What is your first thought typically when you see an obese person?

Question

I'm just interested to know. I know some fat people and when they go out in public, other people tend to laugh and point at them and make fun. What is your reaction?

Answer 1

First of all, after reading all the answers before me, it's funny how alot of people refer to the obese person as "she"...do men not get overweight? This is DEFINITELY a stereotype that has to change. Just as much as women are forwned upon for being overweight, guys should be as well.....

I think the attitude of laughing at obese people is most common with the younger generation. Young adults these days are much more cruel than when I was growing up. It's a little strange because with every new generation comes new problems and I find that the latest "of-age" generation has been so desensitized to almost everything on a social front that nothing is taboo anymore. I mean, when I was growing up, someone who was really, really overweight/obese was hardly outwardly mocked. Most of the jokes were private. I find these days these people feel they are entitled to belittle others...no matter what the problem is.

When it comes down to it, we don't know what the obese person's story is....they could have a serious glandular disorder causing severe weight gain, they could have a hormone problem, they could have had steroid injected surgical therapy causing severe weight gain, they could have severe emotional eating disorder (funny how an anorexic person is never made fun of, but an over eater is.) or they simply could just love to eat.

When I first see an overweight person/obese person I tend to feel sorry for them. I know very well they don't care for my pity, but my pity stems from wanting to know more and wanting to help. It's sooooooo easy to become healthy, it's soooo easy to avoid the complications and diseases of being overweight that my first instinct makes me want to sit with them and give them some simple, easy-to-follow advice. I saw a lot of suffering in some people at the hand of Type 2 Diabetes which is totally avoidable and it makes me sad that people don't take these things seriously.

52% of the population is considered overweight. Obesity among children is rising at an alarming rate. It's funny because we fight our hardest to keep from importing poultry and beef from other countries JUST INCASE there's any diseases....and even if there were diseases, the chances of catching any of them are sooooooo slim - yet we've become a "biggie size" society and no one thinks that's as dangerous as catching the "overhyped" birdflu.

You can easily gain 5 lbs in a week by eating at a fast food restaurant daily.

You can only, really, realistically catch bird flu if you either a)live with many birds, usually in an unsanitary environment where feces and waste are all over or b)eat the feathers and poop from an infected bird.

The difference between obesity and bird flu (if infected) is that obesity kills you slowly and painfully. Bird flu is more sympathetic and kills you quickly.

I think attitudes of people need to change, including those who are overweight. Obesity should be treated as serious a disease as cancer or alzheimers or anything else to truly make a change, and at the end of it all weightloss should be a goal for health reasons as opposed to shallow ideals of beauty.

*Sorry for the rant, I tend to be long winded*

=)

Answer 2

The first thing I think is, "how disgusting". The second thing is, "how sad". Then I feel anger towards them for getting that way and staying that way. The I wonder "what could have caused this". So all these thoughts and feelings are rushing around me all at once. I never laugh as I don't see anything funny about obesity at all, never have even in my super slim days. For the life of me, I don't see how anyone can find enjoyment in making fun of someone else, for whatever the reason. That's cruel.
Oh, by the way, I'm overweight. Have been dieting and having success...... so far. Still have a long way to go.

Answer 3

stop eating chips.

Sometimes people are fat for medical reasons and theres not much they can do but the majority are just lazy and greedy. Its not rocket science is it - you stuff loads of food down your neck then you are going to get fat so why expect any sympathy. I love crisps takeaways chip etc etc but I eat things like that maybe once a week not 3 times a day.

I also wonder how they can carry on eating shite when they cant even get up a flight of stairs because they are so fat. surely as some point they must have realised they were putting on weight - it didnt just happen overnight - bang! I am fat theres nothing I can do.

Answer 4

I think that making fun of somebody that looks different is a good sign of single minded people.
In my case, I do not mind unless somebody is extremely fat. Then I wonder why that person suffers so much without finding anybody that could give her/him emotional support to be healthier and to feel better. I just wonder what is going on...but shape or weight have nothing to do with talent unless the performance is a Sumo fight...

Answer 5

i dont see no need to point and laugh...what am i a jack ***! i mean there are overweight people everywhere give me something that i havent see before and maybe i will point and laugh. Another thing i realized sometimes people are fat for a number of reasons that no one should laugh at and that is thyroid,surgery,diabetes, joint problems, having babies, genetic disorders where body dosent work right.

Answer 6

I feel bad for them. My mother and best friend both use to be over 350 pounds. My mom lost over 125 lbs the old fashion way of writing and counting everything which is really hard. My best friend lost 150 pounds by having gastric bypass surgery. That is no cup of tea either.

Answer 7

i have a negative impression of obese people which is hypocritical because i am one myself. i think it is just due to the stereotyping we all learn at a young age. I myself do not think i am disgusting or a slob in any way, i just have a slower metabolism and like to eat.

Answer 8

I wonder what EXACT day did it occur to them that maybe they were too far gone to give dieting a serious thought. I know we like to blame everything on genetics, but come on! Take some responsibility!!

Answer 9

My reaction?
I do feel bad for them, because it's partly their fault.
I'm a pound overweight, not by much, and I feel bad when people larger than me get picked on; it's mean and cruel, and nobody deserves that. I'm speaking from experience.

Answer 10

My first thought is I feel bad for them because of how difficult it must be physically for them to do everyday things like just getting out of bed and getting dressed. It's not easy for them.