newspaper article

[muppet]

Yesterday, in the Des Moines Register, there was a little article about a recent poll. It said almost half of Americans would give up a year of their lives to avoid being fat.
The online survey of 4283 Amereicans ages 13 - 79 also found that between 15 percent and 30 percent would rather leave their marraige, give up the possibility of having children, be depressed or become an alcoholic than be obese. Five percent said they would rather lose a limb, and 4 percent said they would rather be blind.
"We were surpised by the sheer number of people who reported they would be willing to make major sacrifices to avoid being obese." said Marlene Schwartz of Yale University, who led the team that reported the results in the journal Obesity.
The primary purpose of the survey was to gauge anti-fat bias. People of all weight categories exhibited a significant implicit bias against people who are overweight, but thinner people tended to be more biased, researchers found.
I guess people willing to give up a year of their life doesn't surprise me. Most people probably think they will live to a nice ripe old age. But the other things really do surprise me. Now -- I don't like being fat. But it's not the worst thing in the world. I'm saddened at how many people think that it is.

[Trying4Thin]

They referenced that article on my favorite radio morning show a few weeks back. Really makes you see how much the world hates (and fears) being fat. It says a whole lot about the negative attitudes towards people who are overweight, obese, and morbidly obese. It feels like a different kind of discrimination/rascism.

I have to admit that after being grossly overweight for so long; I would rather lose a limb than have ever been obese for a day in my life. Pretty sad huh?

[Missy]

I find that article shocking as well. I can see why people might feel that way though with the crap the media pushes towards looks. People live in a superficial world these days and looks are the only thing they seem to care about. It's really sad that it has to be this way.

I will say, that once I get my weight off, I would never want to be fat again (just like Carrie mentioned). But, I would not judge someone else for being overweight, it doesn't change who you are on the inside.

[muppet]

I think Carrie hit the nail on the head, when she said that it's what people fear. I think that's why people are so judgemental, and down right cruel. If they can pin point a reason for someone being overweight, and just assume they are sitting around on the couch all day stuffing their face with junk, then they can rationalize that it won't ever happen to them.
The reality is though, that it can happen to anyone. Any change in lifestyle, income, health, or activity level could cause anyone to gain or lose weight.
I think if there was more empathy, instead of so much ridicule, then maybe more people would be able to take on this battle, and win.

[amandads]

You know the sad thing is that so many people now live on a fixed income and when you go to the grocery it is actually less expensive to purchase non-healthy foods than healthy food. Take beer and water for example; I stopped at a store today to get a bottle of water and it was 1.29, same size bottle of beer was .88.