What are your views on Overweight people?

Question

I'd just like to thank the great response i got from the anorexia subject. Now i'd like know people's views on being overweight. whether your a stone overweight or 20 stone overweight, how do you think the press and society treat people that are the complete opposite to being skinny? how do you feel as a person to be labelled as overweight? what would you class as being overweight? is a size 12-16 curvy or fat? would be very much appreciated if you could help :) xx

Answer 1

I am larger than a 16, but within reach. I have struggled with my weight most of my life. However, contrary to popular belief, I am very active and don't eat as much as skinny people. I am just not blessed with a great metabolism. I watch what I eat, my only downfall, which is a big one I have to admit is sweets. Most of the members of my family struggle with their weight but look favorably to very skinny people. Not a healthy outlook. It's one thing to long to be thin, but another to look on another set of problems as better. I think being too thin, and too fat are in essense the same problem - we both want to be "normal". However, you have normal people who aren't happy with themselves because of other issues, low self-esteen, depression, etc... I guess in the end it comes down to one thing, are you generally happy with who you are? If you are making an effort to make yourself healthy and succeeding that should be looked up upon, not down upon. Besides, I always say those that say mean things about other people generally are trying to shift the attention away from themselves and they have something to hide too. I looked best at a size 12-16 myself. That is where I'm opting to end up.

Answer 2

Having experienced both sides of the fence: being healthy and in shape most of my life, and overweight (up and down) the last 10 years, I can say that I feel better when I'm slimmer. However, it saddens me to realize and acknowledge that the general public does judge one on appearances. I have been treated differently since being on the roller-coaster of weight the last 10 years: when I'm smaller, people treat me much better; when I am larger, I am almost invisible. I have very supportive friends and some supportive family members, however, which makes a HUGE difference. My husband and I have known each other 19 years, and he is a hockey player (active and in shape), but wishes I would lose weight for health reasons. He is brutally honest with me about it, which I appreciate. I see both sides of the coin and prefer the slimmer "me". I think it's true that bad habits form, take hold, and it can be difficult to climb outside of the rut (especially when working in front of a computer all day, sitting). But regular diet and exercise are the key. There are no shortcuts. I have noticed that when I eat healthy (but eat what I want) and exercise, I become smaller. It seems logical and easy.... but it can be complicated, due to emotional factors associated with eating disorders. Society will always change its preferences. I could be considered Rubenesque at this point. I But I'd be happy to once again be the slim person I once was.

Answer 3

I'm not overweight myself and I am a size 10-12 on top and a size 12-14 on the bottom (UK sizes). I weigh just over 8 1/2 stone and am 5ft2. I was confused about the comment above by Moijesuis, as she contradicted herself, first saying a size 12 was okay if you were taller or have a larger build and then saying how size 10-12 was ideal and size 6-8 was too small. I don't like the idea that because I am short I have to be a size 8. I never have and never will be a size 8. Nor would I want to be less than a size 10 or bigger than a size 14.

I consider overweight to be a man with more than 25% body fat or a woman with more than 32% body fat. (Sarge above posted figures that were too far too low to be considered overweight).

HTH : )

Answer 4

The British media at the moment is attempting to make fat women feel better about themselves by labelling overweight women as "curvy". This will pass and the media will be back to condemning them again.
I'm not over weight at all. I eat food, then I burn it off by exericising or studying or just living a life. I look at my body as a machine. When it is sluggish, then I feed it things that produce more energy. When I feel my muscles going soft, I go to the gym and work out to make it stronger.
It is sad that so many people apply an emotional response to their bodies. The body is a vehicle which carries us around in life. It is there to be taken care of, like a car. You take care of it, it works. If you don't take care of it, then the body will show you what is wrong by an illness or being overweight for example.
It is, indeed, a complex subject that doesn't need to be.
How many times have you heard this: "Oh, I've been really good - I haven't eaten any puddings or sweets for days" or something along those lines. People go so far as to connect their personalities to what they eat! Food isn't good or bad. It's fuel. One can enjoy all sorts of foods with the understanding that there must be exercise or some sort of expenditure of energy after the intake of the food.
Ok, I'll stop now but this is a subject that could go on for a really long time.
Incidentally, I had a woman on the train say to me - after my bag accidentally knocked into her shoulder - "Hey, if you weren't so fat, you could get through the aisle". Ahem, I am a marathon runner and wear about a size 8 the last time I looked. It could be more, could be less. The point is, this poor woman was so obsessed with weight that she would lash out at a stranger because their bag touched her!
She isn't unique either. I challenge anyone to get through a meal in a restaurant with a group of women without hearing a run down of what is going into their bodies and whether or not it is "good or bad".
Oh, and if anyone knows a group of women who would rather talk about things other than themselves, then send them my way, I could be friends with them.

To Guinea: The mark of a sloppy listener is to use the phrase "he/she contradicted her/himself". Try not to use it.

Answer 5

My views on overweight people...... It depends how overweight they are. Nothing wrong with being a little chunky. On the other hand, people that are severely overweight can lose my respect entirely when I see them in McDonald's/Burger King etc. eating extremely large and unhealthy meals. Some people can eat somewhat poorly and still be in decent physical shape. But if you CAN'T eat like that and manage to stay fairly healthy, then face reality and stop eating that shi*!

And as you can see in these answers, people adjust their opinions to make themselves feel better about their own weight. Size 10-12 scrawny? This person must live in a city with MAMMOUTH size women. To me the difference between curvy and fat is this: curvy can run a mile in 9 minutes, fat needs 12 or more minutes to complete a mile (assuming the person has no injuries), if a mile can be completed at all. If you're a size 12 and you run an 8 minute mile, then no need to lose anything! But if you're huffing and puffing after jogging 2 minutes at a 10 minute mile pace, then you are fat.

Answer 6

I think being overweight can be seen by the press and society as unattractive. Quite often a woman who is moderately overweight is still attractive to most men, it is just when someone becomes clinically obese it is both unhealthy and unattractive.

I believe it is similar for males, and having reached a BMI of 31 in May last year I decided to do something about it. It is not the first time I have become what would be classified as obese, as opposed to just overweight. I have since May reduced my BMI to under 24 for the first time since 1988.

I think that fat is a personal issue, which should really be dealt with by yourself. It is you who has to live with the problem, and it is you who has the most control over your own obesity.

I don't really mind how I am labelled, as is what is inside that counts. If I feel healthy, and I look healthy, then I am healthy.

Answer 7

I think that people view it in two extremes. There are people who think that anyone over a size 8 is fat and should diet and there are those who think that anyone under a size 20 looks healthy. As a person that is 'overweight' I obviously see things differently from a person who is thinner. I would like to be thinner as I'm not healthy and it will damage my health, however the human body is designed to have fat on it and it is also unhealthy to be underweight. The press I think judge weight too harshly there is always a celeb on the front of a magazine who is wither described as looking like a skeleton or a whale, surely this isn't fair. People change shape all the time. As a nation we are too fat, but in the same way a lot of people look as overweight people exercising and laugh, why? I found myself being so paranoid when I brought a bike to try and exercise, that people would stare and laugh at the fat woman on a bike!

We are all far oo interested in how each other look and we should worry more about the health risks of the extreme ends of weight.

Answer 8

I'd never been more than 8 and half stone until the last 18 months when I put on weight due to a nightmare commute which meant I had to eat on the hoof all the time. I put on over a stone and I couldn't believe how easy it was to put on and how hard it was to shift.

I've lost it now but only because of health issues - I had a stomach op (unrelated to weight) and a chest infection which made me lose it but otherwise I would still be fighting it.

I think you can only realize what a struggle it is until you've been there. You can put it on in the blink of an eye but losing it is another matter.

Having said that once I realized I'd gone up a dress size I started trying to lose it and it at least stabilized and I lost a little bit on top through diet and exercise. I can't understand people who manage to get so obese it stops them from exercising and really affects their health - they should have noticed and at least stabilised their weight if not lost any.

Size 12-16 is fine for some people, if you have a large build or are tall. But I am five one and a small build so size 12 was terrible for me, really fat.

As far as the media, newspapers etc are usually okay, as are lower end women's magazines which tend to focus on losing weight. But high end women's mags, high end fashion outlets, US tv shows and movies are terrible as they show women who's figures are not normal for anyone over the age of 18 as normal for women in there thirties and forties which gives a totally unrealistic impression of what womens figures should be - it insidouslly gets into womens heads and they get the idea they should be a size 6-8 which is not normal for most women.

10 years ago size 12 was ideal but now even size 10 is starting to be seen as a bit big which is just plain wrong!!

Answer 9

First, I would just like to say that a size 12-16 definately doesn't necessarily make you fat - there are plenty of models in that size range. It depends completely on how healthy your lifestyle is. You can be a size 16 and be toned, healthy and look well but you can also be a size 16 who doesn't take care of themself and then not look healthy for it.

I would label a person as overweight, if they are considered to be medically overweight and they are harming themselves. Being a stone overweight is very different to being 20 stone overweight. Society doesn't really cater to people who are 20 stone overweight, whether you are going to the movies or on public transport. And unfortunately some people can be really cruel about it.

Answer 10

Actually, I have been impressed with the news lately because I have seen some heavier women presenting the news. I think society is starting to change a little bit there. I don't think you can go by sizes either. My niece wears an 18 women's, and there is not an ounce of fat on her. She is very tall, and has a large frame, but by no means fat. I have yoyo'd all my life. Up and down with weight. I think just like most folks. I never read your question on anorexia, so not sure of the responses there, but any weight issue, whether too much or too little is not a good thing. When I see either situation, I think about 'what is going on in their life?" I have a sister that weighs close to 300 lbs. She is not disgusting, she is a woman who has been through a lot of turmoil in her life. I would hope that no person should judge anybody unless they have walked in their shoes. And criticizing them is not a way to help them. There is something emotional or medical going on there.

Answer 11

to be honest...i dont think they change as a person only in looks...so the only thing that i change opinion about them is 'i hope they dont get a heart attack'
the press REALLY dont like those that are over weight...hell sure lindsay lohan was once deemed 'too skinny' (which she was) but then she got better and was looking lovely (and not so skinny) but yet a good healthy size and the press were saying that she needs to lose weight. This really annoys me. some people cant help being overweight....sometimes medicines affect them that make them gain weight.
12-16 is curvy in my opinion. its hard to judge what i think is overweight because it depends on the persons height....but realisticaly around 30 stone....maybe...i dont know i try not to look at people as being overweight cause if i was overweight i wouldnt want people to look at me and think 'o god she is so overweight' every time they saw me...

it was on the news on evening a young girl was going on a rollercoaster and she was told that she was (i quote) 'too fat to be on this ride,the bar wont close'. I was horrified to hear this as the young girl was infact not 'too fat'. I think society sucks at dealing with people who may be as you said 1 stone overweight.