Why don't fat people take responsibility for BEING FAT?

Question

Someone on this message board equated making fun of fat people with racism, sexism, or homophobia.
No, no, NO! With racism--first of all, being any given race is not a bad thing. Second, no one chooses their race.

But, no one can honestly disagree that being overweight is bad.
By very definition of the word, this person is OVERweight.
It looks terrible, and it's unhealthy.

And yes, with very few exceptions, if you're fat, it IS your fault. People with some rare glandular problem may be powerless to avoid obesity, but 99% of fat people ARE fat because they have a disgusting, undisciplined diet and they get little or no exercise.
Fact.

If you are fat and you drastically alter your diet (cut out the junk food, for a start) and exercise even moderately (and no, taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work is NOT exercise!), you WILL lose weight. Fact. Simple fact.

I think it is okay to make fun of fat people--maybe it'll motivate them to lose this disgusting flab!

Biblio, no I wouldn't make fun of someone who's mentally ill--they have no control over it, they didn't make that happen. Don't equate mental illness with obesity.
They simply are not the same.

Some of the responses are so predictable--if ANYONE is held accountable in any way, they are so defensive. I suppose we live in an 'anything goes' world nowadays, right?

And yes, everyone has time to exercise and plan a proper diet. I work a lot, I'm married, I have responsibilities--I MAKE time to do what SHOULD be done. Instead of watching some bad sitcom, why not take that 30 minutes and, say, jog, work out, plan healthier meals, etc.? Not having time isn't a valid excuse.

I don't make just make fun of someone who's overweight--I have a good deal of respect for overweight people who I see are DOING something about it--if I see a big lady jogging, for example, hey, at least she's fighting it!
Blobs who simply sit and eat junk food and whine about fat-ism deserve to be mocked!

Tiny22673, if I off myself, will that constitute as 'saving food' as you'll undoubtedly eat me? Are you that hungry?

Most of you are missing the point! I don't randomly walk down the street and shout "Hey fatty! Lose some weight, will you?" If you are fat, that's your deal. Keep it to yourself. Fine. I may not think it's attractive or sensible, but I won't harrass you for it.
That's not the issue in question. No, what I am concerned with: fat people who complain that they are an "oppressed minority", when the truth is, they AREN'T. Weight largely IS a matter of choice. Being made fun of for being fat is NOT evenly REMOTELY on the same level as racism or sexism, and you know that very well!

Answer 1

YOU make a really good point!

I agree with you 100%

I have seen people that lost as many as 30lbs by cutting soda and refined carbs. alone!

Fat people, here is my advice: Join a gym and change your lifestyle! you know that you are fat because of your sedentary lifestyle and your unnatural love for food! LOL!

Don't believe me? go live in a third world country!

The sooner you accept this fact, the faster you will lose weight

Answer 2

Being overweight is not always a "matter of choice."
No one I know, including me, ever woke up and said "I want to be fat." I gained a lot of weight on medication. I do eat moderately and work out but I am still overweight.
People like you, who have no compassion, make the world a horrible place to live in. By using hate words like "disgusting" and "terrible" and mocking small efforts like taking the stairs, you are just being a jerk.
Then again, how does that old saying go? I can lose weight, but you'll still be a jerk.

Answer 3

Although the facts are there, I don't see a reason why hurt someone's self esteem. There is more to it than glands and habits for many fat people. If you really want to motivate someone to do anything good for their lives (lose weight, quit smoking, etc...) you need to take a different approach.

Answer 4

no disgusting is wiping your butt with your hand like people in the middle east,second i like being fat! I'm not a blob just overweight at 5-10 and 285, i don't get made fun of very much because I'm normally allot bigger than the guy that would be making fun of me,i am fat by choose, i do not live for other peoples opinions of me. i do however smoke ,have an undisciplined diet and I get little exercise ,,,unless its summer.I am only planning to live once so I'm enjoying it, i may be cutting my life shorter but who really wants to live in a nursing home anyway?! There was i time when blacks were not liked here for more than slaves you know. and yes i know what your thinking that wasn't there choice true but many many rich people offered to take them back to Africa and almost no one went.... fat people are just the new "blacks" a minority and we are hear to stay and our numbers and our guts are growing...............i have a dream!!!

Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring - when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children - fat men and thin men, - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old fat spiritual: "Fat at last! Fat at last! Thank God Almighty, we are fat at last!"

Answer 5

Uhm. Okay, thanks. First of all, a lot of the reasons for obesity is psychological problems. People like YOU telling us we're fat, isn't going to "motivate" us to lose weight. If you wanted to help, you would be helping in a positive way.

Second, if you've never been fat, then you don't know what it's like. It's hard to lose weight. Also, not only are glandular problems the cause of obesity. Problems with metabolism (even some skinny people have problems with metabolism, but it really is a problem) and genetics can be a cause for obesity. For some people, losing weight is REALLY difficult. Especially for women.

The last thing I want to say is, you think that bone-thin girls are pretty because the MEDIA tells you it is. Why has "having a little meat on her bones" become a bad thing. No, I don't mean humungous or grossly overweight. I mean, what about hte girls that are just a little chubbier? Why is it not okay anymore? You are part of the reason people are fat.

Answer 6

Sure, I do.

But there are a lot of things that influence obesity. More and more science is coming out with answers. Hormones that tell you when you're full isn't working in some people. A virus may have some effect on obesity. A condition called pickwick syndrome keeps folks from breathing right at night, and it affects metabolism. And of course there are genetic factors.

It's not as satisfying as my admitting that I eat pizza and junk food every day & don't exercise. But there are medical conditions affecting most obese folks, just hard to pinpoint them & provide treatment.

I'm really fat. Always have been. I eat right, and don't eat pizza & junk food. I exercise and walk everywhere. At 41 I was diagnosed as having SEVERE pickwick syndrome. I'd pay a million bucks to have heard about it 20 years ago.

But if making fun of fat people makes you feel better about yourself, I'd hate to deprive you of it.

Answer 7

I know you think that everyone over weight just lay around eating big macs but for some people it's genetics or depression who knows the reasons. The fact is it is very hard to lose weight and when people make you feel bad about yourself it tends to just make it even harder as food sometimes becomes their comfort like drugs to an addict. why would it be so hard to just except people as they are...at what level would my weight or anyone Else's have any impact on your life? My daughters stepmother of 17 yrs tries everything to loose her weight and she just couldn't do it for what ever reason. On Oct. 12 Th 2006 she had a lap band procedure to help with her weight lose. on Oct16 2006 she died from complications. She was just 42 yrs old and left behind a 7 yr old son and my 20 yr old daughter who loved her like a mother. To think people would be willing to die to lose weight always baffled me until I read your question/comment. Look for the beauty inside because at the end of the day that's all that matters. You need to grow up and think before writing things like this. Or do you want to hurt people?

Answer 8

That may be true, but making fun of obese people does NOT motivate them. It usually only makes them angry and depressed, which will cause them to search for what comforts them - usually food! And overeating does become an addiction after a while. True that doesn't excuse the lack of a healthy life style, but most of the overweight people I know are fully aware of their problem and do take steps to get themselves in shape. They don't need your kind of motivation! And though I'm honestly glad you're healthy now; who knows - one day, something may arise and you might find yourself struggling "to lose this disgusting flab" yourself.

Answer 9

I just want to thank all the people here that are supporting the overweight people with their answers because I'm overweight myself and I find it hard to lose weight. I try many things but I have a hard time. And I do take responsibility for my weight.

Answer 10

You are wrong.

It isn't OK to make fun of fat people.

What would be OK would be for you to mind your own *&%$#@* business.

There's this strange idea floating around that everyone has the right to try to force everyone else to do and be everything that they want them to do and be.

There's also the idea that each person exists solely for the visual pleasure of others, and that if you aren't what that person wants to look at, there's something wrong with you.

On the contrary, there's something wrong with the control freaks who think they have the right and should have to power to remake everyone else into what they want them to be.

Knock it off.

There are things about you I find objectionable (this post, which is all I know of you), but I don't want to try to force you to change.

I just wish you'd keep it to yourself.

My body is my business, not yours. Believe me, if we were ever to meet, I would not try to force myself on you.

You may be under the delusion that you are perfect in every way, but you are wrong.

You are deeply flawed, as you lack the most basic attribute of the Human Being.

I'm not telling you that you should try to become an actual Human Being, as that is your business. You don't want to take responsibility for your lack of human decency. Fine.

I'm just asking you to keep it to yourself.

The actual humans among us don't want to hear about it any more. We hear about it all the time.

Answer 11

I am disgusted by your question! I agree that yes I am overweight because I won't make the best food choices and I don't exercise enough. BUT, that gives you no right to make fun of an overweight person!! It wont' motivate them to lose and it's not always as easy as 1, 2, 3. It takes work and when people like you make fun of them it just brings them down and discourages them. Shame of you!!! We at least have the opportunity to lose weight, too bad for you - you can't lose your bad attitude and idiotic thoughts!