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Discrimination against people because of their surplus weight

Darlughda

I was eavesdropping on a conversation today in a café, and I heard this fella saying to someone else that if you were too fat you could forget about whatever job you had applied for because of the hidden discrimination against fat people.

So, we are all familiar with toeing the line when it comes to religion and we all pretend that we are fully behind this equal opportunites thing.

In my area of working one of the worst things you could be considered is anti-muslim or anti-immigrant, yet there seems to be none of that kind of consideration given to people who are overweight.

I personally find the weight issue really hard to bring up with friends who are obese.

But, nontheless it got me thinking, is it okay to make cruel judgements and more seriously, life discriminatory decisions against someone because of their weight?

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Steyr

Darlughda wrote: »

But, nontheless it got me thinking, is it okay to make cruel judgements and more seriously, life discriminatory decisions against someone because of their weight?

Nope but i believe it would be ok to bring up the stiuation about their weight for their health.

mikom

Darlughda wrote: »

I personally find the weight issue really hard to bring up with friends who are obese.

Smother it in butter and chocolate chips, then see how they like it.

Hank_Jones

I would be more inclined to hire someone who is fit and healthy.
This is mainly due to the fact that someone who is fit will most likely be able to work harder and for longer.
Plus I'm quite fit myself, so I look on fitness as important and also think it shows determination on the part of a person.

ejmaztec

Sometimes it's good to chew the fat with these people, it's what true friends do.

Darlughda

Well, at least you lot who have replied so far are being honest about it, AH style or not, nonetheless, being weight heavy is not necessarily a result of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Even if it is, who the hell are any of you to judge another person for that?

Trashbat

Darlughda wrote: »

I personally find the weight issue really hard to bring up with friends who are obese.

Do you need to bring it up with them? Surely they know already

I think weight discrimination is possibly more damaging, as there is a school of though in existence that a person's weight issues are their own fault, which allows for potential employers to justify their discrimination to themselves, thus legitimising it.

The fact is, an employer can discriminate all they want, provided they can mask that discrimination in other ways (ie "the candidate didnt meet the educational requirements") without having to explain themselves.

Its a much easier thing for an employer to think to themselves "that person is fat, thus lazy, thus no job for them" over "that person is black/gay/a woman, thus no job for them"

It certainly should be considered at a greater length when discussing equality issues.

Celly Smunt

Fcking salad dodgers

Aids By Google

Darlughda wrote: »

Well, at least you lot who have replied so far are being honest about it, AH style or not, nonetheless, being weight heavy is not necessarily a result of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Even if it is, who the hell are any of you to judge another person for that?

It is a God given right. Why can't people judge people?
I know one employer, not me, obviously, who wouldn't hire people who played for a footy team due to them always having training or injuries or a match.

Darlughda

See I'm as bad as anyone else I had to thank the salad dodgers post because, yes I laughed. Not denying it and no one else is here which is a bit of a relief from the usual PC talk and posting.

Nonetheless, am thinking are fat people the new legitimate target for any kind of discrimination?

mikom

Darlughda wrote: »

Nonetheless, am thinking are fat people the new legitimate target for any kind of discrimination?

Only if they are travellers.

Dudess

Depends on the job requirements. I know there's the health implications but an overweight person who's fairly young is highly unlikely to drop dead. Are they more likely to be out ill a lot? I don't know - not much more than e.g. an asthmatic I would have thought...

stovelid

Speaking for my industry, if they pass over good but overweight candidates for people based on physical appearance, I'm not sure I'd trust their judgement or the colleagues they may have hired up to that point.

The_Minister

Meh.

People are frequently overweight due to underlying medical or psychological issues, but tbh people naturally judge on appearance.

RMD

Trashbat wrote: »

I think weight discrimination is possibly more damaging, as there is a school of though in existence that a person's weight issues are their own fault, which allows for potential employers to justify their discrimination to themselves, thus legitimising it.

If it's not their fault then who's is it? I never made them shove food down their throat while refusing them the right to exercise.

Millicent

Aids By Google wrote: »

It is a God given right. Why can't people judge people?
I know one employer, not me, obviously, who wouldn't hire people who played for a footy team due to them always having training or injuries or a match.

What?! No it's not! The bible specifically says not to judge!

Millicent

RMD wrote: »

If it's not their fault then who's is it? I never made them shove food down their throat while refusing them the right to exercise.

TBH, there's a lot of things which can influence weight. Certain illnesses, depression and other psychological conditions, childbirth, a busy lifestyle, low income etc. etc. etc. Or maybe they just enjoy their food? Nothing wrong with that IMO unless they are seriously overweight and putting their health at risk.

Dudess

RMD wrote: »

If it's not their fault then who's is it?

They could have been fed the wrong foods and too much of them as a child by well-meaning or lazy parents. In the case of extremely overweight people, I'd imagine this is quite likely.

Run_to_da_hills

It would depend on the job

A fat person would have a much better chance of getting a job as a Santa Claus in a department store than a skinny guy.

Swings and rooundabouts.

RMD

The_Minister wrote: »

Meh.

People are frequently overweight due to underlying medical or psychological issues, but tbh people naturally judge on appearance.

I'd put it down as a low minority in todays age of fast food and lazyness. Out of my "fat" friends they're all just lazy, no medical condition causing it.

Dudess wrote: »

They could have been fed the wrong foods and too much of them as a child by well-meaning or lazy parents. In the case of extremely overweight people, I'd imagine this is quite likely.

Yes true, but once they reach adulthood I don't consider that as an excuse anymore as they have the power to change it. If they don't, well that's just lazy.

Millicent wrote: »

TBH, there's a lot of things which can influence weight. Certain illnesses, depression and other psychological conditions, childbirth, a busy lifestyle, low income etc. etc. etc. Or maybe they just enjoy their food? Nothing wrong with that IMO unless they are seriously overweight and putting their health at risk.

How does low income effect weight? Very few of those above I consider a valid reason, all you've thought about there is trying to fit in some exercise as a solution. The real solution to weight management is eating healthy, which is often also cheaper. Eat healthy and you wont gain fat, eat poorly while exercising and you'll see little difference.

Suppose we should clarify this. Are we talking stocky fat or obese fat?

Dudess

RMD wrote: »

Yes true, but once they reach adulthood I don't consider that as an excuse anymore as they have the power to change it. If they don't, well that's just lazy.

Being e.g. a 25-stone woman and having to lose 15 stone must be one of the most difficult things a person can do - can you even imagine how hard it would be? It wouldn't be simply lazy to struggle to achieve this... It would take years and years, much of which the person would still be fat.

Pride Fighter

If a private company was paying for health insurance I'm sure they would want to be paying it for a thin, fit person rather than an overweight person.

starbelgrade

I worked with a guy once who was exremely obese. He slipped in the office once, cut his leg & gravy came out.

Millicent

RMD wrote: »

I
How does low income effect weight? Very few of those above I consider a valid reason, all you've thought about there is trying to fit in some exercise as a solution. The real solution to weight management is eating healthy, which is often also cheaper. Eat healthy and you wont gain fat, eat poorly while exercising and you'll see little difference.

Suppose we should clarify this. Are we talking stocky fat or obese fat?

Actually, low-income has been found to often have a direct correlation to weight problems, especially in the US. Families that can't afford to spend much on food will often go for cheaper alternatives which may be laced with unhealthy ingredients and additives.

And you really wouldn't classify psychological or physical illness as a valid reason? Seriously? You don't think that could maybe classified as a little bit arrogant and presumptuous?

Obese fat, I'm torn on. I was always very open-minded about it til I went to Florida and DisneyWorld. I was shocked. But then again, food addictions are real problems for some and who am I to judge?

mikom

starbelgrade wrote: »

I worked with a guy once who was exremely obese. He slipped in the office once, cut his leg & gravy came out.

Yo mammas so fat...... that she might suffer from heart problems later in life and should probably consult a dietician before any serious damage is done.

Darlughda

RMD wrote: »

I'd put it down as a low minority in todays age of fast food and lazyness. Out of my "fat" friends they're all just lazy, no medical condition causing it.

But no. Some people I know gain weight really easily while others dont regardless of lifestyle and eating habits. I'm not talking about someone who eats 3 takeaways a day not moving from the telly, but overweight people I know who try their best to eat healthily but are unfortunate enough to just gather weight from living the kind of lifestlye that I do and other people who are naturally slim do.

How does low income effect weight?

Easily. Burgers and chips and processed frozen foods from Aldi and LiDL cost a lot less than trying to feed a family from freshly sourced ingredients and organic stuff.

Suppose we should clarify this. Are we talking stocky fat or obese fat?

Well, according to the converstion I was eavesdropping on today, there is a certain weight level that is considered passable or ok but beyond that its a no-no for employers.
So, I dunno where that line begins.

yogy

The_Minister wrote: »

Meh.

People are frequently overweight due to underlying medical or psychological issues.

I would love to know what % of people are obese due to "underlying medical or psychological issues".

I would think it is a very small %. For those people who are obese due to some rare "medical issue" I have the utmost sympathy for.

For people who are overweight but show no effort to control it and eat ****e all day I have no sympathy for.

For people who are overweight and have children I have less sympathy for but sympathy for their kids knowing there's a good chance their mother/father won't reach old age..

Fat people who have fat kids upon whom they force their unhealthy lifestyle should have their kids taking off them and save them from a life of inflicted obesity, immobility, diabetes and premature death..

high horse

This thread just made me realise that I have no fat friends.... I'm not an equal opportunities friend!

GTE

This post is about the people who don’t have the genuine reasons for being overweight and just have stupid eating habits.

I'm overweight and it’s my fault.

If I lose a job because I’m too sweaty then it’s my own fault and may I fall into a depression filled with chicken nuggets.

It’s ridiculous to treat people like me as if they have something wrong with them that can’t be helped.

Indeed with some people they genuinely have reasons for being overweight, but in the shop I work in someone came in with her friend, said she was absolutely starving and got a mars bar, a bag of sweets, 2 bags of crisps, a bottle of coke (500ml), some chewy bars like Wham, fruit salad type things.

Right, you are starving. We have a lovely selection of filling chicken salad sandwiches in the fridge next to you.

I don’t mind if I’m judged on my appearance because if I get put down it’s my own damn fault. I admit that makes it harder for the people with genuine reasons but I would imagine that would be included in any job application under the heath heading?

starbelgrade

mikom wrote: »

Yo mammas so fat...... that she might suffer from heart problems later in life and should probably consult a dietician before any serious damage is done.

She went to a dietician & was given diet pills. I keep telling her that they won't work if she dips them in mayonaisse.

RMD

Millicent wrote: »

Actually, low-income has been found to often have a direct correlation to weight problems, especially in the US. Families that can't afford to spend much on food will often go for cheaper alternatives which may be laced with unhealthy ingredients and additives.

And you really wouldn't classify psychological or physical illness as a valid reason? Seriously? You don't think that could maybe classified as a little bit arrogant and presumptuous?

Obese fat, I'm torn on. I was always very open-minded about it til I went to Florida and DisneyWorld. I was shocked. But then again, food addictions are real problems for some and who am I to judge?

Should have made my response clearer in hindsight.

1) Yes there is a link between low-income households and weight problems but from personal experience (growing up in a working class area) that's to do with little care for what their eating or little knowledge of what they're eating. A couple of chicken fillets and value bag of Tescos pasta will be cheaper than most other "cheap" solutions, with a portion of vegetables on the side such as carrots, potatoes or broccoli you've a well balanced meal that cost less than many other solutions. There is many other healthy cheap alternatives.

2) I would certainly consider them a valid reason. Although on the physical side, I'd give it much less leeway unless it was a serious condition preventing all forms of exercise. I've noticed quite a few "obese" people using physical "conditions" as an excuse to avoid exercise when there is many solutions available.

3) I don't think less of a person for having a few extra pounds. What I don't applaud though is those are "fat" or "obese" enough to a point where it limits what they can do in life and they don't have the willpower to change it for their own quality of life and their future health. If I was an employer and came across a candidate who was obese without what I'd consider a valid excuse, they'd certainly go down in my books.