To ask what you think when you see a young, fat person?

[AugustSlippedAwayIntoAMoment]

I'm very, very aware that this thread will probably get some nasty responses.

But I'm young (26), overweight and short. I try to dress nicely and I'm actively losing weight, but I'm just curious. What do you actually think when you see a fat person? I've never given it much thought before now as I've been fat my entire life, but what do you really think? Am I walking round oblivious to the fact I'm being judged all the time or do people just not care?

All these mn thin people aren't representative of the uk population are they, because majority are overweight. people assuming they must be unhappy, that just can't be true if this said thing happens to the majority.

I can't think I've ever seen extremely underweight people out. I think there are probably far fewer of them and if they are about they go unnoticed because they don't take up the space a fat person would.

I wouldn’t judge. People are fat for lots of reasons. You could have had a mental health crisis, PCOS, other health conditions. You might have an eating disorder. You might not know how to cook from scratch and be juggling a job with caring responsibilities.

I wouldn’t think anything of it in the same way I wouldn’t think anything in particular about a thin person, people are individuals.

That does not equate to the majority being happy though does it? Why would it? Look how many people are now spending lots of money on weight loss injections, are they part of this happy majority too?

You might want to look at the stats on that.

There are more overweight/obese men than women.

So there's clearly a conditioned element as to how you view other's bodies.

with a weight loss drug

so weight should begin to fall off you

I agree.
I think time pressure could result in eating/feeding children crap but people can eat healthy on very little money.

What matters is what you think. You sound lovely and good on you to lose weight, you will feel so much better.
As a PP, I don't register other people's bodies but a young, overweight person, I might think what a shame, he or she is missing out while they're physically in their prime years.

@jetbot and it is and I'm very happy with my progress.

@LudlowStreet it doesn't in all cases but there are cases where it does, again I'm not going to judge my parents because they did the best they could in a very difficult situation and I don't think they did too badly

have you told your friends you are taking mounjaro?

Yes but you're one person. It's a fact that being obese reduces your fertility, just because you got lucky doesn't make it untrue.

It's the defensiveness and denial of some overweight people that bugs me the most rather than what they look like OP.

Yes. They are very happy for me and encouraging of it. Same for my family.

You obviously don't get out much.

I often see an obviously anorexic person when out and about.

And I feel for them in the same way I feel for a hugely obese person, or a street drug user.

In a 'that person is struggling' way.

It's literally not my job to help, but I can see that people who wear their trauma, are deserving of compassion, not judgement.

even though they’re of the views you describe up thread?

Dear God @lemonpepperlady I was replying to a poster who DOES judge the health of passersby based solely on their weight and makes assumptions about their fertility and imminent death. That was the context in which my comment was made. That's all.

@jetbot yes. Not that it's any of your business. They know I've struggled with my weight and while they believe that my body is beautiful as it is, they are supportive of me doing what is best for my physical and mental health.

I was brought up in a very low income household and we ate a lot of crap. Chips with every meal etc. But the difference was our portion sizes were small, no takeaways, and I walked for miles so I was very thin as a child and into early adulthood. Piled it on after that mind you.

I think their diet probably isn't great, but that's because I remember my own early 20s when I existed on pasties and snakebite! 😄 But I do think our eating habits have changed societally in the last 30 - 40 years. We used to laugh at American portions, and now ours are similar. Takeaway and convenience food is much more available. I was looking at some old school photos, and the class 'fat girl' was the same size as an average teenager now. I can identify with a lot of what @5128gap says.

So I understand it's probably harder to lose weight now, but with age I realise how important it is to get a grip on it when we're younger (as you're doing).

When I see an overweight person out running or going to the gym, I feel stoked for them because I know they'll feel better for it, and that they probably catch more sneering for it than a slimmer person would, even though they're doing something positive for themselves.

The most important thing I've learned is that you can't hate yourself thinner! Healthy food and movement are things to do out of respect, care and affection for yourself, not a self-flagellating punishment! 🤗

huh

what’s “not my business”?

@jetbot the invasive questions you're asking re my weight and if my friends and family know about the fact im on mounjaro

It depends how big they are really, if we're talking a couple of stone then I wouldn't think anything (I could do with losing this myself but wouldn't be considered "plus sized").
But if we're talking extremely obese then I mostly feel concerned for their health and about where we've gone wrong in this country with regards to healthy eating.
A 26 year old bothers me less than if I see an overweight child, because they have little control over what they eat so I would feel annoyed with the parents too.
I lost a very good friend to obesity related issues, she was only late 40s, she had issues with food and her weight her whole life. So the impact of being obese does worry me.

OP, I don’t really notice people’s bodies when our and about. I’m normally too worried about my own insecurities and the 10000 worries I have in my life/work etc.

Hope the Mounjaro goes well for you.

It really depends what you mean by “overweight” - a few extra pounds, don’t notice or care. Very overweight/obese I do judge a bit, if it’s kids or teens then wonder WTF the parents were doing.

If it’s late teens/early 20s I think “god, they must be feeling miserable with this, how will they get it off as they age”. I feel very unhappy with myself when I’m fatter, cannot imagine how bad it is when it affects your younger years. Then wonder about the health stuff.

I wouldn’t think anything of it because I have a serious (life shortening) health issue myself and, as a result of medication I have to really minimise my food intake or I’d put weight on. It sucks but I’ve had to adapt or I’ll get overweight and put more strain on an already compromised body.