[Sign of Times] Obese Taking out Loans to Get Weight Loss Surgery

For my part, I apologize for my "fatties" remark. I was being silly without thinking or feeling.

 

That was good of you.

 

Ouch.

I didn't do it in this thread, but I know I did it in a thread about the office breakroom a few weeks ago. Now I feel like an ASS. I apologize. I did it without even thinking about it.

It's ironic, I'll bet our Grandparents did the same thing with blacks 50 years ago.....without even thinking about it. Discrimination against overweight people is the last socially acceptable form of discrimination left.

I am NOT calling anyone in particular out on this, but it's ironic to me that a lot of the people who scream about racism, sexism, and all the other "ism's" out there probably have no problem whatsoever with using the work 'fatty' in a public place.

 

I've always found it pretty ironic that a BBS that frequently extols Jack in the Box there is so much venom extolled at the obese.

I agree that morbid obesity is a huge problem, no pun intended, but the problem IMO isn't one just of weight or even BMI but is a matter of lifestyle. There are many people who we would consider heavy but are still healthy. Last month I ran 7.5 mile road race with a friend who has a BMI probably around 30 who still ran it faster than me. As long as health is reduced to such simplistic factors as weight and appearance we will have a problem with not just obesity but eating disorders the other way.
Clearly though in our society and especially in a city like Houston there is a problem with lifestyle that encourages obesity. An auto-dependent infrastructure with extremely convenient access to fast food and a culture that encourages unhealthy eating. Getting at things like that is what we should be getting at as a society than just demonizing "fatties".

 

Lets not forget there are some serious risk with the surgery itself. Cutting open you abdomen and redirecting your esophagus isn't getting your ears pierced and there are a lot of potential complications that could arise from the surgery and anesthetic.

 

i'm not really big on the name calling but i don't really see what the big problem is. I don't believe the condition of obesity is something that deserves respect. I think the whole "big is beautiful" is great for self-esteem but i think it also hurts people. People like that comedian Monique make me sick when they lie and get on tv and say that they eat healthy and exercise all the time. It sends a bad message to our kids. I respect people with HIV but i don't condone unprotected sex.

I'm not saying to be hateful and say dumb things like fatty but i think it is hurting the overweight community when you say it is okay. I was a chubby youngster but i was like that because of my perception of what was okay and the perception of what's okay (eating and exercise wise) has only gotten worse sense then.

 

I'm sorry that I said I don't like looking at them, really, cause when they're fully clothed it's fine

 

From what I understand, this surgery is only used as a last resort. Most insurance companies won't approve it unless the person's very life is at risk and even then they are pretty stingy about it. I think you have to go through a pretty thorough pre-screening process to even have a doctor perform it.

It’s not for people who could stand to drop about 25 pounds (like myself….). It’s strictly used as a very last resort for the morbidly obese when a life is at risk, not really for aesthetic purposes like plastic surgery. The side effects are pretty minimal when compared to death.

That’s my limited understanding, anyway.

 

This is true. I had a friend whose sister tried to get it done and she didn't pass the mental part of the pre-screening process.

 

Its not about respecting overweight people but it is about whether we should stigmatize or insult them. Obesity is a problem but not everyone who is considered obese, a BMI over 25, is going to be unhealthy and I don't think its right to automatically call presume something about them just based on appearence.

As far as presuming that someone who says they eat healthy and exercise but are still large are lying how do you know?

This is a video of a guy who weighs about 340 lbs doing Judo:
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If you just saw this guy walking down the street you might presume he is a lazy fat ass given the size of his gut yet this guy is a former all state wrestler who moves as well on the mat as people half his weight.

So yes unhealthy lifestyles are not good but not everyone who looks obese is necessarily unhealthy.

 

In my mind, unless you're working out 5 times a week and you're still "fat" then I have every right to think that it's not morbid obesity.

I can not accept that you decided that you will be a certain size without working hard for an extended period of time (1 year or more) without results.

I didn't like it when I was huge. I don't like that I'm fat. I know I can improve my situation. I apply the same standards for almost anyone.

People who can't lose weight properly are the exception and, without a doubt, everyone recognizes that they are the exception.

 

I thank everyone who has commented that they didn't think about this before, and might reconsider calling someone names. I used to make fun of heavy girls myself sometimes (many of whom were significantly smaller than I am).

I still am confused as to what everyone things is going to happen that is negative if we treat fat people a little nicer. Very few people "prefer" the way fat looks (although believe it or not there are some). There is no "recruiting" or peer pressure to become fat, or kids refusing to be friends with someone who isn't fat enough (although the reverse does happen) There is no radical "I'm fat and I'm proud" movement on any kind of scale, kids aren't clamoring to put on weight to be more like Monique or Rosie....there are just some fat people who's self esteem isn't totally crushed by the fact they don't look like Brad Pitt or Keira Knightly....and that itself is rare, why is that so bad. Everyone who doesn't live in caves with Bin Laden or on Mars KNOWS darn well its healthier to not be fat. We don't need "reinforcement" on that.

Again, if you don't want to be fat...stay in the gym and watch what you eat and hope it works (I dispute the contention that it WILL work in ALL cases, but I realize there are those of you who will continue to believe that.)

If you find fat people unattractive don't go out with us (though I hope none of you will dump a long term mate if her/his metabolism slows and they put on some pounds.)

I just don't know what there is for someone else to "condone" about MY waistline. I don't meet someone else's standards for enough workouts per week, or eat the right broccoli to cheeseburger ratio for ya. Sorry about that, I am sorry my existence offends your delicate sensibilities.

Can I at least suggest that the men among you confine your public taunts to fat men. Cause face it a fat woman isn't gonna do anything about it but cry or storm off in a huff. It's a little like shooting fish in a barrel.

(rant over...for the time being)

 

If you have ever seen Monique then you know the type of people i'm talking about. She tries to glorify obesity as if its a good think. I love and respect people enough to not glorify something that is costing the lives of people in my community.

Also, my uncle studied Kuk Sool Won for quite some time and we was still overweight similar to the man in the video, they both probably had quite a bit of muscle under the fat. The issues is that i know for sure that my uncle was not eating right and i don't think its right for people to send the defeated attitude to our children that being obese is okay.