Why do some people think it's OK to treat obese people poorly?

Question

Nowadays, people will take one look at someone that's not "normal" and start judging them. For obese people, the general stereotypes are that obese people are incompetent and they only care about food. Even on television, obese people are made the subject of many jokes and obese/overweight characters are not taken seriously with few exceptions.

Answer 1

not just obese people. people of different race, religion, people who are "stupid" or short or skinny. People love treating other people badly because they are different from themselves.

Answer 2

It is beyond a matter of "manners" or just respecting another’s individuality... this is the last, socially acceptable area where people can be discriminated against without any negative consequences occurring to those individuals who feel the need to make negative and hurtful comments. If someone makes a racial joke or a joke against a mentally or physically handicapped person or makes a derogatory comment about someone's sexual orientation, they can be brought into a court of law and suffer monetary or even penal consequences. But if it's against an obese person, then (1) nothing happens to the individual doing the tormenting, and (2) everyone blames the obese person because they are that way because want to be this way! How ignorant it that?? There are many people who are obese through medical or genetic reasons. There is a man who is 5'7", weighs approx. 250 pounds and participates in a decathlon every year! Yet, because of his body type and genetic makeup, he appears obese (especially by today's modern, non-Rubenesque standards)... most people who do not know him would categorize him as lazy and slovenly simple because he is genetically predisposed to a certain body-type. Yet, he is healthy and can accomplish, physically, what most slim people cannot.

Answer 3

I don't think that it's OK to treat obese people poorly, nor do I think that the people who treat them that way think that it is OK. Simply put, obese people make easy targets, because unless they have a thyroid problem or some other medical condition that makes their metabolism slow and therefor they store most of their food intake, their state of health does give clues that they are not very good at or at least not motivated to take care of themselves in a very necessary way, which leads you to believe that they have a very weak will and that they see themselves or act like victims. The advantage of picking on someone in this state of mind is that they will likely not fight back and/or already feel defeated so there is less danger of an obese target making a fool out of the aggressor. Personally, I say i hope you stay healthy, but if you are comfortable being fat then go to town on that hogie my friend! =P

Answer 4

Get over yourself! Obese people , for the most part, can control if they are fat or not. The media, and public in general also make fun of short people, to tall people, Mexican people, black people, (do I need to continue)? If you don't like the way you are treated step away from the oreos. Others cannot change what about theme makes them a target. You are at an advantage in that aspect. Just so you know If I ever see you at Wal-Mart in the motorized buggy because you are too big to walk around the store with out getting winded, I will give you that evil look. Save the pity for those that actually deserve it.

Answer 5

It's a general thing build in human to judge things or people that are different than avaredge. It makes their own insecurities go invisible and put the attention of their own being. Its not only obesed ppl. I am a muslim and i also have same "problem" ppl like to talk about you and feel like they have the right to interfere with someone elses life. Just live and let live... let everybody do what he wants.

Answer 6

Hmmm. Who does the grocery procuring? who's bringing in those television dinners, fried meals, and junk? Your hubby'll ought to motel to ingesting greens in case you do no longer purchase something ;-) Frankly, "he gets mad" isn't a sturdy reason in my eyes. this is extra significant, your youngster's well being, or your husband having to stand the shown fact that he's featuring an risky life sort to his youngster? Grandma, i'm sorry, yet you're to no longer feed food except it truly is healthful. i'm sorry which you will no longer do some thing which you savor, yet my youngster's well being is a lot extra significant to me than your delight. practice your baby moderation. Ice cream, fried meals, television dinners are ok now and then. tell your husband he's to no longer voice any negativity approximately healthful food regardless of what he thinks, and additionally then you get to be the "Oh, greens are yummy" individual and lead by making use of occasion.

Answer 7

I do not think poorly of obese people that have a true medical condition causing the issue. I think VERY poorly of the 300 pounder I see stuffing her third Big Mac down her throat and causing the cost of MY health insurance to skyrocket because they have no self control or self-respect.

Answer 8

I am certainly not qualified to answer this question, for that you would need a psychologist.

That said, obese and depression generally speaking go hand in hand http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/PTO-20030527-000010.html depressed people tend to portray themselves in a negative manner, bullies tend to pick on people they see as vulnerable and anybody in this category would be fair game to them.


I would like to add a comment on
"people will take one look at someone that's not "normal" and start"

abnormal: Not typical, usual, or regular; not normal; deviant.

according to www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US.shtml
"Currently, 64.5 percent of US adults, age 20 years and older, are overweight and 30.5 percent are obese." if this trend continues soon those that are not obese will be the abnormal ones...

Answer 9

Maybe it is because of the perception that all obese people could change their body if they wanted to.
Those who are critical of overweight people can sometimes forget that a bigger person can have a higher fitness level than someone smaller.

Answer 10

Because obese people seem weak to other "normal" people. They don't have self control, they can't discipline themselves, they are lazy, the list goes on. Whether that's true or not, they seem to enbody everything we are taught to dislike.
And, in this day and age of low self-esteem, it's easy to pick on somebody who's obviously less superior to you. Makes a person feel good right?

Answer 11

I don't understand it either. And if you'll notice, alot of times the person who is making the comments isn't so slim that they have any room to talk. I guess it's wrong of me to do this, but when I hear someone making comments like that, I usually say well you're not so slim yourself. That usually shuts them right up. lol