Is being fat a choice?

[notevenamum1]

This has all been triggered from a post I read on here the other day that was based around how short men must feel how fat women do when it comes to dating. There was a comment made about how it was worse for the men because they had not chosen to be short. Now this blaze comment about how being fat is a choice really sent me down a rabbit hole.

I think this is probably easy to say if you are someone who has never struggled with weight before but if you are someone like me who has struggled and yo-yo’d with their weight their whole life then they would beg to differ. I am both tall and fat, I have in the past been slim(mer) but it was a hell of a battle to get there and was unsustainable to stay there. Even now I am 5ft8, 14stone and convince myself that I am a size 14...I have to be mindful of what I eat every day, and exercise regularly or I would be even larger than I am now.

Do people look at me and think I am fat because I have no self control? Do they think this is my “fault”?

Is being “fat” a choice?

[EnthusiasmIsDisturbed]

Is for me

I suddenly put in weight as I had under active thyroid (that wasn’t a choice obviously) and then carried on putting on weight as I didn’t change my eating habits

I didn’t realise I comfort ate as I never had to think about eating too much as I just didn’t put on weight and I eat out of boredom i’m basically greedy and eat far too much sugar in my diet

I have to change but well there is always tomorrow....

[Viviennemary]

I don't think it's a choice as such. Any more than somebody who drinks too much and knows they do and would like to cut down or stop but can't or at least finds it very difficult.

[Londonmummy66]

This whole subject really frustrates me. Eating and exercising normally left me overweight at 20. The only way I managed to shift that weight was by restricing my diet to 300 calories a day - my GP said I was anorexic. I managed to keep the weight off by eating one meal a day until I had children. THe only way I was able to lose that weight was by eating 400 calories a day and doing an hours serious cardio (I ran 12k on a treadmill every day - as I couldn't trust myself to run fast enough off a treadmill.) I ended up hospitalised for an eating disorder. Now I walk/run 30km a week and eat one not hugely large meal (lunch) once a day and "treat" myself to a second meal (also small) on Friday evening. The weight is still piling on.

Now tell me that being fat is a choice.

[drownininplaymobil]

If you are short, there is NOTHING you can do to change that. If you are fat, there are things you could potentially do to change that. So no, they are not the same.

[MrsDrudge]

It has a lot more to it than merely “choice”. It involves learned habits from childhood, using food or alcohol as a reward, eating as celebration or ritual (birthday parties, socialising etc), education re food and diet, pressure from food marketing, financial and economic circumstances, mental and emotional issues, and access to healthy food. It could be described as a choice but not one that everyone is privileged to have.

[Emeraldshamrock]

@Londonmummy66 That's very tough. I'd give up I wouldn't have your energy.
You'll end up really sick eating like that while training.
You only get one life.
It may be your hormones playing havoc. My Dsis has hashimoto's she eats well exercisers regularly and she can't shift even with starving.
Since her diagnosis her diet changed to vegan cooked from scratch she still can't lose the extra 2 stone it's crazy.

[Londonmummy66]

@Emeraldshamrock I sympathise with your sister. My GP just shrugs and says there's nothing she can do. I'm a size 16 despite it all and apparently I'm not fat enough for the NHS to bother with me. At the moment I hate leaving the house as I think that everyone is staring at me for being so fat. I just wish all the virtue signallers who believe that it is just a lack of will power/eating less and moving more could walk a week in my shoes....

[Shmurf]

I think it is largely a lack of exercise and willpower for most. Some undoubtedly have medical issues but then you get the fat mums in McDonald's with their fat kids and fat husbands. I saw a family the other day and even the bloody dog was fat!

[Redwinestillfine]

I don't think people think ' I want to be fat' and actively choose this but I do think in some, maybe most cases, that weight gain is a result of lifestyle choices, and is avoidable. The problem is it often starts in childhood and is compounded by dieting which is probably the worst thing anyone wanting to loose weight can start to do. It has to be a lifestyle change and there are no quick easy fixes, despite what the weight loss industry would have anyone believe.

[2155User]

Even as someone who has been everything for a size 6 to a size 14, I am firmly in the camp that being fat is a choice.

[IHeartSusanDey]

It's not a choice...choice indicates freedom when overeating isn't often a free choice. Fat is a consequence of unresolved trauma, low self esteem and low confidence much of the time.

[Phillymouse]

Yes, most of the time, I choose to put unhealthy food in my mouth knowing the better option is fruit.

[Idontbelieveit12]

Oh yes of course it’s a choice, I really enjoy the constant battle in my head every day!

I’ve got about 7 stone to lose. I know the science behind losing weight. However there is far more to it for some people than eat less and move more.

[eeyore228]

For most people it is a choice, of course there will be exceptions but generally it comes from not exercising enough and or consuming too many calories. I say this as someone who is overweight. I spent too much time eating crisps or biscuits because I was bored. If i was hungry I would eat crap rather than a healthier alternative and would drink cans of coke and relentless everyday. I finally got to the stage where my clothes were really tight and i got out of breath walking to town. So I decided enough was enough. So I started the couch to 5K and cut out the daily cans of drink and snacking. Don’t get me wrong I struggle sometimes and it’s been so hard, I’ve only been doing it for 4 weeks but so far I’m really proud of myself. Here’s the thing though I had to accept that I had done this to myself and that I am fat. People can’t though it’s offensive or upsetting, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and be brave and honest with yourself. I feel better in myself because I’m doing something.

[WhatOnEarth67]

I just want to add that there are things that can make you fat beyond your control - I’ve just come off a medication notorious for making you gain a large amount of weight, and have lost 1 and a half stone in 2 weeks since coming off of it.

[Emeraldshamrock]

I don't think anyone actively chooses to be fat, it is a series of choice that leads to been fat, the long tray over the normal tray of takeaway for example, the need to treat ourself.
With all things that are addictive the more we have the more it takes to feel satisfied.
Most smokers start on 5 a day soon they're on 20. Most alcoholics enjoy a few drinks before forming the habit of having to much.
The more weight you gain the harder it is to exercise, the promise of I'll try tomorrow or self talk of "whats the point"
It is a genuine hormone health issue everyone should be able to enjoy a moderate diet of 1600 to 2000 calories with out forcing themself to survive on 800 to maintain their weight, it isn't fair and is a battle.

[Emeraldshamrock]

*Meant for some it is a genuine health issue.

[MistyIsland]

Meh I’m fat!! However I do have a series of health problems and was on a high dose of steroids which have caused the majority of the 5 stone weight gain. I’m massive and the weight hasn’t fallen off as I was led to believe it would, I have lost my moon face.

I know I’m fat I feel fat, now I’m off the drugs I’m trying really hard to shift the weight, even when I don’t eat I get fat 🤷‍♀️ It’s just this vicious circle.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"I don't think anyone actively chooses to be fat"

Some people are happy to be fat though.