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AIBU?

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Original poster

Too fat to fly

968 replies

loobielousplaits · 02/04/2019 23:55

Is anyone/has anyone watched this?

It's a documentary about massively obese people being interviewed about being taken off flights/too fat to flight.

While I absolutely agree it's a 'fat shaming' programme - I can't agree with some of the comments from the interviewees that have complained they had to leave the plane due to an armrest not being able to go down - a woman wasn't able to visit the toilet, another who couldn't understand why someone would be offended that half their seat was taken up by overspill - a 32 st man was offended that he was asked to leave the aircraft because he couldn't safely fit in the seat and should have paid for two - pilot decided he wasn't safe to fly.

I'm torn - I absolutely understand weight is a huge issue (I was anorexic in my teens) and it is not easy to control your weight but come on - seriously? You cannot expect to be OK to fly if your weight affects health and safety and you can't fit safely in a seat

OP posts:
RottnestFerry · 03/04/2019 15:02

"Well, if you still feel hungry after eating the crap food, as is the case with corn syrup sweetened stuff, it is not really simple."

I can see what you mean... to a degree. I suppose it depends on how much an individual really wants to lose fat. To me, hunger is an inevitable side effect of a dietary weight loss regime.

RottnestFerry · 03/04/2019 15:02

HFCS is just fructose - a type of sugar. If you stop drinking beer and wine, stop eating sweets, cakes and biscuits, stop putting sugar in things and give up fruit smoothies and juice (eat fruit instead) you’ll soon lose weight

There isn't any fructose in beer.

fruitbrewhaha · 03/04/2019 15:03

Some people can be overweight despite leading a healthy lifestyle.

No, not really. Some people are kidding themselves.

polarpig · 03/04/2019 15:03

I try to avoid it wherever possible, myself (mostly because the sucky flush scares me!).

After the Eurotunnel toilet incident I avoid toilets on planes and trains. Sadly my automobile doesn't have one or I'd avoid that too.

littledoll33 · 03/04/2019 15:04

I cannot find this programme on catch up!

Can anyone give me a link?

Thank you! Smile

Yabbers · 03/04/2019 15:11

@Colehawkins

I'm a size 12-14 and have 32" legs and I find them uncomfortable.

I’m bigger size than you with slightly shorter legs, I find them more than big enough.

MadMillie · 03/04/2019 15:11

Was this the episode on 22nd December 2015?

InternetArgument · 03/04/2019 15:19

@RottnestFerry

“There isn't any fructose in beer.”
😂👌🏻

havingtochangeusernameagain · 03/04/2019 15:20

Our society is ENORMOUSLY unhealthy

Yes, and I do think to an extent food IS engineered to be addictive. Pringles, for example. I don't have them in the house because they are an eco-sin, but they're also very addictive to eat. So are peanuts.

I'm not sure regulating advertising of HFSS foods (those high in fat, sugar or salt) works. Kids like junk food because it tastes good not because it is advertised. They wouldn't eg eat carrots even if it they were constantly advertised (although I do like them and have always snacked on them).

Our car centric society needs to change. A lot more cycle lanes, more public transport and stiff penalties for those who take their kids to school by car when they could walk (having a toddler does not exempt you).

While you can't "outrun" a bad diet, lots of exercise certainly helps keep you slim. I like my food. I eat a lot. But I do outrun it and stay slim by exercising a lot.

Think of the cycle network we could have if we forgot HS2 and invested in cycle lanes and better trains (that can carry bikes) instead.

thenightsky · 03/04/2019 15:24

littledoll33

link here but catch up seems to be off line at the moment

RottnestFerry · 03/04/2019 15:24

There isn't any fructose in beer

There really isn't. There's sod all in most wine too.

alittlegem · 03/04/2019 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HolyForkingShirt · 03/04/2019 15:28

@havingtochangeusernameagain, I'm totally with you on cycling. Even seems to drive even

Viobihi · 03/04/2019 15:30

For one, a healthy lifestyle is easier to maintain if you have enough money

What a load of complete shite! For someone to be obese (where it’s not related to an underlying health condition) they would be spending a fortune on food and most likely take aways!

I spend between £70-£80 a week on our food shop and that’s for 2 adults & 2 kids. Both myself and DP eat A LOT of calories as we lift weights 5/6 days a week. But we are savvy about what we eat and eat the right amount of healthy fats/carbs/protein. I weigh 60kg, 17.5% bf and have 43kg of muscle mass. We’ve educated ourselves on nutrition - neither of us have ever went near a personal trainer.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to be healthy at all!

HolyForkingShirt · 03/04/2019 15:35

For one, a healthy lifestyle is easier to maintain if you have enough money

That's bollocks - most overweight people drive everywhere when they could walk/cycle. People get too many ready meals, snacks and takeaways. Walking, cycling and cooking your own food are the cheaper options.

Hotterthanahotthing · 03/04/2019 15:37

A lot of truly obese people that book seats on planes already know they are too big.Fat is not the problem it is selfishness.

givemesteel · 03/04/2019 15:37

It is the airlines responsibility to come up with a solution for this. They either need to provide a certain number of wider seats (and charge accordingly) or make it very clear that if you cannot fit with in a A x B seat space you pay for two seats but the second seat should be subsidised like a child's.

If someone breaks these rules they don't fly but this should be dealt with at check in rather than once that person is on the plane.

If fat people know they won't get away with just encroaching on someone else's space they will stop chancing it.

If I was put in that position of sitting next to someone who was in my space I would definitely complain and expect to be moved/upgraded or compensated.

Siameasy · 03/04/2019 15:37

To me, hunger is an inevitable side effect of a dietary weight loss regime

I think that’s why people fail tho Rottnest. You might wake up raring to go but after a shit day the will power is gone.

I’m honestly never deprived on zero sugar (high fat low carb) altho I do miss chocolate. This is more of a psychological craving tho - it’s not hunger

Before the advent of constantly available junk food people didn’t need will power. So the ideal “way of eating” would be one where no will power is required.

Asitgoes · 03/04/2019 15:38

What do people suggest if this happens on a full flight? Yes, I can tactfully bring it up with a flight attendant, but what are their options? Another passenger shouldn't be inconvenienced because of my request for a solution but neither should I suffer by having my paid for space encroached upon.

deepwatersolo · 03/04/2019 15:39

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to be healthy at all!

That is only half the truth, though, isn't it. If you have no money, an effective way to save is not to pay for the gym, not to go to the bath, not to go to the climbing wall, not to go skiing.... and sitting at home in front of TV with, say, Pringles. Also, if you have a job where you, say, stand outside a lot or stand at a production line, it won't be a substitute for sports but you may still be too exhausted to do sports after work.

This winter my family went skiing once a weekend. If we hadn't got the money for it and possibly also not for fun alternatives, the easy solution is the TV.

It is not only about the cost of food. It is well documented that obesity is also a class issue.

EerieSilence · 03/04/2019 15:41

DH flies frequently. He's not overweight but very tall and he pays more for more legroom without any issues.
I am a very petite 4-6 UK size and I have no problems with legroom or seats but I had an overweight person flying beside me once and it was a torture as he was literally spilling over into my seat like a liquid sand and he was sweating and grunting the whole time.
I have all respect towards others and their dietary choices but I have an issue if it has an impact on my comfort and what I paid for. A person that's making me feel uncomfortable on a plane because their sweat is dripping on me unless I squeeze into a tiny corner of my flight seat is a no go and they should pay for more seats so others don't feel uncomfortable around them.

wendywoopywoo222 · 03/04/2019 15:42

I fly with a friend. We're both of chunky build so book three seats. Makes it more pleasant for us and we don't have to worry about encroaching on anyone sat with us. It's very easily done and hasn't worked out too expensive. I didn't watch the programme.

EerieSilence · 03/04/2019 15:48

@deepwatersolo
I disagree. I run. I could afford more but when I saw very good runners in less then half price sale I bought them and that was all my big expense for sports.
My sports clothes are largely from Primark and H&M sale. Not because I can't afford it but because I can't see any reason to spend lots of money only to run some 10 miles or more. I'm not a competitive runner so that's enough.
As a family, we try to be active. We both commute so whenever we can, we walk. Working from home today and going to pick up my daughter from her minder, I will walk, because I see no reason to drive for 8 minutes if I can walk 15. Even if it's cold and windy. Unless the weather is atrocious, we walk. At work, I don't take elevators, I walk up and down the stairs. My legs are thanking me because they are in a pretty good shape as a result.
You can be poor and still not watch Jeremy Kyle while stuffing yourself with Pringles and cheap chocolate imitation bars.

EerieSilence · 03/04/2019 15:48

less than half price

HolyForkingShirt · 03/04/2019 15:52

If you have no money, an effective way to save is not to pay for the gym, not to go to the bath, not to go to the climbing wall, not to go skiing

I have money and don't do any of those things - apart from skiing every 2 years which won't really affect my weight.

Good things to do with no money include going for long walks and bike rides...