impatient with her bff who is overweight. Again it's partly due to medication (also asthmatic, quite badly so) and I pull her up and remind her she doesn't know what it's like (slim all her life if anything has struggled to gain weight, eats LOADS but has a disability which can mean a higher metabolism.
However, can I say that the naturally VERY slim can get a hard time too. I had it when I was teen getting accused of being anorexic or a drug addict and all sorts, and dds had that too, plus a few cousins - my family are all naturally very slim except the women if they have babies.
"but I thought those were the "liking humanity" professions" 😂😂😂 yea erm no... They also attract less kind types who enjoy having a certain power over others, or who are more interested in the intellectual aspects of those careers.
Being overweight isn't as simple as eating too much and being lazy (despite what certain mners would like to think - and I'd LOVE to see verified proof of THEIR size! AND that they don't have issues of their own with food) food is heavily tied into emotions as is our motivation to be active or not.
"It’s because being overweight is a choice really." Oh really? You REALLY think genetics, poverty, medications, certain medical conditions that affect metabolism (which are NOTORIOUSLY under dx in this country! Let alone treated properly!), mh issues, SN, aggressive advertising and promotion of less healthy food & drink have NOTHING to do with it?!
Posters who think this - how would you KNOW it was a choice and not due to an underlying condition and frankly unless you're the persons hcp treating them for a weight related condition it's none of your business and you have no right to judge people based on their weight.