Why can't we discuss how fat we've all become?

[Nodinnernogift]

Obesity is becoming the norm. Why aren't we allowed express concern or any views that are less than celebratory about this?

I mean seriously why?

If whole parts of your country were in the grip of a meth addiction we would be allowed have a discussion about it.

National campaigns to stop people smoking are applauded.

Look around you. Look in the mirror. We are all getting bigger and bigger. It reminds me of when people would visit the US in the 80s / 90s and come back with tales of huge people and massive portion sizes.

Does nobody care? It's like the Emperors New Clothes. I don't get why it's a sacrosanct topic.

Yabu - it's nobody's business
Yanbu - it's fine to address this as a societal problem

Oh gosh that is so sad, I'm so sorry. Your poor dad.

As a researcher in a relevant area - this trend is at least as concerning as 'obesity' on the scale, and I really think this is what needs "more discussion". As people upthread said - obese people know they're obese. Their scale tells them. Their doctor tells them. People who have what we call normal weight metabolic obesity typically don't realize they are at risk. High visceral fat, abdominal obesity and high bip-waist ratio for example can have just as bad health outcomes - actually worse health outcomes - than just being heavy on the scale. UK nutritional guidance is still high in carboyhdrate, which is imo is fine, for a person who exercises and is metabolically healthy. Its not fine for a person who is already insulin resistant, and I suspect that's a pretty high percentage of the population.

Why can't we discuss how fat we've all become?

This happens pretty much every other day on MN.

DH has a renal doctor and it's staggering how fat he is. Before I moved here, I had a GP that got stuck in his chair and his suit was so stretched over his massive gut, it was shocking. He sweated constantly and had to have his wedding ring cut off.

Be fat but don't work in a job where you are telling people how to be healthy.

I absolutely agree and pre accident, I lost a serious amount of weight the natural way, a lot of exercise, every day, Slimming World and a pretty restrictive diet. Post accident, I couldn’t do that and went the surgery route.

I do think a great many fat people should take responsibility for their weight but on the other hand, given what pp are saying re the strain on the NHS, I have to agree that wli and bariatric surgery should be more easily available. The contraceptive pill is free (would we be overrun otherwise?!) so why not these?

I would probably have needed serious medical support without the surgery at who knows what cost. I didn’t go the NHS route. Having read a post from a bloke who’s waited 5 years, I’m very glad I didn’t!

Size 8 here. Fed up of people telling me I’m too thin. I’m the right weight for my size and build. I’ve become a bit more confident in my old age, and now tell them I’m not too thin, I’m normal. Encouraged by GP and Dietician to get and keep current weight (for other reasons).

Yeah I agree and I regret using the word fat in the title. It was always a word used to humiliate people.

@Shizzlestix

Completely agree. The word fat was stopped to avoid hurting people's feelings and less "negative" terminolgy started being used instead.

TotemPolly- When browsing clothes in charity shops I have noticed you won't find much in sizes 10 -12.

It's rude and nosey of people to pass unasked for comment on your weight. Nobody should be doing that.

I think you are probably right about the trauma response. I imagine it's similar to hoarding, after people grew up with little. My partner struggles hugely to throw things away. Fortunately we have a large detached garage, so the house is not affected. So sorry you've had that experience.

If you aren’t fat, I think it’s easy to view those who are with derision. They’re lazy, why don’t they just stop stuffing food down their neck? Why don’t they just start exercising? They’re lazy, greedy etc. For me, it was, and still is, an addiction. I’m restricted due to the surgery, but I still feel the urge to overeat.

I’m a US size 4. I used to be a 2 and people would get on my case for being too thin, even though I didn’t diet or try to be that size.
They were, as a rule, all overweight. After many comments and getting fed up with the skinny-shaming, I began getting on their case for being overweight.
lol
I’m of the opinion that people should just shut up about it.
We all usually do the best that we can.

i have said YANBU because you have rightly recognised this as a societal problem. What we need to get away from is shaming people, labelling them as lazy and greedy because they are overweight. We need to equally shout down anyone expressing thin moral superiority.

Weight gain is a massive issue and a very complicated one. Idiots shouting eat less and run around more need to be shut down and we need to get to the bottom what’s happening. Is it affordability, time, stress, chemicals in food? Possibly linked to the rise in neurological divergencey, people stick on flight of flight mode using food as self medication, education, portion sizes, placement of fast food? Hormones in animal products. Is the physiology of humans changing?

Because she no longer has the fat padding out her face, probably. I’ve definitely changed facially, in fact been told not to lose more as my face will suffer even more (family). Also, the collagen/elasticity of skin isn’t forever. If she’s over 30, it possible that she has lost the elasticity.

I think we can and do 'talk about it'. But there's a difference between 'talking about it' and giving way to an urge to cleanse the streets of fatties and blame them for the Great National Decline.

It's certainly true that UK citizens are getting fatter and the way we live our lives absolutely must be at the core of the general statistical rise. Health advice on being overweight doesn't endorse it and I can't remember a time when it ever did. It's notoriously difficult to lose weight long term. 'Body positivity' / online wibble has not helped most fat people. The euphemisms of the 'body positivity' movement can strain the relationship between language and reality (see also 'transgender').

I'm fat, I use the word fat and I'm also on a diet or slimming to re-introduce those nostalgic 1970s terms. I agree it's not good for me to be fat but I won't ever be 'ashamed' about it and I would resist entirely any attempt to 'shame' me. I'd like to lose weight for the sake of my knees but if anyone brings my worth to society into it, I will be forced to construct a spreadsheet to calculate the worth to society of each citizen in terms of net good you've brought to the rest of us and balance that against your obesity. I'm doing it now: it says secondary school teachers can have a doughnut.

Yes and think "just stop eating so much!" But if someone told a slim person to drastically change their behavioural habits that slim person would struggle too. Change is always hard.

I possibly am in the minority with how I view this but I don't think this situation should be viewed by anyone (even if you're slim) as irrelevant in the same way as if I lived in a neighborhood in the grip of heroin I'd want to get it cleaned up.

I also don't think there are fat and thin people. I've been both. I'm still a bit fat now and on my way to being slim again. Anyone can get overweight no matter how much you think you have it sussed.

I don't think it even matters much how the UK compares to other countries. That's just a "well they are just as bad" approach. The bottom line is our health as a society is in crisis.

And I'd feel the same if people were still arguing that cigarettes were healthy.

80% YANBU but if you started a thread asking is a size 10 with a roll of fat around your waist is big, the majority of posters would say it is fine, not big at all, healthy, etc.

It is. When I was a teenager in the early 70’s a size 12 was 24” waist, my current size 10’s are about 30” waist. Photos of me and my friends are nothing like a group of teenagers/20’s today. Our bodies seem to have completely changed shape, bigger rib ages, more apple shapes.

I think it’s a combination of lots of things, bigger portion size is the norm, more opportunities to have takeaways, more cars in the household, but most of all I think it’s snacking. Was never such a thing back in the day
To be clear I’m not criticising, people can eat what they like and be whatever size they want - my only private observation is that their joints, particularly knees, are going to suffer in later life.

Influence on TikTok etc going round being morbidly obese and kicking off that they can get on rides, into airplane seats etc and people feel sorry for them!!

don’t body shame, you don’t know what people are going through is another thing

I am size 16 but I would say I am fat

I live in a fairly affluent commuter town, and I almost don't recognise "the obesity epidemic", it isn't really noticeable here. I think a lot is area dependent and affected by socio-economics. I do notice it when I visit other towns, although not necessarily in central London.

And no, that isn't because I've lost sight of what a healthy weight is!

I do think some of the healthy eating campaigns are very simplistic and in some cases quite patronising. There was a radio ad a few years ago (I think it was change4life) about making simple changes and the examples were ,"instead of sweets, have fruit" or "instead of a fizzy drink, have water"
Literally no one is eating sweets because they don't know fruit exists, they eat sweets because they taste nice! Most people are not obese or overweight because they don't know about healthy eating.
Similarly the NHS food scanning app is a very blunt tool, simply measuring calories and sugar. A upf cereal bar seemed to be the recommended alternative to anything sweet. Diet coke was applauded as a healthy choice (because its got few calories and no sugar)
There are so many factors that lead to obesity and not knowing that water is healthier than a fizzy drink is unlikely to be one of them

Nor do I, it’s horrible

Since I've lost 2 stone it seems I'm seeing more fat people or it could be I'm noticing how fat and unhealthy looking people have become because I was one of them. I also notice overweight people buying unhealthy food like massive multi packs of crisps, biscuits and pop. Why are these type of foods the main ones that are on offer in supermarkets?

At 5ft and 10.9 stone I wasn't blubbery, wobbly fat or rotund but with a bmi of 29 with a fatty liver I wasn't a healthy weight and it was creeping up. I'm lighter, bmi healthy range and liver now normal.

When dieting I did have the occasional packet of crisps and one or two biscuits and I still do. It was large portions that were my downfall and I was always "starving".

Yes, it’s weird. It must be something to do with the wish to help people but not yourself. A psychologist would help.

I've been every size from an 8-18.

What I find so weird and there's been lots of examples on this thread...is how angry some people get about the fact that other people are overweight or obese. It's so strange..