# Some fat people are their own worst enemies **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 22, 2003, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118 "2003-07-22T11:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/21 "2003-07-22T12:55:11Z")
One day, some of you people will learn that when it comes to other people’s personal habits, until they impact on you in some fashion, your ONLY role is to mind your own business. This woman would probably be devastated, Nisobar, if she found out that you came to some message board to post about her because she decided to buy a doughnut in your line of sight. God forbid she make a personal choice that doesn’t have a damn thing to do with you but you happen to disagree with! It’s not appropriate to talk about people behind their backs. If you wouldn’t say anything to this woman’s face (which clearly you lacked the stones to do) by what right do you come here to insult her? This isn’t about thin vs. fat, this is about ridiculously-motherfucking-stupidly-rude vs. common sense politeness. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/22 "2003-07-22T12:57:06Z")
When when WHEN will people get a clue that there is no such thing as “bad” foods and “good” foods? After you eat a donut, your body breaks it down into chemicals. Then the liver takes it from there. Your body doesn’t know the difference. We could take a blood sample from you and a blood sample from me and regardless of what we each ate yesterday, we’re gonna find basically the same chemicals floating around. If you eat **more than your body needs** , you will get fat whether you are eating donuts or low fat cookies (if you want to call them cookies). ---
**Author:** ![Fin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@Fin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/23 "2003-07-22T13:08:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SnoopyFan \* > \*\*After you eat a donut, your body breaks it down into chemicals. Then the liver takes it from there. Your body doesn’t know the difference. We could take a blood sample from you and a blood sample from me and regardless of what we each ate yesterday, we’re gonna find basically the same chemicals floating around. \*\* Ok, I’ll assume you are correct and they will find basically the same chemicals floating around. But how about the levels of said chemicals? Given your statement, the blood sample of somebody who eats a high fat, high cholesterol diet will look the same as somebody who eats a low fat, low cholesterol diet (all others held equal). To that, I call bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/24 "2003-07-22T13:10:54Z")
Is at all possible that the woman in question had a glandular condition? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/25 "2003-07-22T13:10:59Z")
> [@](#): > > This woman would probably be devastated, Nisobar, if she found out that you came to some message board to post about her because she decided to buy a doughnut in your line of sight. God forbid she make a personal choice that doesn’t have a damn thing to do with you but you happen to disagree with! While I thoroughly disagree with the OP, I also detest replies that depend on hypothetical scenarios. “What if she visited this message board…” Bollocks! Anyone can create a fictional “what-if” situation to support their views. The fundie Xtians do this all the time. Deal with the facts in the case, and don’t add any imaginary bits to bolster your position. > [@](#): > > It’s not appropriate to talk about people behind their backs. If you wouldn’t say anything to this woman’s face (which clearly you lacked the stones to do) by what right do you come here to insult her? Have you ever been in the Pit before? People routinely criticize other folks here, from family members to complete strangers. In any event, “talking behind the back” applies ONLY to people with whom you have a prior relationship and who would expect that you would confront them openly. A stranger has no such expectation and therefore is fair game to be bitched about, since she will never, ever know what was said. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/26 "2003-07-22T13:11:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultress \* > \*\*Coffee is bad. Are you a caffieine addict? \*\* Nooooooooooooooooooo!! You leave coffee out of this!! [says the jittery man in the corner with the tall cup of perfectly brewed Peet’s coffee] I can quit at anytime, yeah, that’s the ticket. . . 😉 To the OP: man you stepped in it big time. I suggest a timely retreat. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/27 "2003-07-22T13:14:52Z")
A local guy weighed around 450 pounds. Diabetes, problems with his legs, had difficulty working, smoked a lot, aged 47. Died a month ago of a heart attack leaving a wife and six children. 47 years old. Knowing the man slightly, I don’t think he was in denial about his physical state but I do wonder if he might almost have been glad for the release from the physical prison he created for himself. I think he might have been getting that desperate. Last time I looked at any research online, it said people who are grossly obese usually live to the mid-50’s range – maybe the smoking took this guy out sooner, maybe it was the obesity-induced diabetes, maybe something else . . . As best I know, statistics say gross obesity will almost certainly lead to an early death, just a question of how early. Just to remind people. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/28 "2003-07-22T13:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\* “talking behind the back” applies ONLY to people with whom you have a prior relationship and who would expect that you would confront them openly. A stranger has no such expectation and therefore is fair game to be bitched about, since she will never, ever know what was said. \*\* **nisosbar** knows the woman, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/29 "2003-07-22T13:19:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Is at all possible that the woman in question had a glandular condition? \*\* Quite possibly- however if you have said condition wouldn’t you have to be _more_ careful about what you eat? The problem with most donuts is the truly stunning amounts of saturated fat and calories those sweet tasty, sugary delites pack in to an easily devored package. Much like high blood pressure or diabetes, you need to adjust your diet and lifestyle accordingly (and yes I dated someone with this condition, although it turned out to be treatable). That being said, I feel for the woman in question. Can’t be easy. ---
**Author:** ![Tarantula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e274bd/32.png) [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/30 "2003-07-22T13:25:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Is at all possible that the woman in question had a glandular condition? \*\* No it’s not possible. If you don’t eat, you won’t be fat. Ever. No arguement from idiots about pre-dispositions etc. etc. bullshit bullshit bullshit… As I said, it’s not fucking rocket science : don’t eat - not fat. Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/31 "2003-07-22T13:30:39Z")
I take it that those of you who are so righteously judgmental about other people’s lives and bodies have made sure that all of your own personal habits are impeccable and beyond reproach, 100% of the time? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/32 "2003-07-22T13:31:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AngelicGemma \* > \*\ ***nisosbar** knows the woman, apparently. \*\* No. he doesn’t. Read the OP again, “Not long ago, I was out at one of those coffee/bagel carts in Midtown Manhattan, buying a coffee, and in front of me was this really obese woman buying a big doughnut,”; he is clearly talking about a stranger. If your meaning is to imply in an ironic manner that **nisobar** pretends to know the woman’s eating habits and medical history, I’m right with you. > [@](#): > > If you eat more than your body needs, you will get fat whether you are eating donuts or low fat cookies (if you want to call them cookies). You are right up to a point–“If you eat more than your body needs, you will get fat” is absolutely correct, but that doesn’t mean that all foods have the same proportions of calories or nutrients. In reference to fats alone, you need to recognize the different properties and effects on the body of polyunsaturated fats, monounsaturated fats, saturated fats, and transfatty acids. This is not a GQ thread so I’m not going to go into details, but I assure you they are not interchangeable. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/33 "2003-07-22T13:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tarantula \* > \*\*No it’s not possible. If you don’t eat, you won’t be fat. Ever. No arguement from idiots about pre-dispositions etc. etc. bullshit bullshit bullshit… > > As I said, it’s not fucking rocket science : don’t eat - not fat. > > Q.E.D. \*\* Actually, it’s not **quite** that simple. People can have illnesses that cause them to retain huge amounts of liquids and waste products in their bodies making them look enormous. Other illnesses like Diabetes can cause people problems if they don’t eat regularly yet preclude the exercise that would work off the excess. Finally, a chronic crash dieter can get their body into starvation mode and gain weight while eating much less than a moderate diet. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/34 "2003-07-22T13:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*While I thoroughly disagree with the OP, I also detest replies that depend on hypothetical scenarios. “What if she visited this message board…” Bollocks! Anyone can create a fictional “what-if” situation to support their views. The fundie Xtians do this all the time. Deal with the facts in the case, and don’t add any imaginary bits to bolster your position. \*\* **gobear** , did you miss the point where nisobar clarified that he knows this woman? And I didn’t say “what if she visited” I said “if she knew.” Meaning, quite clearly, that learning that nisobar was talking about her in this way would hurt. I’m from the school of thought that you shouldn’t say anything about a person outside of their presence that you wouldn’t say to their face. If nisobar had come here asking for advice on how to approach his acquaintance to tell her that he was worried about her health, it’d be a different matter. Instead he came here to bitch about something that isn’t his business to bitch about. I don’t hold with that. It’s bullshit. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*Have you ever been in the Pit before? \*\* You’re kidding, right? > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*People routinely criticize other folks here, from family members to complete strangers. In any event, “talking behind the back” applies ONLY to people with whom you have a prior relationship and who would expect that you would confront them openly. A stranger has no such expectation and therefore is fair game to be bitched about, since she will never, ever know what was said. \*\* This woman was not a stranger to nisobar, by his own admission. And there’s a considerable difference between pitting a non-Doper for _doing something inappropriate which directly impacts upon you_ (see my Pit thread about the security guard who assaulted me, as a for instance or a recent one from a card store clerk complaining about customers who damage and destroy merchandise) and pitting someone for being something you dislike (in this case, fat) and doing something which bothered you (buying a doughnut) which has absolutely no bearing on your life whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Fin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@Fin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fin_man)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/35 "2003-07-22T13:34:35Z")
**gobear** , with a noise that sounds like a backpedal, **nisosbar** later says this: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by nisosbar \* > \*\*Actually, it’s based on more than a minute or two (actually, I know this woman personally, though I didn’t mention it). Her eating habits are consistent with the idea that a high fat diet of greasy, sugary foods leads to weight gain. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/36 "2003-07-22T13:37:28Z")
I promised myself I was going to lurk and not post. I almost posted after tlw’s virtual wagging of her finger to the OP about not talking about people behind their back but go(teddy)bear beat me to it. > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > _Originally posted by spooje_ > > **Is at all possible that the woman in question had a glandular condition?** > > ]_Originally posted by Tarantula_ > **No it’s not possible.** That made me laugh out loud! ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/37 "2003-07-22T13:39:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fin\_man \* > \*\ ***gobear** , with a noise that sounds like a backpedal… \*\* LMAO ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/38 "2003-07-22T13:40:23Z")
This is silly - now _I’m_ craving a donut, and I may just go get one. And you know what? It’s bad for me, and will clog my arteries. And yet no one is going to “tut-tut” me or go back and post a rant about me on their message board - because I’m not morbidly obese. The fact that eating a donut unmolested is something I take for granted, but is impossible for someone who is bigger than me, is madness. Everyone should have the right to eat a donut in peace, if that’s what s/he wants to do. Nobody’s business but ours. I’m off to get a Honey Glazed to eat with my coffee … ---
**Author:** ![Tarantula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e274bd/32.png) [@Tarantula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarantula)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/39 "2003-07-22T13:48:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > **People can have illnesses that cause them to retain huge amounts of liquids and waste products in their bodies making them look enormous…** Yeah, that accounts for all the obese Sudanese people you see on TV when they haven’t eaten in months. Yes - these conditions exist. No - these conditions do not account for all the obese face-stuffing lard-arses waddling around… No fucking way. These people are fat 'cause they eat too much. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/40 "2003-07-22T13:50:01Z")
It would reallty help the discussion if the pro-fat people and the anti-fat folks would bother to learn about the subject because right now all of you are talking nonsense. About “glandular conditions”: From a diabetes Web [site](http://www.lifescan.com/care/living/nutrition/cause_obesity.html): > [@](#): > > Sorry, but the often used “glandular problem” excuse isn’t valid. The only common glandular condition that might cause weight gain despite normal calorie intake is hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), but it’s rarely the cause of obesity Some people do have a genetic predisposition to obesity, but that means it’s harder for them to keep their body fat levels low, not impossible. Eating right and exercising will still help keep down one’s level of body fat. In any event, obesity is a physical problem, not a spiritual one. Making judgments about another person’s character and willpower based solely on their appearance is incredibly shallow and stupid. The trick is to be as healthy as **you** can be. If you have a genetic predisposition to obesity, you are probably never going to look like the Men’s Health cover model, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to achieve your own individual level of fitness and overall health. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118.md?page=3)