To think being slim should be normal for most people.

[DevilishDebbie]

By slim i mean sizes 8 to 12.

Obviously you get a minority who are not in this range naturally but for 80% of people this size should be natural, say they eat a reasonable diet of between 2000-3000 calories.

Im so sick of people at work making out i am abnormally thin for being a size 10. I watch what I eat but dont deprive myself. The same people making me out to be lucky to be slim eat fried chicken or pizza for lunch and seem to be able to demolish a whole pack of biscuits at 3 o clock.

Aibu to think that the normal human man/woman should be a size 8-12 and that to attain or maintain this does not require super human discipline or strength.

I don't understand why people are so obsessed with how others look. Let slim be slim and fat be fat.

@Disco3000 ...as a starter, because a huge amount of NHS spending goes on treating obesity related issues?

@Dorsetdays

as a starter, because a huge amount of NHS spending goes on treating obesity related issues?

That maybe true but that's not the reason why people are judgemental about fat people. When someone shouts "fat cunt" at someone walking down the street, do you really think they're thinking about the cost of that person's NHS care?

Smokers cost the NHS a shit load...do you ever hear people being verbally abused in the street for smoking?

I guess because over eating changes someone's appearance whereas smoking does not. Over drinking may also get people shouting things in the street like 'pissed twat'!

I guess because over eating changes someone's appearance whereas smoking does not

Quite...so people's dislike and judgment of overweight people actually boils down to the completely superficial reason of fat not being aesthetically pleasing

Yes @dorsetdays because fat people are the sole reason for the NHS's troubles........

Because being obese puts you at risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, bowel cancer and stroke. You're also more likely to suffer from depression and low self esteem if you're overweight.

Preventing disease is important on a personal level and a wider societal level (NHS issues like Dorset says.)

The thing is, simply blaming the individual for eating too much and not moving enough doesn't help solve the problem.

It's not just a problem on an individual level it's much more complex than that. We need to think about early nutritional education, limiting fast food eateries, legislation for salt, trans fat & sugar in processed food, support for families who have inherited (learned) bad eating habits, psychological research into emotional eating, healthy cooking classes etc etc.

Less judgement and more understanding would go a long way.

I don’t think anyone on here is saying there is one answer to the problem and certainly nobody is saying losing weight is easy.

However, other than for medical reasons, there’s no reason whatsoever to start making even small steps towards taking responsibility for the problem.

My response was to the poster asking why anyone was bothered why other people were fat. For me, I couldn’t care less what other people look like. However, the impacts of obesity on ALL of us are numerous and therefore it is relevant to everyone.

However, other than for medical reasons, there’s no reason whatsoever to start making even small steps towards taking responsibility for the problem

One reason could be they don't want to.

Another reason might be they don't feel worthy enough to make any positive changes, or they haven't got access to support that they desperately need.

Most overweight people are simply lacking in will power.
Get those ones to stop making excuses
and there will be more resources for those who need support

The UK's life expectancy is falling for the first time
because of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles

In the supermarket this afternoon, all the people I saw in the crisp aisle were overweight

Most overweight people are simply lacking in will power.

Do you feel the same about smokers, alcoholics and drug addicts?

The UK's life expectancy is falling for the first time

Is that necessarily a bad thing? We're always being told about how the aging population is causing big problems.

I’m sure not all people on the crisp isle were overweight 🤣 I buy crisps and I’m a size 10-12.

I do think people use excuses.

I think the biggest issue is that we now have so much choice of food and their are so many bad choices, I mainly shop online so I can meal plan and cut out buying stuff that’s on offer (usually unhealthy food), when I do go into a supermarket it’s crazy, as soo a s you walk in there are offers, usually full fat coke, crisps, Easter eggs and doughnuts, it would be much nicer if when we walked into a supermarket the first things we saw were meal ideas for healthy food (maybe some boards with photos to give people ideas of what to cook?).

People have become lazy when it comes to food and cooking, they grab things that’s are quick and easy, takeaways are no longer a treat you have once a month, we are surrounded by food, coffeee shops, desert shops, take away sand restaurants, it’s like it’s being shoved in our faces all the time. Even when I come out of the gym there are vending machines containing chocolate, crisps and sweets and a cafe near the exit that sells cake.

The first aisle in all the local supermarket around here ( Aldi, Tesco, M and S, Waitrose) is an enormous display of all kinds of fruit and vegetables, both in season and out.

It has never been easier or more convenient to eat healthy, tasty food. It's also never been easier to eat complete rubbish (and have it delivered straight to your house 24 hrs a day) and to do the absolute bare minimum of physical activity.

Many people do need to take more personal responsibility.

I the 'skinny bitch' just ate a piece of toast with nutella AND peanut butter. It will not make me fat, because 1. I'm not having another, 2. I don't treat myself more often than once a week (food isn't really a treat though.) and 3. I will adjust my intake for the rest of the day, ie. make sure that dinner is a lot smaller.

Also. Yes, obesity costs the NHS a fortune, BUT I deliberately avoided talking about this old nugget because all sorts of self-inflicted diseases cost the NHS a fortune. Obesity, however, is a bit unique in how it affects the staff and the patient. The obese often require special equipment because they've outgrown it - ie. bariatric chairs/wheelchairs, special machinery, reinforced beds. Sometimes life-saving procedures become difficult or impossible. It's hard to find veins if they're covered in layers upon layers upon layers of fat. Surgery (and anaesthesia) become far riskier and far more difficult to carry out. And the sheer physical strain on the staff. The obese require more people to lift, to transport, and to provide personal care. What would only require one or two nurses (washing, for example) becomes a very difficult job for at least 4 people. I feel sorry for those who have to lift up these obese bodies, risking serious harm to their own.

I admit to being a bit salty right now. Just come from my kid's swimming lesson and was surrounded by kids eating crap. Including one granny serving up their little darling an enormous doughnut. Eating such food like that on the hoof is a very bad idea.

Most overweight people are simply lacking in will power.

So does it follow then that most underweight people, for whatever reason, lack will power?
Those with EDs are 'just lacking will power'?
Because if it works one way then it works the other.

Yes, some supermarkets are good at having fresh fruit and veg on their first isle, I can’t afford to shop in Waitrose or M&S so can’t comment on those, Lidl’s are good, I pooped into Asda yesterday and as soon as you walk in the door it’s offer, fresh doughnuts and coke before you can get to the veg isle. I only popped in for some coffee. I can see that it’s pretty tempting to those on low incomes, it’s shoved in your face as you enter, 20 packets of crisps for £2 is going to be tempting and probably more apealling than a bag of 6 apples for £2?

People are judgemental about over drinkers as well

People have become lazy when it comes to food and cooking, they grab things that’s are quick and easy, takeaways are no longer a treat you have once a month, we are surrounded by food, coffeee shops, desert shops, take away sand restaurants, it’s like it’s being shoved in our faces all the time. Even when I come out of the gym there are vending machines containing chocolate, crisps and sweets and a cafe near the exit that sells cake.

I agree to a certain extent with that but I don't think it's all just down to pure laziness. I think it's the way our whole culture has changed and that many are working long hours or ridiculous shift patterns, both parents working, pressure to do more of everything, and as you say, this stuff is available at every turn. It's also cheaper when it comes to convenience type food. I said about a zillion posts ago how a boxed salad was over £4 but a pot noodle £1. I agree it probably is cheaper to buy and cook healthier options from scratch than ready meals etc, however when people have so many balls in the air, I can see how a ping it or takeaway can be appealing too. I very rarely eat takeaway, but in my small village, where we don't have a shop any more due to lack of demand - we have a pub and a takeaway. Both are obviously sustainable because they're still open. I live very close to the takeaway and tbh it's put us right off the rare times we did eat them because we smell it constantly, I also used to live near a fish and chip shop and I can't bear the things now.
I know how to, and do cook, I use my slow cooker a lot and batch cook and freeze. But I do get into a cycle where pick up and eat it food is my go to because I'm hungry, knackered and just don't have the time or inclination to start cooking a full meal from scratch after 4 hours broken sleep and facing a 12 hour Nightshift.

Out of curiosity what do you consider as junk/bad/crap/unhealthy food?

Sarcasm
Out of curiosity what do you consider as junk/bad/crap/unhealthy food?

• more than six ingredients
• at least one stabiliser
• at least one emulsifier
• any ingredient that is in chemical speak rather than plain English
• anything that is cagey about where the ingredients originate
• anything that sells itself as "low" something

So basically processed stuff rather than ingredients
and artificially manipulated foods designed to trick the palate and grehlin system

"Smokers cost the NHS a shit load...do you ever hear people being verbally abused in the street for smoking?"

I never hear fat people being abused in the street either. Not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never heard it. In fact, I don't think I've heard any fat shaming since school.
I will openly tell smokers what I think of their smoking.

"I guess because over eating changes someone's appearance whereas smoking does not"

Smoking does change your appearance. Smokers often look older and/or have bad teeth.

@Gwenhwyfar I smoke, I drink. I vaguely eat healthily. I’m 37 and I got ID’d at Christmas.
Smoking is a horrible habit but it doesn’t age you as much as people say. If anything I think it really doesn’t help as non-smokers look at the like of Liz Hurley and go ‘meh fake news’