# 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:** 3
**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, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/41 "2003-07-22T13:51:52Z")
Whoops, sorry, my bad. I completely missed that backpedaling post. ---
**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, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/42 "2003-07-22T13:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*Whoops, sorry, my bad. I completely missed that backpedaling post. \*\* LOL. I’ve been know to do that myself… ---
**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, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/43 "2003-07-22T14:01:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tarantula \* > \*\*Yeah, that accounts for all the obese Sudanese people you see on TV when they haven’t eaten in months. You don’t see them because they don’t survive their conditions in countries with poor health care. > [@](#): > > Yes - these conditions exist. > No - these conditions do not account for all the obese face-stuffing lard-arses waddling around… No fucking way. Never said they did, but you’re just generalizing and giving absolutes when the truth is not quite so simple. Are most overweight people that way because they eat too much and exercise too little? Absolutely. But, because of modern medicine, a percentage of people who appear to be grossly overweight have little that they can do to change this. They cannot eat and they must exercise, or, the medicines cause them to gain weight. It is not fair or proper to lump somebody who has no control over the matter into the same category as those that are harmfully slothful in their habits. ---
**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, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/44 "2003-07-22T14:11:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > \*\*You don’t see them because they don’t survive their conditions in countries with poor health care. > > Never said they did, but you’re just generalizing and giving absolutes when the truth is not quite so simple. > > Are most overweight people that way because they eat too much and exercise too little? > > Absolutely. > > But, because of modern medicine, a percentage of people who appear to be grossly overweight have little that they can do to change this. > > They cannot eat and they must exercise, or, the medicines cause them to gain weight. > > It is not fair or proper to lump somebody who has no control over the matter into the same category as those that are harmfully slothful in their habits. \*\* Once again, \*\* Scylla \*\* your graceful words have poured some much needed oil on the troubled words of my vitriolic bile. That notwithstanding, these person was eating a fucking donut. I love donuts, damn it. I can’t eat them - why ? Because I’ll become a lard-arse (again). Tough shit if you’re born like that. Look at all the people that really have shit to complain about, real illnesses and disabilities. These are the fat-heads that are gonna cost you an arm and a leg in taxes to pay for their emergency operations. I’d be happy to let them eat their disgustingly unhealthy hearts out, but my taxes are gonna pay for their operations… That’s why I’m pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/45 "2003-07-22T14:18:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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.** I object! I have a glandular condition that helps cause me to be fat. It’s my saliva glands, but… 😉 Okay, assholes of the world, I’ll admit it. I’m fat because I eat more than I burn. And you know what the worst part is? I don’t care enough to stop doing it! You can get all high and mighty about me killing myself or offending your delicate aesthetic senses but so what? I DON’T CARE, SO FUCK OFF! ---
**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, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/46 "2003-07-22T14:20:50Z")
tarantula: > [@](#): > > These are the fat-heads that are gonna cost you an arm and a leg in taxes to pay for their emergency operations. I’d be happy to let them eat their disgustingly unhealthy hearts out, but my taxes are gonna pay for their operations… > > That’s why I’m pissed off. But if you walk around getting all pissed off and worked up at every thing you see all the time, then my tax dollars are going to have to pay for your stress-induced heart attack and stroke. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/47 "2003-07-22T14:23:52Z")
It always amazes me how overweight people seem to get an unconditional benefit of the doubt. Some people are so ready to defend, saying “The donut might have been a treat,” or “Maybe she had a glandular condition,” when in all probability the woman eats too much and gets very little exercise. I know overweight people who cry and moan about their weight, yet do NOTHING about it. I’ve actually heard, “You’re so lucky that your stomach’s flat, you’re thin…” Fuck that!! It ain’t luck!! I have a flat stomach because I do hundreds of crunches a week and also pay attention to every bit of food I put in my mouth. I could EASILY be overweight if I didn’t do these things. I guess my point is that I’m sick of people making excuses about it. It’s not cool to make fun of people or loudly criticize them in public, but I see no problem with coming on a messageboard to rant about it. It’s anonymous, and the OP obviously wanted to get this off his chest, albeit a little rudely. Truthfully, the same types of thoughts go through all of our heads whether it’s an overweight person, or a punk rocker covered in tattoos or piercings. It’s impossible to go through life and make no judgments. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/48 "2003-07-22T14:24:42Z")
So why, **Tarantula** , do you suppose you run into “fatsos” who feel the need to justify themselves? Perhaps because you’re busy attacking them? My uncle is morbidly obese and it’s tragic. He’s a really wonderful person but I don’t think he believes it. He’s not stuffing his face out of gluttony - he’s trying to medicate a pain he can’t handle, and he’s killing himself slowly with food. It’s not a fun thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/49 "2003-07-22T14:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cowgirl \* > \*\*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 … \*\* Here here! I’m a big man, and I don’t eat donuts because I’m trying to lose weight, but… I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH COWGIRL’S RIGHT TO EAT DONUTS UNMOLESTED! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/50 "2003-07-22T14:48:10Z")
[pure specualtion and careful phrasing] I don’t think it’s right to say that the very obese have themselves to blame. I see quite a lot of overweight kids. Very overweight. 10 year olds who weigh maybe 120 lbs. I see many of these kids with parents who are very overweight. Clearly, the parents have little knowledge about how to put a healthy diet on the table. It can’t be easy being so overweight that it borders on un-healthy when you’re not even ten years old. Habits form when you’re young, the fat accumulates in the body. Yes, of course they can excercise, and change the diet, but these kids have a very tough time starting out with that change. My WAG is that many times it’s easier to just go on, the way you did. A body can withstand a lot of abuse and kids in their teens all think they’re immortal anyway. Later on, when they’re 35 or 45 and the weight is becoming something that’s health threatening, well, it’s just too late. And maybe, they’ve passed on their bad habits to _their_ kids. [/pure specualtion and careful phrasing] In my own case, having psoriasis and arthritis makes it damn difficult to excercise. I’m 42, have a paunch that I’m not happy about, but am not eating a lot of bad stuff. I would very much like to get rid of about 10-15lbs, but it sure is tough. What’s worse, I get shorter of breath and lose strength every day, and that really bothers me. And while dieting might help me lose weight, it won’t get me in better physical shape. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/51 "2003-07-22T14:51:33Z")
I’ve seen exactly what the OP is ranting about almost everyday (there’s a coffee shop in the building I work in). I don’t make any comments, I don’t huff, and I don’t shake my head, but at the same time I’m thinking to myself: how sad. I pity fat people the same way I pity an alcohol abuser or smoker. It’s a sick habit that, for me anyways, isn’t very hard to change. Of course I’ve never been adicted to anything (even coffee…even though I have an x-large triple triple in front of me). The key? Don’t fucking get addicted in the first place! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/52 "2003-07-22T14:56:29Z")
You know, I had a nice, long reply using quotes, bolding, etc. to throw right back at \*\*Indygrrl, Tarantula and nisobar \*\* regarding their idiotic comments but considering what nitwits they’ve proven themselves to be, I am not going to bother. I’ll just leave it at “you three are jackasses.” Oooh - upon preview, let me add **badmana** in there too: > [@](#): > > The key? Don’t fucking get addicted in the first place! Thanks for this highly important tip! I’m sure this will benefit us ALL! Good Lord, the idiots are out today, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![AV8R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AV8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AV8R)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/53 "2003-07-22T14:58:11Z")
I’d like to mention two points: **Weight gain can be gradual**. A person can be physically fit and at an ideal weight when they graduate high school. Then they are off to college (where they don’t have a daily gym class), and they just eat regular meals like everybody else. But suppose for example that a person just eats _slightly_ more than they burn off. Maybe they’ll gain 4 ounces a week. This becomes a slight weight gain of about 1 pound a month. After one year this is 12 pounds. After 10 years it’s 120 pounds, and after 20 years this is 240 pounds. Now you’re looking at an obese person who is eating a basically normal amount, but who is 240 pounds overweight. There is no gluttony or sloth involved here. **Eating is an instinct**. The urge to consume is hard-wired into every living thing on the planet. Maybe that instinct is stronger in some people than in others. (Having variations is good for long term survival of the species). If someone’s instinct happens to be stronger than yours, and she feels compelled to eat a doughnut, _that doesn’t make you a victim_. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/54 "2003-07-22T15:10:04Z")
I worked at a gym for about a year and a half when I was first going to college. I have seen too many people come in there, work out three or four times a week, redo their eating habits, and lose weight (one lady lost over 200 pounds!) to have much sympathy for most obese people. Obviously, there are people out there with severe health problems who honestly have problems controlling their weight. Those people I have sympathy for, and am willing to do whatever is within my power to help them. But most people are just straight fucking lazy. Case in point - I know a girl who is probably a good 150 pounds overweight. Once time we were at a friend’s house getting ready to leave for a road trip. The movie _Shallow Hal_ happened to be on, at the scene where Hal first meets Rosemary. She orders a huge lunch and says that she learned long ago that no matter what she ate her weight stays the same, so she doesn’t bother to watch what she eats. My friend says, “Amen, sister.” She then goes back to eating her McDonald’s breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/55 "2003-07-22T15:19:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Missy2U \* > \*\*You know, I had a nice, long reply using quotes, bolding, etc. to throw right back at \*\*Indygrrl, Tarantula and nisobar \*\* regarding their idiotic comments but considering what nitwits they’ve proven themselves to be, I am not going to bother. > > I’ll just leave it at “you three are jackasses.” > > Oooh - upon preview, let me add **badmana** in there too: > > Thanks for this highly important tip! I’m sure this will benefit us ALL! > > Good Lord, the idiots are out today, aren’t they? \*\* Just because you disagree with someone’s opinion doesn’t mean you need to call names. Not to mention, you really don’t have a point as to why you would call us jackasses and idiots. I am not aligning myself with anyone, but we all have a right to our own way of thinking. ---
**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, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/56 "2003-07-22T15:21:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AV8R \* > **Weight gain can be gradual. > A person can be physically fit and at an ideal weight when they graduate high school. Then they are off to college (where they don’t have a daily gym class), and they just eat regular meals like everybody else. But suppose for example that a person just eats _slightly_ more than they burn off. Maybe they’ll gain 4 ounces a week. This becomes a slight weight gain of about 1 pound a month. After one year this is 12 pounds. After 10 years it’s 120 pounds, and after 20 years this is 240 pounds. Now you’re looking at an obese person who is eating a basically normal amount, but who is 240 pounds overweight. There is no gluttony or sloth involved here.** This is not 100% true. As a body gets bigger, it needs more energy. Following your theory, if daily caloric intake stays the same for ever, there will be a weight at which the body will burn 100% of the calories coming in and weight gain stops. I believe the extra calories that would result in 4 ounces a week will hit the equalibrium long before 120 pounds overweight. ---
**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, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/57 "2003-07-22T15:21:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Missy2U \* > \*\*…Thanks for this highly important tip! I’m sure this will benefit us ALL! > > Good Lord, the idiots are out today, aren’t they? \*\* Your rapier Wildean wit notwithstanding, have you anything back up your assertion ? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/58 "2003-07-22T15:30:03Z")
Howyadoin, Wow… are the Offenderati on summer hiatus? Damn, I was looking forward to the **Tarantula/Offenderati** steel-cage deathmatch, and all I get is tripe. Christ, that poor bastard that wrote the rant about a fat chick in a TransAm pulled back a fucking stump! Is this perhaps a new diet concept unto itself, where one doesn’t eat things that don’t get exposure to sunlight? -Rav ---
**Author:** ![Janie\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@Janie\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janie_Jones)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/59 "2003-07-22T15:31:35Z")
Obesity is a very serious problem in the developed countries of the world, particularly in the U.S. For this reason, it is important for societies to adress the issues that cause overeating. It’s best to do so using public health models and legislation. I, for one, would like to see more limits put on the food conglomerates. Perhaps instituting something like the CAFE standards that vehicle manufactures must follow. Company X can make its marshmallow cream-filled chocolate lard and baconrind muffins, but to compensate, it would be also forced to make low-fat crackers. Restaurants should be given incentives to reduce their portions. Fast-foot joints should be given incentives to use healthier ingredients. Anyway, public health messages are the way to combat the obesity problems facing societies. We need to educate at an early age, and do it now, so another generation of kids don’t grow up to be non-exercising fatties. Og knows, I’ve jumped to the conclusions the OP did, and I too have wondered why fat people can’t rein in their poor eating habits. It’s a complicated issue. But I’ve kept those thoughts to myself (phew … :D) because I know that I’m not perfect in my choices, either. (I struggle with a fondness for alcohol … which is adding, coincidentally, to my waistline ☹ ). But I do know that shaming fat people a la the OP does not work. How do I know this? Because they get heaps of abuse and shame daily … and still cannot change. ---
**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, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118/60 "2003-07-22T15:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Janie Jones \* > \*\*…Because they get heaps of abuse and shame daily … and still cannot change. \*\* No, they get heaps of people saying “aww - it’s not their fault” daily, and then decide not to change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fat-people-are-their-own-worst-enemies/190118.md?page=4)