Media’s faceless fatties fuel society’s growing sizeism

“Obesity Now Costs Americans More In HealthCare Spending Than Smoking.”

Sure, that’s America, but I suspect the parallels for Australia are similar. Hardly the sort of thing we should be painting in a positive light now really, is it?

Awesome article, Cat! I participated in the Stocky Bodies project for exactly this reason – to give fatness/obesity a face and an identity. Regardless of health, fat people deserve to be treated with respect.

“… even though really fat people are not as common as the use of their photos in the media would lead us to believe” – this comment is boggling and yet another indication as to the ‘normalisation’ of overweight and obesity in this country.

“The danger of this trend is that it leads to the objectification of fat bodies”- the only dangerous trend that this article should be paying tribute to is how it’s increasingly becoming more and more acceptable to be of an unhealthy size. Because our mates, our colleagues, our family have size about them – it makes it ok for us too.

Over 60% of this country is either overweight or obese. I can appreciate the need to not segregate or isolate people – and there on appreciate the need to represent the greater society fairly in media – however this article is just another beating on the ‘enabling’ drum.

Everybody has a choice – regardless of genes, medical conditions, wealth or time. The issue of obesity needs to continue to scale the agenda’s of individual Australians – and it’s about time there was a sense of urgency to do so. People need to stop making excuses, and others need to stop feeding them excuses.

Fat people are not a legitimate “identity group.” They are just skinny people who need to eat less and exercise more. Unlike our race or sex we choose our weight, so the borrowed rhetoric about prejudice is not appropriate. It trivialises the struggles of people who suffered badly for reasons beyond their control. If you don’t like the stigma of being fat then put down the burger and go for a walk.

Fatness will always be an embarrassment because it is objectively inferior to being within the healthy weight range, as defined by medical experts. Fat people are slower, sometimes to the point of lacking basic mobility, have less stamina, suffer many chronic illnesses and die sooner. In most cases, this burden is self-imposed but the rest of the community has to help pay for it.

Social stigma against fatness is an important motivator that encourages people to stay within the healthy weight range and lead longer more active lives. That is why our governments work hard to create social stigma around undesirable choices like smoking. It is the most humane approach, and far nicer than excluding people from medical services etc. which is currently used against some recidivist smokers. Instead of trying to undermine this healthy stigma with identity group politics you would to better to work on helping fat people lose weight and improve their lives.

Cat acknowledges that obesity is a problem in her opening paragraph – however I fail to see how normalising obesity (i.e. treating obese people the same way as everyone else) helps the cause. You rarely humanised images of smokers or heroin addicts either. I think food addiction (and addicts) should be treated in the same way as other addictions: as a problem.

“Fat bodies are so rarely presented in a positive light that these are remarkable developments.”

They shouldn’t be.
The same way smoking or drinking to excess shouldn’t be either

I am sorry to say, but you are far from the truth. Fat people even like the one portrayed above are everywhere. Unfortunately, saying something about the gluttony required to attain such a size is frowned upon so things don’t get better. If we are really serious about reducing our footprint on earth let’s really focus on the fatties who consume much more than the healthy ones amongst us. It is not food reduces they consume at a faster rate, try healthcare services, fuels to move their incredible bulk and even to water.

So while some fatties won’t lose weight for themselves and their own health, perhaps they might consider doing it for the planet!!!

Did this article make anyone else hungry?

Omnomnomnom

I honestly thought this article was a parody..

Fat is not normal. It bothers me that my 4yr old daughter is reprimanded at her kindergarten for calling someone fat. And the stigma of being the “fat kid” in the school yard shouldn’t stop once you finish school.

It is socially irresponsible – to family, friends, workmates, fellow commuters and those who pay the taxes to cover your medical bills later in life.

The normalisation and even celebration of fat (Chrissy Swan, Mike & Molly et al) in this country has to stop.

Cat, tell your story walking.

Most fat people I know are stronger, better able to walk, run, cycle, and have more stamina than I do. They are, in many respects, significantly healthier than I am.

Except the ones I’m related to, anyway.

I am currently in the overweight, verging on obese range.

I’m reducing my mass for very specific health reasons that do not apply to the vast majority of the population, and has precisely nothing to do with how people perceive me at first glance. Most people do not have osteoporosis precursor signs in their spines at age 20. Most people do not have the (unrelated, crazy rare) disability that I have. Preventing my spine from shattering, mitigating the impact of that disability on my day-to-day life – those are my reasons.

How did I get fat, knowing these things? Well, I didn’t know all of the things I needed to know in order to avoid getting fat. Eat less, move more, you say. Turns out, if even if you’re doing that, and even if what you’re eating is healthy by general standards, if your body has issues with it, you get fat. Or, at least, I did. And if you’re eating whatever it is often enough, the symptoms built up over time, and they get better and worse seemingly randomly. This was missed by a total of 12 doctors over the course of about five years. Not their fault, as such; it’s almost impossible to diagnose these kinds of things.

In the specific case, such as mine, being overweight significantly impacts my quality of life. This is not the case for every fat person. Similarly, some people get fat by eating too much. Other people get fat because they’re eating the (supposedly healthy) wrong things. Still others, it can be hormonal imbalances. Or medication. Or inflammation. Or a whole range of medical disorders, syndromes, conditions, etc. Or about a thousand other things, none of which is any of your business, none of which are visible.

Saying ‘put down the burger and go for a run’ … that’s not helpful. For all you know, it’s the one time in the year they allow themselves to have that burger, and they’re running in that marathon next week. For all you know, that burger has been recommended by their doctor. For all you know, it might be the only thing they can afford to eat today.

In my case, it’s chips, fries, whatever you want to call them. I, a fat person, eat fries in public. Because in my case, it’s the only food that I can safely eat when I’m not at home, most of the time. It answers my very specific nutritional requirements. It is the best choice I can make for my body. Because my body is different; annoying, irritatingly, painfully, frustratingly different.

Get to know me. Ask ‘why?’ instead of assuming or judging – I’m usually happy to explain. And realise that while perhaps not every fat person you see has a story like mine – many of them do.

“Cat acknowledges that obesity is a problem in her opening paragraph.”

No she doesn’t. In fact, aside from book titles, she only actually uses the obesity word once in the entire article.

‘Fat’ might be considered friendly, where as ‘obese’ clearly is a health issue.

Wow – what a delightful lot of posters above – not!. Most posts above here are deplorable and fear driven. There are many aspects of this article that need appropriate and intelligent response vs nasty vitriolic judgement and ignorance.

A very sad social phenomenon is the way humans will with ease focus on another person or groups’ physicality’s/ weaknesses/ differences in a hateful and disparaging way. This focus on others of course ensures that the said commenters do not have to examine their own foibles/imperfections. We can only look at how politicians attack each other so vehemently to ensure the spotlight deflects from themselves. The “fat debate” and how media portrays the obese as a political statement of community disgust and abhorrence continues this phenomenon on a mass scale.

The media has been constantly negligent in their portrayal of all ends of the weight /eating disorders spectrum – that is another debate for another time. But suffice to say the media does not portray all elements of society with reverence nor accuracy.

I am in the position of having been on both sides of the obese fence. Nearly 3 years ago I was hugely obese at 145kgs. I lost 65kgs and changed my life around 180%. For more than 10 years of my life I mirrored the faceless picture in this article. Let me be brutally frank -life as a truly obese person IS BLOODY AWFUL, it is hard and each day was a struggle.

My mobility was severely reduced, I had chronic back pain, lifestyle and activities significantly thwarted and so often my heart raced so badly I was sure I was close to a heart attack (notwithstanding sleep apnea and dying in my sleep. That’s the reality – anyone who says severe obesity doesn’t affect your health is in denial – pure and simple. And looking at in the mirror was no joy as I knew the reality of my obesity and it wasn’t attractive whatsoever to me.

As to the social stigma and cultural dynamics of living life obese it’s an ongoing melee. Self esteem is minus zero (despite a brave fearless face). Life & workplace daily difficulties are magnified. Was I judged – absolutely – by others and myself. However, no other person has the right to condemn another, harass, bully, discriminate.

The reality of being severely obese was that I absolutely was not operating as the best I could be. A few kgs overweight makes no difference but I’m sure there are many people who are nazi like in their condemnation of “fat people” sand will castigate anyone with even 1 kg extra. But as a severely obese lady I struggled each and every day. Perhaps not all other obese people struggled as I did – and if that’s the case you are lucky (hence you would only need to deal with bigots)
So what happened that made me take control and change my life? Far from continuing here with that journey I can tell you it was making a decision to “live” and that I deserved health and happiness.

The causes of obesity –overeating are complex. It is not just about willpower. But let me be brutal again – obese people generally do eat large volumes of food – yes that’s true as I certainly did. Overeating is a psychological issue that is the effect of emotional pain (and then subconscious habit). Many overeaters have had a history where abuse of all types were afflicted and trauma lived and overeating is the panacea.

There are also many studies that link genetic predispositions, cortisol stress overload, thyroid dysfunction etc to the cause of obesity in a small number of cases (again people cannot judge). But eating disorders /overeating are diseases borne by other factors and these needed constant re-dress.

I was also saddened in reading some of the Fat Blogs from the article that those who were still obese were in “health denial” and denial of their emotional pain that their fat caused.

Admittedly I am uncomfortable now looking at someone who is really obese as it confronts with the pain they suffer and I just want to help them (seek counselling, , develop self esteem, not condemn themselves etc) but unless I am asked to I do so I have no right to comment/discuss. And neither does anyone else. Hence the appalling need for these blogs to rectify and “out” fat abusers. Obesity does need addressing , de-criminalising (now that’s a new take !) and all public shaming and bullying eradicated.

Please as a society let us show compassion to those obese and in pain. “ Faceless Fatties” – Fat Activitists”. We need “Compassion Activitists” and not enablers for sure. I cannot speak for all obese folk, but I’m sure I can for 75% of them. Do not objectify them, treat them with disdain.

Yes we are an obese society who needs to look deeply within and “heal”. We are also a society with unconscionable levels of family dysfunction , violence, sexual abuse, toxic management and workplaces, drug and alcohol abuse. There is far greater need for shame and vitriol to these issues than fatness.

“unless I am asked to I do so I have no right to comment/discuss.”

I walked around Coles the other week to see an obese child in a pram – maybe about 5 or 6 years old – being wheeled around by his mother/grandmother. Was hard to tell. And I mean this kid was FAT. Huge. At 5 or 6. And he was sat in that pram with a packet of crisps in his hand, shoving them in his gob.

And you’re saying society has no right to comment?

“Fat studies” ? That’s a job?

Hmmmm. We have but one life to live, we must sort out a number of decisions and elect to set courses to a number of different destinations, whilst treading inexorably to the same ending.

Some of us are fat ,some thin, some smoke some don’t, some drink themselves to an early grave and others do drugs.
Many of those who contribute to this magnificent forum, work for, or are in some way associated with, the very industry that promotes the marketing of products that add to the drunkenness and obesity that nearly all of us deplore, and odd as it seems, the industry that points out fat people as the examples with which we least wish to be associated.

If one turns back the clock, there were TV shows like The Honeymooners , in which Jacky Gleason ( a fat chain smoker ) was the popular leading man, or Highway Patrol, in which Broderick Crawford ( a bulky smoking drinker) was the leading man, or Canon, Petticoat Junction and a host of others. There were also stars like Burl Ives, Kate Smith, Cass Elliot, Charles Durning and the magnificent Mahalia Jackson.

Today we tend to avoid casting fat people in film or television, not only is TV non representational regarding race and gender distribution, but fatties get swept under the carpet in favour of the slim and trim.

I seriously consider our need as a society, to take a reality check.
The government and many members of the public attack smokers for consuming tax payer dollars in the form of medical expenses for their smoking related illnesses, whilst overlooking the fact that cigarettes and tobacco products are taxed at a huge rate. We sling off at fat people for eating and or exercising badly, in a world that promotes high calorie fast food and a myriad of devices to make life easier and to convey humans in comfort .

We should learn to be more tolerant and less judgemental; we all get one shot at a miserable handful of years, and then we die. So, as long as it isn’t against the law, or hurting you personally; just learn to leave people to their individual journeys.

Simon, I was so thrilled to read your kind post again. What a lovely human being you appear. I find it rather perverse that such comments are hidden behind a moniker/first name.

I gather that you are “perfect in your life”, have a wonderful heart, mind, body and family and never hurt or bully others and indeed show compassion to others.

Richard, if smokers, drinkers, the obese, and the drug addicted sign a pledge to never touch public health for their treatment, I’d agree with you.

But in the actual world that we live in, you know, the real one not populated with unicorns and leprechauns, they do. If it costs me, I’ll rage about it till the end of time.

You can be as fat as you like, drink milkshakes instead of water, eat tubs of ice-cream for breakfast… whatever you want to do. But don’t expect the rest of us to subscribe to your pretend “fat is beautiful” world.

Let’s see how successful “Stocky Bodies” stock shot service proves to be. I’m betting other than providing the “before” shots for diet ads the heads are getting photoshopped off their models.

There was a mag out about ten years ago called “Big Beautiful Women” which folded pretty quickly despite a lot of free publicity. It was hilarious. Every article was like this one……. self deluded. Nobody wants to be fat. It’s a side effect of an addiction to excessive food consumption.

Just do the Paleo diet – if you can kill it or pick it then you can eat it. A true Paleo Diet is actually mostly vegetable based, supplemented by a protein source which often happens to be meat.”
Grains and this low fat rollox is the issue.
And these days – do you see “fat” CEOs or Managing Directors? If you can’t control your own weight, how can you control this company???
And, if you see an obese 6 year old child being pushed round in a pram stuffing its face with crisps, soda, etc, then yes I think it’s fair to say something – and probably best to DOCS as that’s child abuse – pure and simple.

If smokers, alcoholics, drug addicts and fatties arent allowed to access the public health system…

i hope you will also include the meat eaters who consistently clog up (pun intended) our public health systems.

Our health system is designed and should exist to help those that need it, whether by bad choices or bad luck.

no-one is perfect, lets just increase the tax rates by 1% and get on with it.

@ Encyclic!

But in the actual world that we live in, you know, the real one not populated with unicorns and leprechauns, it costs you and me all the time.

Even if state funded public health were abolished, it would still cost you and me, because there is no reconciling accounts where tax and government fees are concerned. Thousands never use the library, but they have to pay for it just the same. Given your measure, there would be many thousands who could rage against book borrowers.

What about those thin people on health care who have high cholesterol from eating lamb and butter and cheese? shall we also rage against butchers and dairies?

My Father was never sick a day in his life, he never collected the dole or used a public library, but in the real world, he didn’t get a refund when he retired.

If we bothered to hunt for it, you and I could find much to rage about till the end of time.

“Fat is not normal. It bothers me that my 4yr old daughter is reprimanded at her kindergarten for calling someone fat. And the stigma of being the “fat kid” in the school yard shouldn’t stop once you finish school”.
-Oh my goodness. So congratulations are due to your child called another fat are in order? Why does your daughter feel the need to be mean? Speaking of criticising people’s parenting styles….

I, too, thought this strange article was a parody at first. Really struggled to see it’s points.

I love you Richard Moss

So @Sue Parker, you’re saying we should just let it go and allow morbidly obese kids to carry on growing without anyone saying anything? Or perhaps, as you’re suggesting, and the article is suggesting, we celebrate the 5-year old’s fatness as he happily stuffs more crisps in his mouth?

P.s. I have lost 13 kgs since last October by a) not eating crap and b) exercising every day. It’s not hard. Didn’t need a psychologist to help me through those two steps.

I believe that life is hard for everyone, doesn’t matter what you are or aren’t life will be hard. full stop.

I have a medical condition and I am obese. I have been this way since I was about 6 despite having siblings a year apart from me and eating and doing the exact same things growing up, my condition meant that I was obese and they were not. It didn’t matter what I did or how many doctors I went to I remained the same.

I was bullied through school and decided to do something about it by going for runs – most of the time I had things yelled at me from cars, things thrown at me and some very special strangers on the street decided to spit on me as they walked past. this happened to me several times by different people. After that I barely left the house for several years, suffering sever anxiety and panic attacks about what someone would do to me next. It was hard for me as a 14 year old to understand why so very many people I didn’t even know seemed to hate me so much.

I understand the comments of those above not wanting to pay for other peoples strain on the health system, really I do – I feel the same way about smokers. And maybe one day I won’t be so fat and won’t be such a strain on your tax dollars, but some of you above will always be douchebags and we all have to pay for that.