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Why is being fat/obese socially acceptable?

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    #62
    Canis Lupus
    Registered Users Posts: 9,893 ✭✭✭Canis Lupus


    dementedsoul wrote: »
    So basically.......that's just what I said.

    Your post, to me indicated you were de-emphasising over eating in favour of other reasons. Apologies if not the case :)


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    #63
    Stephentlig
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,114 ✭✭✭Stephentlig


    Obesity= mental illness/physical medical problem

    Fat = I like me food but I can still run faster than you.

    In between = I'm just not that bothered about it all, but I wont say no to a big spud dinner

    skinny = I do a lot of excercise and sport

    super skinny = mental/physical condition and oh I'm also a big fan of the Look! magazine

    I think that about sums it up :confused:


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    #64
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 17,378 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Bonito wrote: »
    I don't look down upon anyone based on their lifestyle choices. If someone chooses to do drugs, no matter how soft or hard those drugs are, I simply don't associate myself with them because I don't like drugs. What they choose to put in to their bodies is their choice. Should they choose to ask for help in the future good on them. If not then fair enough, I'm not going to look down at them. It doesn't mean I am better than someone who uses drugs it just means that I'm not on the level with them and they wouldn't be my idea of good company.

    Good answer..


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    #65
    bonerm
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,595 ✭✭✭bonerm


    Kiera wrote: »
    I'm taken anyway :P

    What a shame! Never mind, I don't even have my own forklift anyway.


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    #66
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,918 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Theta wrote: »
    Obesity costs the state half a billion a year they reckon. Drinking and smoking are in someway (not all) covered by taxes, obesity is not.

    Apart from the obvious medical problems that are associated with all three, I would venture that alcohol abuse and smoking have more anti-social side effects than obesity.

    Obesity is becoming something of an epidemic. There's no doubt about that.

    However, there 's no such thing as passive obesity. It doesnt affect everyone in the immediate vicinity of an overweight person the same way passive smoking does.

    Anyone ever killed by fat driving?


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    #67
    ClutchIt
    Registered Users Posts: 709 ✭✭✭ClutchIt


    Elessar wrote: »

    But yes, I do think I am better than obese people. Do you know why? Because I eat healthily and exercise regularly at the gym. I respect myself enough to look good, and not put my body under the multitude of stresses and problems that come with being inactive and overweight. It's not the extra flab that make obese people unappealing, it's their carelessness and lack of decency and respect to themselves.

    What a cnut


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    #68
    AssaultedPeanut
    Registered Users Posts: 806 ✭✭✭AssaultedPeanut


    Canis Lupus wrote: »
    Your post, to me indicated you were de-emphasising over eating in favour of other reasons. Apologies if not the case :)

    Not at all:)


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    #69
    Degsy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭Degsy


    Rodar08 wrote: »
    Degsy - you are misinformed on the matter altogether. Don't mean to be rude but it is a fact like ;)


    Really?
    Tell me why people who are starved of food dont remain fat?


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    #70
    Bonito
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,399 ✭✭✭Bonito


    Elessar wrote: »
    More words in my mouth. I would never disrespect someone to their face. In my mind, it's more like "My god, has this person no respect for themselves?!"

    I know how to have the craic. What on earth made you think I didn't? More words in my mouth. Oh, and I can guarantee any "fattie" friends you might have are not un-judgemental to people they may see in daily life. What about that guy who sits beside them in work who never uses deodorant and stinks to high heaven? Is it small minded to think they disrespecting themselves?
    Read my post again. I said in my post you'd never walk up and say it to them but it doesn't stop you thinking it.


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    #71
    orourkeda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,918 ✭✭✭✭orourkeda


    Sykk wrote: »
    I wouldn't say it to a fat person's face in the middle of nothing. But if someone asks my opinion I give it. I wouldn't go out of my way to hurt them, but "Do I look fat in this?" gets my honest answer... Yes you do, you ****ing whale!

    I imagine from this answer that you are the perfect physical specimen. You need to be to be speaking like this.


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    #72
    GavRedKing
    Registered Users Posts: 53,262 ✭✭✭✭GavRedKing


    For me its the really fat or obese people that I look at and think WTF are you up to? If its medical condition then granted, be fat, you cant really help it but if you are healthy, relatively speaking, you should not be obese.

    The hardest thing to do when loosing weight or quitting drink or giving up smoking is will power, and if your obese and dont have a reason to be all yourd oing is advertising that you dont have the will power to cut the crap food out of your diet and do a bit of exercise.


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    #73
    Theta
    Registered Users Posts: 1,760 ✭✭✭Theta


    Bonito wrote: »
    If your opinion is impacting negatively then it's best kept to yourself. You say you have friends who would be overweight? Were they overweight when you 1st befriended them or have they just gone that way over time? If they were overweight when you first became friends then why do you look down on others who are overweight? If they just happened to gain weight over time why do you look down upon people who are overweight? They could have had a normal weight at one point too, you know. Or does the fact that they're now overweight change who they are and you've decided to take an immediate dislike to them before even getting to know them?

    It is left to myself I said I say it to myself all the time when I see people on the street.

    No they were overweight when I ment them. I still said in my head jaysus look at this fella but it doesnt mean I cant get on with people and like them for who they are. I just said I say to myself "How could someone let themselves go like that?" when I see people.

    You seem to be the one who thinks if I have that opinion I run to the hills to avoid them.

    You seem to be putting words in peoples mouths as a few of the other people have said.


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    #74
    ScumLord
    Registered Users Posts: 28,789 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    It's a drawback of being such a damn good animal. We have starved and been on the brink of extinction in the past but we have extremely efficient bodies that don't waste energy and we're omnivores that have no natural predator. It would happen to any animal once they have everything in abundance. Don't worry give it 50 years tops and we'll be killing each other for scraps.


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    #75
    Sykk
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,327 ✭✭✭Sykk


    orourkeda wrote: »
    I imagine from this answer that you are the perfect physical specimen. You need to be to be speaking like this.
    I'm not a perfect specimen. But I do martial arts and go to the gym 3 days a week. From someone who got kinda fat to getting back fit, I know what it's like not to be happy with my physical appearance. For someone to go past that stage knowing they're a fat pig and do nothing about it... Makes me kinda sick.


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    #76
    Elessar
    Registered Users Posts: 5,239 ✭✭✭Elessar


    Bonito wrote: »
    Read my post again. I said in my post you'd never walk up and say it to them but it doesn't stop you thinking it.

    Read my post again and stop trying to squirm your way out. You are putting words in my mouth to support your argument.


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    #77
    Theta
    Registered Users Posts: 1,760 ✭✭✭Theta


    ScumLord wrote: »
    It's a drawback of being such a damn good animal. We have starved and been on the brink of extinction in the past but we have extremely efficient bodies that don't waste energy and we're omnivores that have no natural predator. It would happen to any animal once they have everything in abundance. Don't worry give it 50 years tops and we'll be killing each other for scraps.


    50 years? I think you are being optimistic. If we last 20 i'd be surprised.


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    #78
    uncleoswald
    Registered Users Posts: 1,612 ✭✭✭uncleoswald


    How is it acceptable? Half the adds on TV seem to be about some low fat snack that will make you slim and there are a tonne of shows that pretend to be about the difficulties in been fat or about loosing weight but are in fact an excuse to point and laugh at fat people. An obese person in a club is going to be sniggered at and any remotely overweight celebrities are fair game for ridicule. I hate Vanessa Feltz as much as anyone but does EVERY joke have to be about her weight, its the least annoying thing about her.

    Anyway, overweight does not necessarily mean unhealthy so should this thread be called "why is it acceptable to eat junk food and not go to the gym"?

    For the record I'm as lanky as they come.


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    #79
    Fuhrer
    Registered Users Posts: 4,661 ✭✭✭Fuhrer


    Degsy wrote: »
    No my point is that everybody who's an alcoholic drinks too much,everybody who's fat eats too much...its reallly very simple.


    Right

    and just like how everyone who works in the Public Sector is a blood sucking parasite.


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    #80
    Rodar08
    Registered Users Posts: 280 ✭✭Rodar08


    Degsy wrote: »
    Really?
    Tell me why people who are starved of food dont remain fat?

    Because they are starved Degsy. We're not talking about famine conditions in this conversation so don't twist things to suit an invalid point you made. We're talking about obesity in a society where food and junk food are affordable and plentiful. **rolls eyes at time wasted giving response to this** I should start up a thread about what we could do with all the dumb people in the world - they make it sometimes unbearable for us intelligent people to live in!!! :D:D:D Sorry Degsy, that last line was just a joke that I couldn't resist - no offence lol


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    #81
    prinz
    Registered Users Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    What is the dividing line when it comes to obesity? How is it calculated etc?

    I doubt many people here would have the stones to call Brian O'Driscoll socially unacceptable for being obese, but at 5'10 and 210 lbs technically.......


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    #82
    Degsy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭Degsy


    Fuhrer wrote: »
    Right

    and just like how everyone who works in the Public Sector is a blood sucking parasite.

    What the fcuck are you on about now?


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    #83
    Theta
    Registered Users Posts: 1,760 ✭✭✭Theta


    prinz wrote: »
    What is the dividing line when it comes to obesity? How is it calculated etc?

    I doubt many people here would have the stones to call Brian O'Driscoll socially unacceptable for being obese, but at 5'10 and 210 lbs technically.......

    Yeah but the chap has a % body fat of prob 5 - 10%.

    Weight has little to do with it if you have lots of muscle.


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    #84
    Cremated
    Registered Users Posts: 740 ✭✭✭Cremated


    Elessar wrote: »
    Absolutely. Obese people are lazy and overeat. Every other excuse is smoke and mirrors. They are the cause of their problem.

    Not every overweight person you see on the street enjoys being that way,

    and not all of them are lazy, you just can't label them all the same...


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    #85
    techdiver
    Registered Users Posts: 3,088 ✭✭✭techdiver


    prinz wrote: »
    What is the dividing line when it comes to obesity? How is it calculated etc?

    I doubt many people here would have the stones to call Brian O'Driscoll socially unacceptable for being obese, but at 5'10 and 210 lbs technically.......

    This is true. The traditional calculation for obese is completely flawed as it uses BMI, which is a load of balls as far as I'm concerned. Body Fat % should be the standard measure of obesity.


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    #86
    Degsy
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,397 ✭✭✭✭Degsy


    Rodar08 wrote: »
    Because they are starved Degsy. We're not talking about famine conditions in this conversation so don't twist things to suit an invalid point you made. We're talking about obesity in a society where food and junk food are affordable and plentiful. **rolls eyes at time wasted giving response to this** I should start up a thread about what we could do with all the dumb people in the world - they make it sometimes unbearable for us intelligent people to live in!!! :D:D:D Sorry Degsy, that last line was just a joke that I couldn't resist - no offence lol


    Wonderfully put..fat people eat too much and dont burn it off...skinny people are the opposite.


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    #87
    prinz
    Registered Users Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Theta wrote: »
    Weight has little to do with it if you have lots of muscle.

    Which is why I wondered what criteria would apply with people comparing taxes on cigarettes, alcohol.

    As techdiver pointed out BMI seems to be the standard test atm. As for measuring body fat % I don't fancy getting a medical everytime I fancy a bigmac.

    As for being socially acceptable I wouldn't look down my nose at anyone for being overweight. Nor would I feel inclined to go out of my way to accomodate them in any special way. The vast majority of people who are over weight know they're overweight. If I'm at work and someone is stuffing their face it's no skin off mine compared to someone next to me blowing smoke in my direction.


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    #88
    whadabouchasir
    Registered Users Posts: 942 ✭✭✭whadabouchasir


    prinz wrote: »
    What is the dividing line when it comes to obesity? How is it calculated etc?

    I doubt many people here would have the stones to call Brian O'Driscoll socially unacceptable for being obese, but at 5'10 and 210 lbs technically.......
    It used to be BMI,basically your weight in Kg divided by your height in metres squared and if this was over 30 you were obese.But now this is being reconsidered because,like you said,it doesn't take into account people who have a very large muscle mass.Now body fat percentage or waistline is more often used since this gives a more accurate representation of the amount of fat you actually have.


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    #89
    Elessar
    Registered Users Posts: 5,239 ✭✭✭Elessar


    Cremated wrote: »
    Not every overweight person you see on the street enjoys being that way,

    and not all of them are lazy, you just can't label them all the same...

    That's true, some of them could be in the middle of a genuine attempt to lose the weight with exercise and diet. But I would wager most of them are not.

    And if the others don't enjoy it, why not change it?


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    #90
    corkcomp
    Registered Users Posts: 5,114 ✭✭✭corkcomp


    this is one of the most ridiculous debates ive ever seen... Anyone who is fat DOES eat too much, it takes a surplus of energy / calories to spawn fat cells. the comment about the government makes no sense, different thing entirely. dont get me wrong, IMO there is nothing wrong with being fat, but lets not use silly excuses! the Brian O'Driscoll point is another no brainer, it is very obvious to even the untrained eye who is truly obese or not


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    #91
    Dudess
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    There's perhaps complacency by some who are overweight themselves, but it sure don't seem as if obesity is socially acceptable.


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