Why does society hate fat people

[welshcakes4]

For most of my 20s, I struggled with being overweight, mainly because of my unhealthy eating habits and not exercising enough. I definitely turned to food for comfort, especially when I was feeling down. I’ve never really been a drinker, smoker or taken drugs, so food was my go to. I’m 32 now and I’ve completely changed my life around. I’ve adopted a much healthier lifestyle and lost 4 stone, which has made me feel so much happier. Since I’ve slimmed down, I’ve noticed a big difference in how people treat me, especially men, but women too. Their attitudes have shifted, and they seem a lot friendlier now. I know this is a bigger issue, just look online and you’ll see all the nasty comments and jokes about overweight people. I came across one earlier, and it was surprisingly the women who were being vile.

It’s fine to disagree with someone’s choices. I guess the same could be said for alcoholics, drug addicts, etc, but why all the hate and vitriol? Why are we treated like second class citizens? We’re not bad people, we just have our struggles with food. We haven’t killed or harmed anyone. It’s so strange to me that people can get so worked up and angry over someone being overweight. I’ve genuinely never understood this.

They’re the exceptions that prove the rule though aren’t they

No, why would it touch a nerve exactly? Again you’re demonstrating that you have this delusional idea that overweight people occupy slim people’s minds more than they actually do. When in actual fact actually they’ll forget that person exists 3 seconds after the social interaction. Slim people don’t feel superior to fat people, the majority of the population are just now drawn to them in the same way they would towards slim or attractive person.

It really isn’t.

I don’t think there are many people who are happy to sit next to a fat person on any form of transport, especially an airplane.

Tattoos? People buy tattoos because they like them. If others really don’t, that’s just the flip side.
It’s a tiny minority that get obese because they like the look/feel.
We are programmed to like healthy, fertile versions of humans.

I know nobody asked but I feel like i need to say weight isn't just about food and exercise i eat less now and exercise more then I ever did and was stick thin for my whole life up until mid 30s i just couldn't put weight on then I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism, ended up on long term steroids and antipsychotics and peri menopause is rearing its ugly head now I have to eat less then 1000 calories a day to lose weight if I eat more then 1500 I gain weight. Its funny how my whole life id be shoving mcdonalds, pizzas, cakes, milkshakes, chocolate down my throat never exercised and people where like wow your so slim whats your secret. Now I barely eat and they look at me like cut out the pies fatty. Do you know what I've had today. Breakfast- protein shake, lunch protein shake, Dinner salad and a 2 egg omelette with tomato, mushrooms, spinach and a small handful of reduced fat cheese. Then a freddo for dessert. I've had 2 cups of tea with skimmed milk and no sugar. And 3 litres of water.

Someone mentioned tattoos way up thread and it got me thinking.

I've been on MN 15 years and there have been many threads about people with tattoos.

Plenty of posts saying tattooed people look 'cheap, chavvy, thick, nasty, common' etc.

And a fair few of those posts were from MNetters who often posted in the diet topic about how overweight/obese they were.

No-one has the monopoly on hatred and judging others.

"Have you seen the number of nasty comments, from men AND WOMEN, about toned and fit women, saying that muscles make them look like men (as if) and a long list of insults I can't be bothered to repeat."

Not really.
I used to get a lot of videos of bodybuilders on my YouTube for some reason and I only saw those comments when the women had low voices and were quite obviously taking testosterone.
If you watch something like Body by Mark that shows a lot of women who lift weights there are no negative comments just about being 'toned and fit' and that toned look seems to be very fashionable at the moment.

I’m sure there was a study done around employment. If you were more beautiful and skinny you were more likely to get a job than being average looking and heavier. I will see if I can find it.

It’s an unconscious bias that the people aren’t really aware. Society treats people better if you meet social beauty standards. Another privilege some people aren’t aware of.

I think it’s more to do with the majority of people perceiving being fat as unattractive than anything else, as slim people who are ugly get treated like shit too.

Because its a safe prejudice
Meanwhile the druggie who domestically abused my friend was classed as vulnerable

I think society hates fat women a lot more than fat men - presumably because society also 'secretly' believes that the purpose of women is to be conventionally attractive things to look at for men and that involves being slim with obvious secondary sex characteristics.

Not necessarily. We talk of 'fat cats' big company owners and the like.

People pretend we aren’t judged on appearance but this is simply not true.
As a society we associate fatness with laziness, lack of discipline etc and that thinness is a sign of virtue and hard work.
It’s mad that heavy drinking and partying are seen in a positive light “a party animal” “life of the party” even though this is so damaging health wise. But if you are even a bit overweight, regardless of your actual health, you are seen negatively.

I am not a supermodel at all, but I absolutely benefit from being perceived as “attractive” - people give me things free all the time.

Never heard of drug addicts being a protected characteristic in UK society. In fact I’m pretty sure druggies are way further down in the social caste system so to speak, than overweight people?

I don't think people are judged for playing football, but for eating junk food, yes. Shouted at in the streets, I admit I've never seen/heard, but I've never seen someone shout fatty in the streets either, though I accept it happens.

It’s about being lazy and greedy. Slovenly. Ill disciplined. And not being worthy as a result of all of that. And no pity because its self inflicted. Unattractive. Uncaring about health and appearance. A scourge on the NHS.
that’s not my feelings but as a fat person I can say that’s how I think others perceive me.

but why this is the case? Fashion is a part of it. Fit and slim is fashionable. Designers want thin models to represent their brands.

being sedentary is not good for the body. Therefore exercising is sensible- healthy-a more intelligent choice. A more educated choice.
fat =poor diet= lower education = lower class.
it’s all of that

You might not, but weight is part of attractiveness, in male or female. Standards vary depending on the culture, but models, actress, everything in our culture use the weight - but not only - as what define someone attractive.

There are a lot of body shapes in the range between skinny and overweight!

Interesting point.
I'm sorry you're ill. But I actually disagree with you when you say society hates obese people but doesn't hate ill people. Because I think society - or parts of society - do hate illness.
But - and I caveat this - in a nuanced way. They don't hate you, as an individual, for being ill. You're a face, and a name. They can comprehend that and feel sympathy for you.
But that's irrelevant without action and when contrasted with behaviour seen.
You can see it how it's reflected in legislation. SSP is much worse than SMP. People with legitimate illnesses, who need benefits, are forced to undergo intrusive PIP testing and then rejected.
Swarms of people call the legitimately ill "scroungers" and other things.

So they might not hate you on an individual level but on a systematic level do people care? It's an uncomfortable dissonance when considered.
Just my take. I do hope you heal. Wishing you bright days.

I’ve gained 4 and a half stone, OP, and I can’t believe how much more disrespectful people are.

That's sort of the point with tattoos though. It's something rebellious that your parents might not approve of or that you might have to cover up at work. Some other people not liking it is probably part of the attraction.

The statistics for morbidity for fat people often demonstrate they are treated later , cared for less and it relates to weight stigma and not body size. It’s literally a killer attitude

The equivalent for a man is being short.

Now I didn't say the MNetters in question simply didn't like them, did I?

I said they judged them as "cheap, chavvy, thick, nasty, common' etc."

Completely different to just not liking them, don't you think?

Yes, it’s this. Fat people are perceived as lazy, sloppy, greedy and lacking in character. It’s acceptable to be contemptuous and cruel about them. Scratch the surface of any MN thread about food, weight or appearance and you’ll find those attitudes. It’s really, really unpleasant, but punching down on fat people makes slimmer people feel fantastic about themselves. Superiority is a powerful drug.