# Heeeeeeeeey FATTIES **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 5, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465 "2010-03-05T21:17:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/301 "2010-03-06T20:33:52Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > I took it as self-love may actually help you combat obesity and deal with it, even if you do not end up as a typical “hottie”. And at least you’d be less of a jerk (to others and yourself). maybe. I just took it as some endorsement of the fat acceptance movement. I just think that being in love with yourself is never a good thing from a personal growth and development standpoint, regardless of what you need to grow and/or develop. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/302 "2010-03-06T20:36:41Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > the only problem with this is that, of course, self-love is another form of excuse. > > being happy with your morbid obesity, well that’s just fucking swell, but it doesn’t mitigate the costs you’re inflicting on everyone else (and everyone else’s eyes 😃 ) Yeah, but if you break it down that far, you can really find you have a problem about everyone for everything. Like sports cars? Your speeding is costing the rest of us. Like to skateboard? Your broken bones are costing the rest of us. Like cigarettes? Your cancer is costing the rest of us. Like wine? Your liver issues are costing the rest of us. Like to tan? Your melenoma is costing the rest of us (not to mention what that disgusting orange tint is doing to the rest of our eyes). In some cultures, being a big woman can actually be enjoyable, believe it or not. So, it is probably best to save our annoyance for those big folks that are lying to themselves and others about their situations. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/303 "2010-03-06T20:37:43Z")
_Shrugs_ I disagree with that, but then, that is just my experience. The higher value I placed on myself, the more desire I had to improve myself. If you think you have no value, then why change? Everything will be the same, and you will still be a loser. That IS a mentality that has to be changed, see? ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/304 "2010-03-06T20:38:18Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > The desire for food is very high. To paraphrase **Nzinga, Seated** - They “Just love eating”. It is another way of saying the desire is strong. It’s difficult to ignore that desire. > > So there’s a reason for you. that’s not a legitimate reason. at all. people possess consciousness and conscientiousness. to claim that having a love affair with food is a valid justification to relegate your “inner voice” to the back of your mind is merely an excuse to let psychological dependence run rampant. what’s next? you should coddle me and accommodate me because I _really_ love playing x-box and as a result I missed a deadline. does food cause physiological dependence? no. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/305 "2010-03-06T20:41:34Z")
It is a legitimate reason to find it difficult to control your addiction. That is all I am saying. And on that note I am going to concede defeat and fight the urge to keep posting in this thread. I know a lost debate when I see one. If anyone wants to take me up on anything please PM me or open up a new pit thread against me if you feel strongly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/306 "2010-03-06T20:44:54Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > Like sports cars? Your speeding is costing the rest of us. speeders are punished. > [@](#): > > Like to skateboard? Your broken bones are costing the rest of us. skateboarders are marginalized, encouraged to wear safety gear, and are generally too small a population to matter > [@](#): > > Like cigarettes? Your cancer is costing the rest of us. have you paid attention to the effective jihad against tobacco the past 2 decades or so? > [@](#): > > Like wine? Your liver issues are costing the rest of us. no, wine does not cause liver issues. excess drinking of wine causes liver issues. if and when chirrosis reaches the prevalence that obesity does, yes, I will blame alcoholics for consuming too much. of course, ethanol is recognized to cause physical dependence, too. > [@](#): > > Like to tan? Your melenoma is costing the rest of us (not to mention what that disgusting orange tint is doing to the rest of our eyes). some people like the look of tanned bodies, and again, society goes out of its way to promote the use of suntan (and, ohmigosh, many people take proper care of themselves and take personal responsibility for applying Coppertone), and the prevalence of skin cancer is relatively low. when you talk about social costs, there is a trade off between riskiness and freedom. every activity has risks, the majority of them aren’t proscribed because to do so would be extremely costly for the minimal benefit in risk reduction/costs savings. fattiness is not one of these things where social costs is so marginal to the benefit derived, especially given its prevalence. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/307 "2010-03-06T20:45:40Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > And on that note I am going to concede defeat and fight the urge to keep posting in this thread. Now if only you could fight the urge for that double cheeseburger… Fucking with you, Lob. I know you don’t have a weight problem. Just fucking with you. ETA: Rumor, I feel you on all of your points. But when you say that some folks like the look of tan bodies, you gotta accept that some social circles like the look of bigger women. That is neither here nor there, but I thought I might mention it since you mentioned that some folks like tans. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/308 "2010-03-06T20:52:02Z")
I got very annoyed last year when I shelled out good money for a weekend MLB season ticket package and found out that one of our seats was next to an obese person who, as it turned out, was there for all of the games we attended. We took turns sitting in that seat. ☹ Beyond the physical encroachment issue, though, I tend to see obesity as pretty much interchangeable with other human shortcomings that involve insufficient self-control - yelling at your spouse or kids to an excessive degree, being an arrogant asshole, thinking you’re smarter than everyone else, flaunting your wealth, not going to the doctor when you know you should, etc. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/309 "2010-03-06T20:58:40Z")
> [@Sidney Evgeni Jordan](#): > > I got very annoyed last year when I shelled out good money for a weekend MLB season ticket package and found out that one of our seats was next to an obese person who, as it turned out, was there for all of the games we attended. We took turns sitting in that seat. ☹ > > Beyond the physical encroachment issue, though, I tend to see obesity as pretty much interchangeable with other human shortcomings that involve insufficient self-control - yelling at your spouse or kids to an excessive degree, being an arrogant asshole, thinking you’re smarter than everyone else, flaunting your wealth, not going to the doctor when you know you should, etc. So what do we do? Do we start insulting and verbally attacking everyone? Everyone has one shortcoming or another (except me of course) ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/310 "2010-03-06T20:59:36Z")
Sure, why not? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/311 "2010-03-06T21:02:13Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > So what do we do? > > Do we start insulting and verbally attacking everyone? Everyone has one shortcoming or another (except me of course) forced liposuctions would be a good start. maybe a variable sales tax rate on food depending on your BMI. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/312 "2010-03-06T21:05:28Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > forced liposuctions would be a good start. > > maybe a variable sales tax rate on food depending on your BMI. > > 😃 Well, I’m safe (unless they enact a minimum weight rule), hell my food may be cheaper then too (do I get the skinny folks discount?) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/313 "2010-03-06T21:07:28Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Well, I’m safe (unless they enact a minimum weight rule), hell my food may be cheaper then too (do I get the skinny folks discount?) 😃 to encourage proper weight, the government will now start paying you an incentive bonus if your BMI is under 24 ---
**Author:** ![gravitycrash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@gravitycrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gravitycrash)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/314 "2010-03-06T21:09:34Z")
I used to justify excessive masturbation in my attempt to lose weight the easy way until I found out that rubbing one out only burns about 15 calories. ☹ Evolution really screwed up there. Just think if masturbation burned 500 calories each time. No more fatties! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/315 "2010-03-06T21:10:13Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > to encourage proper weight, the government will now start paying you an incentive bonus if your BMI is under 24 Will they use the “flotation” test for that? I have to tread water to stay afloat, I’d max the test. Now gimme my discount double cheezburers! NAO 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/316 "2010-03-06T21:10:55Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > One thing that ‘thinnies’ seem to forget is that when a ‘fattie’ finishes a ‘normal’ meal he or she is probably still hungry. Whereas a thin or ‘normal’ person isn’t. Imagine every single day of your life eating meals and still being hungry afterwards. Before long you give in and eat what your appetite is asking you to eat. Yes ‘fatties’ have different appetites that contribute to them becoming fat. Oh for fuck’s sake, that’s just another excuse. I’ve been skinny all my life and I’m frequently hungry. I just don’t give a shit. Hell, I’m hungry right now, I have been for the hour or so I’ve been reading this thread. I’ll probably go make a sandwich now, but life goes on when you’re hungry. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/317 "2010-03-06T22:04:23Z")
Apropos of nothing, this thread is inspiring me to work at losing weight again. ---
**Author:** ![CircleofWillis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/54ee81/32.png) [@CircleofWillis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CircleofWillis)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/318 "2010-03-06T22:07:56Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Apropos of nothing, this thread is inspiring me to work at losing weight again. and when I read it yesterday, it inspired me to hit up PF Chang’s… wierd. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/319 "2010-03-06T22:14:36Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > Apropos of nothing, this thread is inspiring me to work at losing weight again. No kidding. I was eating some frozen yogurt and couldn’t stand to eat much more than a few spoonfuls before throwing it out. I’ve lost 10 pounds in the last few months, but I think it’s time to actually get serious. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465/320 "2010-03-06T22:17:43Z")
I think there’s a huge difference between the person who’s twenty pounds overweight, and someone who’s got ‘massive’ or ‘morbid’ obesity. Phrased differently, there is a lot of room for “will” when you weigh between about 90 and 110 percent of your ‘target’ weight (with ‘target’ weight taken here to mean what your brain - the hypothalamus, at least - thinks it should be). But, to get past 110% of your target, and stay there, is very difficult, even if you deliberately overeat. One example: In an old study, prisoners were paid to gain weight. Given that they didn’t have much else to do and that there are lot worse ways to spend your time in prison than getting paid to eat, it’s more than surprising that large weight gains weren’t achieved. Aside from an initial and relatively quick gain of around 20 lbs (IIRC), they then plateaued. Despite deliberate efforts to overeat, and, again, being financially rewarded if they continued to gain weight, they couldn’t. The results of that old study are a great segue to [this terrific NY Times article](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=3&ved=0CA4QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2000%2F10%2F17%2Fscience%2Fhow-the-body-knows-when-to-gain-or-lose.html%3Fpagewanted%3Dall&ei=e8-SS-G4KomVtgfFoMDUCg&usg=AFQjCNGtPEMFKvzFiDWB26skX-6JJC0EFw&sig2=vgM6O_LJhB-SIfOPy2oRPA). It’s already ten years old but is still more than worth your while to read. Full of quotes from the most reputable metabolism docs in the world (eg. Jeff Flier, Dean Harvard Medical School), it should be required reading for anyone who glibly spouts off about lack of “will” as the root cause of (massive) obesity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heeeeeeeeey-fatties/531465.md?page=17)