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

Then you’re not a higher rate tax payer are you, you’re an additional rate tax payer.
Weird you don’t know that

and you probably have an eating disorder. People who talk to others like this usually do.

That’s terrible

I'm a mature student and a fat arse (size 18). Yesterday the tram broke down about a mile from the city centre. People obviously pissed off as the only thing to do was get off and walk. I'm 47. And fat. And had a v heavy backpack with books and laptop in.

However walking up from tram stop I was so shocked how unfit everyone was! Much younger people huffing and puffing up the hill, moaning it was too far (a mile), wondering about bus stops and taxi ranks. There was about 30 of us maybe? Anyway within 10 mins there was me, a couple maybe in their mid 50s and an older lady maybe 70? Anyway, everyone else was a good way behind us, despite being in their 20s/30s.

It's not so much the weight that concerns me, I'm obese but as fit as a butchers dog. But fitness levels are bloody shocking.

We have ozempic now so dont need to work out.
My friend went on it she lost loads of weight.
But it aged her i dont know how but she looks a good 8+ years older now.
She regrets it but nothing she can do about it now to reverse it she has stopped it now but i dont think it will change anything.

I do hope you don't drink, smoke, over exercise, have children as your choices will impact me as a higher rate tax payer.

Why are so many health workers overweight or obese? Modern life encourages it tbh, there are socio economic factors, class issues, doors for self medicating as people say but of course no one wants to tackle that.

I don't know many obese people (in quite a middle class area) but plenty starve themselves or drink too much, take drugs, over exercise etc.

Well, given the oncoming pensions crisis the population won't be able to support an ageing population so what better way than let people eat themselves into an early grave. I'm sure the government are quite happy with it! The shorter term effects are the NHS resources being put into it now.

I feel sorry for kids being fed into early graves though. Obese children shouldn't be normalised in any way.

I don't doubt you - however, the science is telling us it is more complex than eat less move more. I'm happy it worked for you and if it was that easy no one would be fat.

I have never met a fat person who wanted to be fat.

You probably paid more tax than a lot of corporations then. As well as wishing for better health for your compatriots, you might focus on whatever it takes to get those guys to pony up some cash?

I will be going private for my birth this time, and no I don’t drink, or smoke. I exercise appropriately and I’m in good health.

Are you saying that weight loss injections also give you the same benefits as exercise?

I was size 14 as an 18 year old in the 70's. I was 5'7" and my measurements were roughly 36/25/37. My figure was my only vanity looks-wise. What size would that make me now?

I think you're, misguided and ignorant, or maybe you are just having a laugh?

I'm not greedy, don't buy processed food or fizzy drinks and 'control my intake'. A lifetime thin person until I had cancer and the treatment/hormones/steriods made me gain weight but helped me to live.

Haven't been able to lose that weight despite eating 1300 cals a day. Don't do a huge amount of exercise anymore because I am not up to it after working full time to fund our lives at home. I only have so much energy. I do walk and cycle regularly.

I'll tell you one thing though, I was not, as someone who struggled to maintain my weight at a healthy level (thin not fat), I wasnt judgy, ever.

There by the grace of god @Weefox, let's hope you never experience a life event that causes you to become obese.

The complexity is why we find it so difficult to eat less and move more. That is what's required. The reasons we don't are complex.

I think the conversation is fine to have, I think there is an issue where its had without compassion or awareness.

There's lots of reasons why certain postcodes will have higher levels of obesity usually due to poverty, poor community resourcing, issues with food distribution or wealth distribution or communities with high levels of shared / generational trauma. If you're genuinely interested in resolving an obesity crisis then those are the issues you need to be discussing and lobbying for change on- not simply discussing or complaining about the fatness of people.

I would also say that most influencers etc that I see who discuss positive body image are raising awareness of the fact that for some people it is more difficult to maintain a healthy weight due to illness/disability/afrid/medication etc and try to challenge the stigma that's attached to being overweight eg. being seen as fair game for rude comments/ stares/ being unable to try on clothes/ less accessible travel. I've always interpreted that as highlighting that while a person may be fat, they still are worthy of respect and dignity as a human being. I also think there's a big misconception around weight and fitness. My mum will deride me regarding my weight regularly and always has done due to her own unhealthy fixations around weight. She's not overweight and I am, but she eats a much worse diet - would consider an apple pie a complete meal and takes no exercise, whereas I'm overweight but I eat my 5 a day most days and I go to the gym 3 times a week as well as working in a physically demanding job. She just eats much less than I do but is also probably nutritionally deficient never mind her unhealthy approach to weight. So there's something to be said for appearance alone not being enough to estimate health.

I've read that book. It was extremely interesting and while I have the greatest respect for CvT as a Dr. I was disappointed that at times he seemed to be making excuses for people's obesity. Eg it's people eating addictive upf and they can't help it sort of attitude. Nothing about using will power, education, common sense, a desire not to be fat/unhealthy.

Upf is bad. Eat healthier food, be less fat and more healthy. It's not rocket science.

I'm also disappointed about the talk regarding free weight loss jabs at chemists because they won't be free as presumably tax payers/nhs will be paying. I'd much rather see the money spent on better education re: nutrition as that's more sustainable than a quick fix injection imo.

yes I know of a few overweight and even obese people that have major health problems due to their size but are in total denial about it being their weight that is the root of the issue.

You don't know much about physiology do you @Sweaterbag , out in force today I see.

I had a 24/25" waist in my late teens. I was quite underweight though as I'm 5ft 10. Shapes have also changed, my gran, aunts etc all had small waists but they were much shorter than me & carried a lot more weight on their hips & limbs than I did/do.

People smoke instead of eating in Europe so for example 34.5 % of French population smokes, in the UK the figure is 12.5% we are quite a bit below Germany, Spain and even Slightly lower than Denmark. I do think this is a contributing factor.

That's not all of it though is it - the science will tell you that what you eat is also important. All calories are not equal...

And I wish you good health, I really think you need to work on your social skills though as you are quite rude and unpleasant.

I agree this and past governments have tinkered round the edges. There should be a tax on junk food across the board, just like alcohol and tobacco, alongside public health education. The last Labour government had an extremely successful initiative called the National Healthy Schools Award which worked with pupils and parents, one of the first things the coalition government did was withdraw all the funding!

No, I say it as it is. I’m sorry if you’re offended, but maybe lose some weight?

This is where you need to decide what you care about rather than whataboutery. It’s obviously perfectly possible to be obese or overweight and physically fit. So what do you actually care about?

because if you care about exercise or fitness, that’s a whole different conversation that brings in a high % of healthy weight people too