I am overweight because I eat too much fried chicken, I drink too much beer and I exercise too little.?

Question

I wasn't "born this way." I'm not "weight-challenged." I'm not a victim of brewers in Munich or the importers who mercilessly push their products. I'm not "disadvantage" or "less-fortunate" than people who work out more often and look more fit. Nobody can say "there but for the Grace of God go I."

This is true of all overweight people.

Most "low-income people", statistically, are just starting out and will one day be middle-income or high-income.

Some are chronically low-income people - just the way I'm chronically overweight.

At least with respect to those who were born here and got free education through the 12th grade, they are the product of their own decisions, their own action - or, more accurately, inaction. They are not victims. They are not "less fortunate."

If I can be honest about myself, why can't we all be honest about them?

Answer 1

In terms of equal opportunity in education you are wrong.

Sometimes, even if you are the best in your school, you fall short because of extracurricular activities. Most inner city schools have no such activities.

Example, you may miss out on an Ivy League School - you will still get into a good school, but the difference between Rutgers and Princeton is about $75,000 in first year after graduation salary.


But generally speaking it is all about individual commitment.


As for the chicken thing, if all you can afford to feed you family is food that is loaded in Saturated Fat - that sucks.

Answer 2

I was agreeing with you until you got to the part "This is true of all overweight people". Generalization usually shows one doesn't know what he is talking about.

In my family there is a condition called metabolic syndrome. It is hereditary. One who has this condidtion is heading toward diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and high colesterol and weight gain. Even if they eat very little and excercise they gain. It is the nature of the condition. They can't help it without medication. Sometimes the medication allows for weight loss and sometimes more like stabilization of weight so one doesn't gain more.

So be careful in your assumption that all weight gain is self inflicted and caused by a lifestyle such as you described.

Is someone as I described more fortunate, less fortunate, or about the same as you are? Perhaps you don't know their economic statis and thus have no idea. By the way people who are overweight are descriminated against in many ways. People often don't think about it but it happens all the time.

Because you are overweight you must be the laziest thing on earth. Are you? Probably not. But that is often the perception.

Yours is self inflicted and can be treated someone else may not be easilly treated if at all, thus they remain heavey and thought of as lazy when they are not.

So, a word of advice to you and everyone else; make sure your mind is in gear before you engage your mouth.

Answer 3

People are born into a genetic range of how much influence they can easily have over their metabolism.. for some 2000 calories a day may be way too much.. also some people have a thyroid problem.. in which case they have 0 control over their weight... but yes, many could control their weight.. but those that can, like you said, aren't influenced at all by the world around them.. so lets roll with that assessment

People in a low income DO have to work with the influences of the world around them... what if they have kids to support and can't go to college.. what if they just aren't bright enough to move up to better jobs (going back to genetics) or what if they have a learning disability or mild brain damage (as so many of our troops do now). This issue is not black and white like you would like to think it is.. we actually live in the gray.. and their is no way around it.

Answer 4

There are medical reasons for being over weight however they are the exception not the rule.

We are in part victims of circumstance, however for the most part a direct result of the choices we make. If a negligent parent beings a child into this world and teaches it nothing of the value of money, teaches it to lie, teaches it to steal, deprives it of education, that child is most likely not going to grow up to be a productive member of society. However again, that is the exception, not the rule.

For the most part there is a massive lack of accountability in this nation. Venture over to law and ethics for a moment, you will surely find a who can I sue for my own stupidity question. It is aggravating, it is discouraging, however at the same point it is so distinctly American.

However we must remain silent, it have always found it trouble some that when I was a smoker, a person could publicly attack me for having a cigarette, regardless of if I was in the smoking section. However if I were to walk into a McDonald's and tell a morbidly obese person that they should not be eating that second Double Big Mac I would most likely get my *** kicked. We have to adhere to this arbitrary system of social graces and niceties. By pointing out differences we set up a caste system in society that only serves to segregate us.

Answer 5

It's easier for them to just live off "fortunate" peoples money!

I didn't have my college career paid for... I worked 30 hours serving table for 4 years and paid all my bills, paid for my car, my school, my rent, my bills!!! My parents made too much money for me to qualify for any loans.. I was given the standard loan that everyone is entitled to!

So it is a personal decision!!! Stop being lazy GET A JOB

I was not born fortunate... I'm a hard worker!! I worked for everything I have...!!!

Answer 6

what a crock of s..t you are overwight be cause you are a glutten you over ear and sit around doing nothing get up off you a.. and take care of yourselk low income has nothing to do with this you can eat fruit and veggies fish and broiled chicken and loose lots of weight get out there and make youself walk you are lazy and do not feel sorry for you at all this is your doing fix it fatboy

Answer 7

True, I like beer alot and now I have a slight beer-belly. Its my own doing. But of course in our society, its always someone else fault.

Although, I do think the government cheese is really fattening, but that is still their own fault for not takinbg care of themselves enough to be able to buy healthy foods.

Answer 8

Because no matter what some people, not all, do not want to blame themselves for their problems.
I used to smoke. Cigarette advertising never attracted me, but I had friends who smoked. I chose to smoke, and later I chose to quit.
Any health problems I have because of my 5 years of smoking are my own fault. No the cigarette company's fault.

Answer 9

You are speaking of cause and effect. Once I judge your weight as a character flaw, making you somehow below me, I have crossed the line into prejudice.

Answer 10

Thank you for your honesty. If more people were honest about themselves the world would be a much better place.