We can't be thin if we want too.

Alternet, one of my favorite lefty news sources put out a wonderful article called One Big Fat Lie. The article essentially points out our dangerous obsession with dieting, while pointing that fat doesn't always mean unhealthy and that focusing on eating right and exercising is more important than the numbers on the scale. It is a nice and size friendly article.

The biggest problem with it comes after, the comments are unsupportive and downright mean.  I found it sad that the side that claims to be concerned so much for the welfare of people, are unsympathetic to fat people. 

Fat people live with prejudice every day.  We get poorer health care because either we can't get health coverage or our doctor blames everything on being fat.  We are targeted by drug companies and are experimented on with new diet pills and dangerous surgeries.   We are considered lesser beings, out of control, lazy, poor character, with no self control and diseased. 

Except in 3 cities and one state, we can be fired for being fat.  We have to pay extra for ugly clothing and most stores don't even carry our size.   We represent 50% of our population yet receive only 3% representation in TV and movies.  That 3% is often neurotic, out of control eater and is almost never the lead.   We try to exercise but are made fun of.

We are always told we could be thin if we wanted too.

We can't.  We are fat and that is who we are just like some people are thin, gay, black, old, young.  We cannot change who we are.

Fat and Proud,
Fat Chicks Rule
XXOO

Comments

[vargas]

I understand the issue about shopping for clothes. I wear a size 16 and I went shopping at a flea market, just browsing through cothes at one particular stall and the woma selling the clothes had the nerve to direct me to where the fat clothes section was and she even had the nerve to tell me that I couldn't wear the clothes that I was looking at.

Needless to say she didn't get my business.

[brneyedgrl80]

I agree completely. There are a lot or prejudices out there towards fat people, especially women.

I think one thing that should be mentioned is that some of that prejudice comes from fellow fat people. It's disheartening to hear some of the hateful and hurtful things that they say when you know that by directing it at you, they are really directing it at themselves.

[Anthony]

I agree to 99% of the post. However, it sounds like you've given up and thrown in the towel to lose weight. Don't!!!! Over the past 1.5 years, I've lost 80 pounds. I'm just trying to live longer.

[Andrew Milner]

Nobody came out of concentration camps with excuses for being over-weight: "I've got big bones", or "It's my glands". They were really skinny fellows. The non-voluntary hunger strike as we used to say in the old country. So let's cut the crap shall we. Consume less than you expend and you lose weight. Although I have to say, the correlation between getting in shape and reducing body weight is not totally linear.
If the ultimate goal of women is to pass on their genes to the next generation, the Caucasian race is facing decline. Compare the alternatives; fat, ugly, nagging White women or slim, pretty, subservient childlike Asian women. With the added bonus of healthier meals. If you can, compare the newsreaders of different countries. Generally, the further east you go, the easier on the eye. With CNN newsreaders and weather forecasters the ultimate pits, unless you like um fat, ugly and Caucasian. Work on your witty conversation would be my tip.

Here in Japan us late middle age boys are really spoilt. Less than half your age, model girl looks, model girl figure, tall, sassy, literally ten-a-penny, and trust me, English gentleman is flavour of the month. And with everyone so busy, you need three girl friends to get two dates a week. I imagine you white women console yourselves with the thought that Asian women even in their mid-twenties look and behave more like schoolgirls, and us boys are closet paedophiles. Well dream on if that thought consoles you. Guess we're so immature we just lap up that attention and flattery, with milady hanging on our every word. They all seem to have the “Girl Friend” manual off pat. The reality is we represent the "beam me up Scottie" escape from a banal, conformist society. Hence the throwaway line: “I’d never live here if I were Japanese.” Growing old disgracefully, that's what it's all about.

[Andy]

Although I'm not myself fat, it truly annoys me to read, hear or see negative output regarding fat people. I for one find ladies of a larger proportion both beautiful physically, and "on the whole" more interesting personalities. Perhaps the pre-occupation the "beatutiful" people have with their appearance stunts their emotional growth. There is nothing more attractive to me than a confident, intelligent large woman. She should rejoice in the fact that there's more of her to meet the eye and often more of her than meets the eye.

[Ana]

No no no no no....
While I agree that it is not right to discriminate against or make fun of large people, it is also not right to say that obesity is okay.

I work in the health care industry.

Heart disease, diabetes (and the long long list of associated complications), joint problems, back problems, even cancer, stroke, depression and infertility can be caused or exacerbated by large amounts of excess body fat.

I agree that throwing pills at people is not usually the answer. Most patients would benefit more from sensible eating (I'm not talking about a painful starvation diet) and regular excercise (I prefer Dance Dance Revolution, but whatever tickles your fancy).

I deal exclusively with diabetics, most of which are type 2. (Though not universal, most type 2 diabetics under 60 are significantly overweight) Those who take charge and adopt a sensible eating plan and excercise regimen can live very normal and active lives (many will never be a size six or 'fashionable' weight, but they are at least approaching a healthy weight). Those who stay in denial and continue with a sedentary lifestyle often end up with many more medications, amputations, blindness, organ failure and, very sadly, a decreased lifespan.

I know it is hard, I have struggled my whole life to maintain a healthy weight. (Let me emphasize 'healthy' not fashionable, I'm a very unfashionable size 10) In the end though, it's your life and you're the one who will suffer or benefit.