How do you convince a heavy, fat person to be a vegetarian?

Answer 1

Good question. I'm trying to devise a plan to help my overweight family to ease into a veggie lifestyle...or at least get them to try it a few days per week.
I've tried education and that didn't work. I've tried persuasion and that didn't work. (My testimonials, although amazing, apparently didn't do much for them). I've made myself available to help them plan a healthy menu for an entire week and even offered to go grocery shopping with them and that didn't help. I was not judgmental or cruel in any of my offers or suggestions....they are just not receptive to it.
I've been at this for months and the one thing I'm sure of is this: they have to want to change. If they're not as into as you are, it's a sign. I've not been able to get anywhere with them and it's because they don't want to make changes that will save their lives. It's their loss.

Answer 2

I have been vegetarian for 17 years, and I am all for vegetarianism. However, you cannot judge someone by how heavy they are. There are medical conditions that make a person heavy no matter how they eat. Ever heard of Cushing's syndrome? Well, if not then you should stop right there. I have been vegetarian for 17 years, and in Sept 2006 I had crept up to a grand 206 lbs (I'm 5'3" tall). My diet was pretty bad, and my metabolism is worse. People always judged me (I associate with health nuts) by how I looked, and I'm sure they wrote me off as a junk food junkie or something. To a degree, I didn't eat the right foods, but neither did I eat ALOT of what I did eat. My metabolism and thyroid conditions make it almost impossible for me to lose weight. I'm down to 140 lbs now, but I have been living on 500 calories and 2 hours of exercise a day. I comfort myself with the fact that it is only temporary, once I get down where I want to be, I can maintain much easier than I can now lose, and I can eat healthier than I am now. People keep telling me I'm looking so good, and doing so well. I know they're thinking I've finally got myself straight. THey have no idea how much healthier my diet was BEFORE I started losing all this weight. They have know idea the hell I've been going through fighting the start of bulemia. I know what I'm doign now isn't healthy, but I just couldn't take it anymore., and I've tried everything. The extremes I'm going to are the only thing that makes me lose weight. Period.

So.. you cannot judge by appearance. And a vegetarian can be just as heavy as a non-veg. I sure was.

Answer 3

The persons weight has nothing to do with it. If make a big deal about their weight they won't listen to much of what you have to say in the first place.

The best way to convince someone your lifestyle is a good idea is to be a kind, loving person and lead by example.
Calling a person fat can hurt their feelings. If you do that then why should they listen to anything you say. It maybe be true that they need to lose weight, but is for them to decide and handle in their own way. if you needed to do something would you listen to a friend who is nice to you and supportive, or someone who called you names?

There are a lot of fat people who are vegetarians. Susan Powter (diet guru) for example, was a vegetarian long before she lost any weight.

There are a lot more factors to being overweight than just the food you are putting your mouth, so simply switching to a vegetarian diet might not be of any help at all.

You need to rethink where you are coming from, and be supportive of this person if you want to be their friend. If you don't want to do that, then butt out, it's not your place to tell them how to live their life, especially if you don't care enough about them to be a real friend 1st.

Answer 4

First of all, becoming a vegetarian does not necessarily help one become thin. Of course, becoming a vegetarian is good for heart health. Do not push this person to become a vegetarian, it is probably hard for them. Try to convince them to diet and exercise. Sometimes people that are heavy, suffer from depression, and food is their consolation, so be patient and explain the benefits of health lifestyle.

Answer 5

I think that you are saying that a vegetarian lifestyle is more healthy, but there are alot of bad food choices you can make without eating meat. Howard Stern's family had an intervention for him. But the only way they are going to lose wait if it is their choice. I personally think that weight watchers is the best way to shed the extra pounds. It teaches portion control. You can eat whatever you want but you have a smaller portion. You can eat as many veggies as you want. My husband is doing it and lost 90lbs. He pays $42 a month. They have a site online so he can talk to other men on WW and he goes to a meeting once a week. But don't pressure your friend. Maybe you could join and ask her to join with you for support. It doesn't matter if you need to lose 10 or 100 lbs WW will help you just the same. Good Luck!

Answer 6

#1 recommendation: Turn them on to raw food dishes, such as Freddie's Rainbow Salad (created by yours truly) and raw chocolate. Keep the bread and fast food out of the house by shopping with a supportive friend or family member. One can be vegetarian and still be unhealthy, so stick to as much raw fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts, preferably organic, as possible.

I don't know about showing a person horror videos of the mass-production of animals, since that horror tends to fade fast. There's also the controversial use of showing images of a "skin apron," which is the fat removed from the chest and abdomen during a surgery and photographed on a table. Sometimes people "wake up" from such images.

But never be judgemental! One person's obesity is another person's alcoholism is another person's anger issues, etc.

Perhaps such a person should be encouraged to start a vegetable garden (at home or at an urban pea-patch-type communal garden), which not only supplies organic foods and herbs, but keeps one out of the Fridge and cupboards and keeps you active, too!

Frederic Kahler

Answer 7

"how do you convince a heavy,fat person to be a vegetarian?"
seriously?? You don't!! thats a decision/choice people need to make on their own!
and are you thinking that if you get this person off of meat, he/she won't be so "fat" anymore? doesn't work that way...

Answer 8

Cookies, cakes, chips and deep-fried cheese are all vegetarian.

If you are just one of those buttheads who dislikes overweight people, then leave this person alone to make his/her own decisions.

If this person has reached a point where you fear for his/her health and happiness. Sit him down and let him know you care and are worried. Agree to power walk/exercise with him every day or every other day. Encourage him to see a nutritionist or someone who can help him get the confidence and strength to start making healthy choices and lose weight.

There is a new workout place called Curves that is for overweight people who feel too embarrassed or uncomfortable to go to regular gyms. All it takes is a half hour a day.
:)

Answer 9

dude, push better health choices and not vegetarianism per se. a person has a right to choose his or her diet. and there is no one diet for everyone. vegetarianism isnt the only way to health. push exercise and talk to the person about cholesterol levels and diabetes and all that, but dont be flat out "the way to fix you is vegetarianism." thats being on the high horse

Answer 10

A fat person is not necessary to be a non-vegetarian. Just check up before proceeding. If he is a vegetarian, then you will be wasting your time.

If he is a non-vegetarian, just tell him he has to take more vegetarian foods, else his fat may increase and he may become immobile.