Why is a fat person disabled cos they’re fat, but never fat cos they’re disabled?

[Thislittlelady]

Just that really.

I've not heard anyone saying that before.

Eh?

What on earth?...

Never heard this. I don’t think being fat is a disability. Disclaimer, I’m fat, I’m not disabled though

Being disabled can make it harder to exercise so it’s feasible they are fatter due to being disabled??!!

What?
Many obese people are obese due to a disability of one kind of another. You have injuries from sports, accidents, work, assaults causing inability to exercise vigorously (think knee, back, hip, neck).
You have mental illness like depression or eating disorder
You have lung and heart diseases (copd, heart disease) that prevent most exercise
You have amputees or stroke sufferers who are wheelchair bound.

I get what you mean. My mother went from size 10 and perfectly in proportion frame to size 18/20 and visibly overweight when she became reliant on the wheelchair and the cocktail of drugs for her condition made her balloon.

She's overweight because she's disabled, but gets treated as though she's disabled because she's overweight. I think this is what the @Thislittlelady means.

I have problems with my legs and ankles and started getting fat when i got ill as it hurt so much to walk for long so I started getting a taxi instead, I just have to push through the pain as i found hurts more when I havent exercise in awhile. I agree with you though OP.

I do sympathise. I know someone who has a vaginal prolapse meaning that she can't exercise without pain but she has to lose weight before they will surgically fix the problem. Catch 22. This could happen to any of the thin young women who will turn up on this thread bleating that all you need to do is lower calories and move more. One day that advice is not enough.

I'm both. I was slim then I got ill. The illness led to me putting on weight. The weight made the illness worse. The illness being worse resulted in me putting on more weight. And so I spiralled down into morbid obesity, chronic pain and mobility issues. I'm disabled because I'm fat and I'm fat because I'm disabled.

Thankfully I'm now on the path to recovery but it's a very, very long path.

I am overweight due to a disability (and drugs to manage it) as are others I know. Frustrating that people think I'm disabled because I am fat. I was a size 8 before I got sick.

Do you mean that it's unreasonable that people see a fat disabled person and think "they are only disabled because they are fat" but never think "they have gained weight because of their disability"? If so, you're right and it is aggravating. A lot of painkillers and other medications cause weight gain as a side-effect, plus disability often makes it much harder to prepare meals and to exercise.

@JustCallMeGriffin

YES THAT! I was always size 8/10. Chronic illnesses turned more severe causing disability. I’ve slowed down soo much that I’m size 18/20 and struggling. Discussion with family one day, maybe you need to lose weight as it’s aggravating disability. Fair point, well made. I’m taking up restricted and limited exercise, further discussion with family ensued massive telling off cos ‘ you shouldn’t be doing that it will make you worse’
I am overweight BECAUSE of my disabilities. But I even find myself ( being completely honest here ) seeing morbidly obese people on mobility scooters and think ‘ god, you need to lose some weight my friend’ ( Shame face). So it’s just that. Immediate thought on seeing big obese disabled person.... and it’s a really shocking thought though, isn’t it ??

I apologize I misread your post and reporting it

OP - I do understand now, what you are saying. But without your second post this comes across as really goady and potentially another getting-at-fat-people thread, which is obviously the opposite of what you intended.

Surely it can be either/or? If you're very heavy it can disable you, or you can be disabled, which leads to excessive weight gain through lack of mobility/medication.

Both are true in some cases, surely?

Exactly. One exacerbates the other. But I’ve heard people snigger behind a disabled larger person ‘ fat cow ate all the pies’. And it’s shocking! Which is why the post was worded the way it was..apologies if caused offense. But that proves the point really - some folk MASSIVELY offended by this , as should be, and others understanding the struggle personally. And when you see a GP , even though they have known you for decades, they just tell you that your fat, despite knowing that your disabled and struggling

I know someone who has a vaginal prolapse meaning that she can't exercise without pain but she has to lose weight before they will surgically fix the problem

This is usually the case with most surgeries? You have to lose weight because the risk of complications is much higher. I think it’s expected to be managed through diet and not exercise though.

I know what you mean. One of the medication I take has weight gain as a common side effect. I didn't think it would get me though!! 2 months and 2 stones heavier and my neighber told me that 'getting fat with your condition isn't a good idea!!!

I hope you can find a way to live well with your condition.

So what you actually meant to say in your thread title was:

Why do some people assume that a fat person is disabled because they are fat, but never fat because they are disabled?

I have a vaginal prolapse. It does not mean you cannot exercise. I cycle which works well. There are various exercise machines in gyms where you can be seated and exercise with your arms for example, and there are pilates type exercises which actually help with the prolapse.

I also just have to eat less to ensure I dont put on weight. It's been very difficult but it's not an excuse to be overweight.

@zafferana

Surely it can be either/or? If you're very heavy it can disable you, or you can be disabled, which leads to excessive weight gain through lack of mobility/medication.

I think OP is saying the people automatically think she's fart, if she lost weight she wouldn't be disabled rather than she's disabled, it must be awful to put on weight because of a disability*

Sorry, fart should be fat