AIBU to think being obese and being a scrounger are NOT related?

[cryhardandswim]

I have noticed often IRL and online , if somebody knows someone who is a benefits cheat (or at least, this person claims they are) and happens to be obese or overweight, then the person (or newspaper etc) will often mention their weight describing them as "Fat disability faker" or "Obese Benefit Scrounger" etc.

But claiming benefits (either genuinely or falsely) is not linked o being fat- the medical tests for them are very difficult and people do not get handed a wodge of money just for eating too many pies. Nor is having a dishonest or criminal nature.

I am 24 stone. a size 26-28, and I am on ESA and PIP and Housing benefit due to serious physical and mental health issues. I am of course claiming genuinely, but as a fat person I worry that this perception so many have of fat people being scroungers will lead to genuine claimants like me who are overweight being treated even more badly than we already are by the general public. As well as the disorders I am claiming benefits for, I also have a Binge Eating Disorder. In my OA fellowship, I have known people who have shoplifted food but that is the only link I would make towards crime and obesity- I think surely criminals come in all shapes and sizes?

I did notice a thread the other day where someone mentioned a CF they had known who was faking serious illness to claim benefits and the poster just HAD to mention the person was obese. I m like WTF does that have to do with anything????

I don’t think people actually link the two it’s just unfortunately a lot of people view overweight people and those who claim benefits to be the lower echelons of society.

I think it’s because some people who are on benefits for a disability have the disability or health conditions because of (or massively related to) their weight. For example someone who can’t walk and uses a scooter cos their knees can’t take the weight, or they have severe back pain from carrying so much excess weight. I’d be interested to see if there’s a link between claiming benefits for a disability and being overweight.

Conversely, some people become disabled and then gain weight because they’re unable to maintain the healthier lifestyle. My mum has battled with her weight since her arthritis (hereditary) became out of control. There’s only so much you can do to reduce your weight when your movement is greatly reduced and you already eat very little.

JessieLemon

But those are genuine things to claim for. Some people claim for sleep apnea or arthritis related to their weight, yes. But that is not faking the system.

It is not really any different to someone who is in a wheelchair or scooter for any other reason. There is no such thing as "deserving" disabled and "undeserving" disabled. Some people are in wheelchairs because they tried to jump off a bridge or were playing rugby or something, yet somehow those are seen as "Legitimate disabilities" as compared to being fat.

If someone became paralysed after a suicide attempt and now needs a wheelchair, how is that different to someone who self harms by overeating, who now needs a wheelchair because of their weight. Both are mental health related forms of self harm.

incywincy

Exactly! Disability is disability. Doesn't matter what came first.

Also, If losing weight was a simple as going on a diet or getting surgery those people would have done so. Anyone who eats so much that their body gives out and they can't be mobile anymore is likely not doing it through deliberate choice. It is an addiction,. or self harm or BED in those cases where people are in scooters, usually.

It is the fakery bit I cannot understand. Why is there a perception of fat people on benefits being crooks?

I'm big,on esa & pip as I have MS,DH works,those falsing claiming is very low,but I do get the judgement for some,in our local paper was a story about a family who 1 wasn't able to work & other who was off work sick and UC haven't paid them,the comments were awful,all saying just get a job! Like it's that easy :(

It is the fakery bit I cannot understand. Why is there a perception of fat people on benefits being crooks?

i dont think there is a perception of that
finding this thread a little confusing tbh

I've started a thread about discrimination and the way people think about this.

Apologies whatsthestory - I have seen it in several places and the other night I even saw it on MN. Not allowed to name the thread though as we can't have threads about threads.

I think it's just that "fat" has become a stock insult, like "old", "lazy" or "ugly" or "dirty". People just think it's a good insult, and it's not an "ism" really, so it's one that nobody gets into trouble for. People will call each other dirty liars when theyre 8 stone, dirty cheats when they shower daily, lazy slobs when they are expending more than average effort and energy on exercise daily, but not on housework, ugly old mares when they are 32 year old average looking humans...

Some people see fat as a character flaw, and therefore link it to other socially unpopular traits. Newspapers can't write "ugly benefits claimant". They can claim "obese" is objective because its medical... Still I'm not sure newspapers write "obese benefits scrounger" either... I'm sure people posting on forums do.

Anyway people throw certain attributes about as cheap insults because they get away with it. They'd be pulled up on mentioning race, or using subjective judgements like "ugly" negatively - age they might be pulled up on if the language was emotive (old bag) but not always if it's presented as an objective descriptive comment, and weight likewise.

^ that was meant to be "people will call each other big fat liars

blueskies well put

I think it depends, they could be.
Surely if somebody is claiming fraudulently they are being greedy as not legally entitled to the money.

If somebody is obese they are greedy and obviously don't need to eat so much.

The two could come from the same mind set.

To be honest I've never seen a generic link between the two. Sure some folks might link it, but I really don't think it's stereotypical.

Poverty and obesity are linked, though.

RomanyRoots

Saying fat people are greedy is like saying anorexics are vain, surely?

poverty and obesity are linked though True, but most obese people will be claiming benefits honestly, same as other claimants. Only a minority fake it.

philarty Thanks for your thread- I had a look- am glad people are raising awareness of these issues. I am sick of fat people, ginger people etc being freely insulted just because we/they are not a protected class.Everyone should treat others without prejudice, whether it be weight, race, gender etc

It’s because some people unfairly associate being fat with being lazy and because we are continuous told about the obesity crisis costing the NHS money. The narrative makes fat people look undeserving because it’s perceived they haven’t done anything to help themselves. Not fair but people like a scapegoat.

The link between poverty and obesity is causal in one direction - being poir sometimes causes obesity because crappy filling food is cheap and easy to prepare without full cooking facilities, for example in temporary accommodation.

Being fat (except in a tiny minority of very extreme cases where it becomes disabling) doesn't make people poor, but being poor can increase the risk of becoming fat.

There is a link between mental health and obesity. There has been research that has shown people with mental health disorders don’t always make the right dietary choices which then also links in with an increased risk of developing diabetes.

I think many people assume all obese people are obese because they sit stuffing their face for fun whilst sitting in their bums are refusing to exercise because they don't like it. Then they get a disability linked to that and they see it as them choosing to hi e themselves a disability.

Needing a wheelchair because you caused yourself injury during a suicide attempt WOULD get judged but people are also more aware its linked to mental health.
Wheel chair due to accident is an accident so isn't their fault.

Not saying that's fair or reasonable but I think there's very little awareness around mental health and obesity

If you were on a bus or train though and someone asked you to let them have the priority seat (assuming that you yourself are able bodied, not pregnant, elderly etc) and they were very fat would you assume things about them or would you treat them the same as say, a slim person with a disability? I've noticed someone who is blind or has cerebral palsy does not seem to get to the same dirty looks that I do sometimes when I ask? (Sorry, not directly related to the thread as such, but sort of indirectly related, maybe?

SleepingStandingUp

You are right I am thinking about lack of awareness. I know it is no use me whining that the world is not fair.

I wonder what can be done to change things?