Older generations of women and weight

[CoffeeMumForever]

Do you think older generations of women, eg 60 plus attach more importance on be-ring slim and frowning on heavier women? I think they do. Also it seems to be a middle class thing too, eg keeping looking good for your ‘man’

I think it's what you saw as a young person growing up. In my youth (60s and 70s) it was standard to shop for groceries on foot and carry them home. People walked or cycled more often than driving because their worlds were mostly very local and close to home. My DFIL's cine footage of Canterbury high street during the early 60s shows not a single person who could be considered chunky, although there are some tall strong one.

Personally, I blame DuPont and the invention of Lycra!

I'm in my 60s and have friends in their 70s and 80s. I've never heard any of them commenting on heavier women. What a ridiculous stereotype.

Also, just read a few threads on here about weight. I guarantee most of the judgemental posters are well under 60.

One of those most ridiculous comments from my mum recently was when she came to visit me and asked "LemonCat, has your neighbour lost weight?"

Now, I live 3 hours away, so mum only visits once or twice a year, so she doesn't set eyes on my neighbour for 12+ months at a time. And I'm only on the kind of terms with my neighbour where, if every couple of months I see him putting out the bins, I'll say a cursory "Morning".

I almost blurted out to mum "How the fuck would I know?!"

She's THAT obsessed with weight, she'd clocked the weight of a man she doesn't know from Adam, and sets eyes on for a maximum of 1 minute per year!

I think @SaulJunction has a good point. Maybe older women comment on weight because hardly anyone used to be fat. Kids were normally quite skinny. Before all the junk and processed food arrived. Sugar was sugar, not disguised as corn syrup. I’m aware of how fat many younger people are because it was so unusual when I was young. We are not designed to have a diet of cakes and biscuits.

Blimey @OneWorthyLemonCat I thougt my calorie counting and weight-clocking relative was ott! What a strange place your Mum's head must be to live in! It doesn't sound like much fun for her 😐

Well I'm nearly 60, never been overweight - just a normal weight. Partly luck, partly how I was brought up, partly for my own benefit and well-being.

Yes, it must occupy so much of her headspace. She's always commenting on DH and whether he's lost or gained weight. He's over six foot and solidly-built. It's so rude! She'll say "Has DH lost a little bit of weight"? I'll always answer that I wouldn't have a clue, as we don't own scales!

I see that @CoffeeMumForever is another 'post and run' kind of poster. Not looking to provoke responses, clearly

Is this more of a middle class thing?
Speaking for all the working class women I know they only seem to be interested in their weight as it relates to their health. None of them give a crap about their weight in terms of appearance!

Not at all, sorry I’ve been incredibly busy.

my observations are that it is a good thing that younger generations are now much more accepting of different weights/ looks/ lifestyles.

a lot of it is tied in with the old attitudes of just get on with it and show no weakness, greed, difference, and that clearly caused alot if damage to people and they could not just enjoy food, be themselves.

I guess you annoy me because I hate age related generalisations

but let’s examine “Just enjoy food and be themselves” ?
overeating is causing a physical health crisis and you think people should just accept other people eating themselves to an early grave - after taking a good chunk of tax money in the excess use of the health service?

Can’t you understand why those who love you most would be distressed if you have poor eating habits ?

Can’t you understand why people paying taxes and failing to get health support might be a big pissed at the impact your choices have on them?

i guess I have never experienced the elder generation being very critical of my diet and habits and that experience might make you feel different

Maybe half the population is more accepting of fatter people now, is because they are overweight themselves.
I do think younger people(under 40) are more inclined to be obese, lack of excercise, food choices, different lifestyle to when people walked everywhere, all adds up to weight gain.

I do see it affects women more than men, men tend to weight gain as they age, ime.

Perhaps if they grew up when obesity levels were much lower its just something they can't really understand or accept sometimes when people get a lot older cognitive decline can effect empathy and they might be less understanding of the struggles other people go through.

Absolutely this.

My friend who is 70 is very into being thin. She was a cup-a-soup for lunch person as it was only 5 calories (I exaggerate).

She genuinely seems to think fat people sit around all day depressed about being fat.

I keep my weight down via diet and exercise solely to prevent further damage to joints after a hip replacement. I was overweight or obese for about thirty years before that, and was perfectly comfortable in my skin, but then my hip joint collapsed. I never want to have to endure again the pain of bone rubbing against bone when I move.

I don’t have an opinion on others’ weight/ size unless:
= They take up half of my seat at the theatre or on the bus/ tube.
= They moan about struggling to walk, or obesity-induced health problems, while carrying a lot of surplus weight.
= They complain about it being impossible for them to lose weight while tucking into cakes, sweets or junk food.

Then I do silently judge them - but say nothing, of course.

I know a few women in their 80s who definitely had a strong focus on staying slim and would make comments on how some people would let themselves particularly after the child birth ( I was on the receiving end of some comments).

One even tried to stop me from going to university saying that I should go to secretarial college and then find a husband in the city. I needed to focus on typing, shorthand and flower arranging not engineering 😂

Recently I have made acquaintances with a Pilates group at a sports club which is an interesting mix of older ladies. There are a few 70 plus who are very slender and well groomed and they do occasionally make disparaging remarks about larger people. So glad they didn’t know me when I was 6 stone heavier. I think I just about get away with it on the weight side of things now but maybe need to improve my grooming. I imagine them as part of the old Nimble bread advertising campaign along with living off ryvita and cottage cheese.

Nimble ran some interesting campaigns

Joanna Lumley 1969

Now in her 70s Joanna Lumley’s rules for ageing gracefully: ‘Look nice and try not to get fat’

Yes. My mum is like ithis and her mother was too. I'm mot, neither are my siblings ☝