Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Being overweight is un-PC.

I am sick of the apparently publicly accepted, PC approach to obesity in America.

I've written about what it's like to be fat before, but that was personal. This time, it's not just about me. This is about a societal attitude toward overweight people.

Doctors either don't mention it at all--hence a doctor who told me that I was "voluptuous" instead of testing my thyroid, which, as I learned years later, was underactive--or they blame everything on obesity and fail to find the real source of some overweight patients' problems. Fat prejudice is prevalent in health care, and it can keep overweight patients from seeking or getting the treatment they need.

Mississippi is proposing a bill that would prohibit restaurants from serving overweight patrons. The legislator who proposed it doesn't want it to pass, he says; he just wants to call attention to the problem. Truly, how kind. What problem is that? The problem where not enough Americans are looking down at overweight people, and assuming that body size is an indicator of health? Or the problem where not every overweight person is silently (or not-so-silently) judged by others for daily decisions like what to eat for dinner?

A New York Times article about brides' obsession with weight loss (which is, to be fair, an interesting and readable piece) mentions that over half the brides surveyed were of normal BMI. Yet the article states at the end that doctors should capitalize on this obsession to encourage engaged women to focus on losing weight the healthy way, even once the wedding is over. What about the majority of those women, the ones who were already at a healthy weight? Should they be encouraged to lose another ten pounds too?

Some doctors have suggested putting warning labels about the health risks of obesity in plus-size clothing. There's a thoughtful idea that wouldn't alienate fat people more than they already are. The condescension in such proposals is painful.

We are all obsessed with BMI, even though it's a flawed indicator that isn't particularly specific to individuals, since it depends on muscle mass and other factors. Swistle has a great post about what's classified as "plus-size," with a link to a fascinating slide show about what BMI says about real people's body types.

Obesity is a problem in the US. But it isn't a problem on its own. It's a problem because it has a lot of dangerous co-morbidities, such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It needs to be reduced. Our country needs to be healthier.

But we need to be healthier in terms of making healthy food choices, staying active, and generally taking care of our bodies. Obesity can be used as an easy indicator for those things. But it's become too easy in this country to use overweight as a stand-in for the real problem. To blame problems on that. To assume that if an overweight person has a health problem, it's because they're overweight. To make judgments about fat people, that they're lazy or that they hate themselves.

What it comes down to is that it's societally acceptable to couch our distaste for fat people in the language of good health. We have given ourselves permission to judge overweight people based on their size. And I do not understand why that's okay.

56 comments:

  1. I was shocked when I heard about the proposal to not serve overweight people - and who on earth would be the one to judge what qualifies as overweight?

    Some things can't be regulated.

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  2. What's nearly as irritating is if I 'complain' about my weight and somebody responds by saying 'Oh, but you're so skinny!' or 'You're so thin!' Um...okay. I'm NOT. Please don't patronize me. Really.

    But then there was the friend who once asked "So...does it ever bother you that you're fat?" (Didn't smack her, wanted to.)

    Interesting, a couple months ago, I heard about this study that showed that being as much as 20 pounds "overweight" was OK. There were actually no significant health risks associated with it. Funny how that study got covered up pretty fast! Thanks for the post - I really enjoy reading your perspective on these weight 'issues.'

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  3. Oh and what are they going to do? Make you step on a scale and check a BMI chart when you walk in the door? Good grief! Idiots!

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  4. I love this post...labels inside my favorite lane bryant duds? please, like I don't already feel like I have to hide the bag as I walk through the rest of the mall. And your mention of plus sized models? I never watch america's next top model, and I was catching on of the reruns last month when they introduced the model who was going to go into "plus sized" modeling. she could not have been more than a size 8, at the absolute most. what the fuck?

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  5. One of my favorite books of all time is Fat!So?. It draws attention to some of the same things you mention.

    I also agree with you, and would also add the problem of people talking so much about "the obesity epidemic" as if they are actually concerned about health rather than appearance. Other health situations (smoking, eating disorders, starvation diets) don't get anywhere NEAR the attention as the ones we don't like to LOOK at.

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  6. You are very articulate when angry (and I mean that as a compliment). That bill is just shocking!

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  7. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. sorry about the language, but seriously. are you fucking kidding me? i hadn't heard of either that fucked up restaurant bill OR the label in clothes. that's so... jesus, it's fucked up, is what it is. you know, those poor fat people! they just walk around all day not even knowing they're fat or unhealthy! let's HELP them! see, we're HELPING! GAG ME. and then kick each of those policy makers in the teeth. rargh. am now angry.

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  8. Seriously, that bill. What. the. fuck.

    My workplace sponsored a study similar to the one bren j. mentioned with the same results. The author of the study gets tons of questions on "what to do about those last 20 lbs" or whatever, and he always says, "don't worry about it".

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  9. Wow. Living in Canada I hadn't heard most of what you mention but it's pretty ridiculous. Maybe doctors are more passive here but I have never had a doctor comment on my weight or encourage me to lose weight (and I could stand to lose at least 70lbs). It's not until I asked my doctor how I should approach weight loss that she made some suggestions.

    That being said, I agree that we could be healthier and health, not weight, needs to be the end goal. Blaming every ailment and condition on a few (or even 50 or 100 "extra") pounds automatically, without actually requiring the necessary tests is not good medicine. We don't go to doctors for them to guess or assume they know what is wrong with us; we can do that on our own thanks to the internet. What we want is for them to do the same tests they'd do for someone with no extra weight on their bodies complaining of the same symptoms and based on the results of these tests, give us a diagnosis.

    Thanks for sharing this info, Jess.

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  10. Angry, it makes me so angry. I had an eating disorder for years, a serious one, and I know that the eating disorder did far more damage to my health than the extra 20 pounds would have ever done.

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  11. I was just having this conversation with my husband (after we heard the news article about the Mississippi bill). I don't know why the focus is not on the co-morbidities - like stressing the importance of keeping your blood pressure/cholesterol/blood sugar levels in check. That BMI crap just bothers me.

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  12. BMI measurements are such bull it drives me crazy. They base your BMI on two things--your weight and your height. It's ridiculous! According to my BMI, I'm overweight, but anyone who knows me realizes that I'm muscular with large bones and am not overweight like my BMI tells me. I hate that that's what so many studies are based on when it really is not even a good measurement of someone's health!

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  13. I can't believe they would even think to do that!

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  14. wow this was really powerful, and i really had no idea -- thanks for opening my eyes to something so messed up/terrible!

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  15. I took a class once that focused on stuff like BMI and "healthy" lifestyles. When they told me I was close to being "morbidly obese" I quit the class. But not before giving them the finger.

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  16. well said! i completely agree with you. thanks for posting this.

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  17. Good for you for posting this. I had no idea about all the stuff you mentioned and now I do. Thanks.

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  18. i don't have anything eloquent to say - but it pisses me the hell off. that slideshow? didn't much help. I hate those labels. when I think of morbidly obese, I think of those people that have it so bad they can't even walk or move from their bed because it's too difficult (ie: 400-800+ lbs). I can't fathom that being a healthy lifestyle, but no one i saw in any of those pictures is even CLOSE to that type of weight.

    meh.

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  19. WOW.

    This was a really great post, Jess. Well said and right on.

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  20. This is mindnumbing. The slideshow blew my mind.

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  21. Wow. That proposal to not serve overweight people. That's the most discriminatory thing I've ever heard a law maker even consider. What about in the Declaration of Independence where it says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

    If I were a lawyer or knew more about Constitutional Law, I might venture to say that that's constitutional.

    They tell us that there are so many overweight people in America, and yet look how many of us obsess about our weight. I'm considered 'normal' and I'm still wanting to lose.

    I'm so sorry that you have to be on the receiving end of this.

    I don't know if I mentioned this last time, but my dad is overweight, and has been for as long as I've known him. He's probably considered morbidly obese, and it crushes me that he has to go through this too.

    I just don't like it when over-weight people call themselves fat. They say it so disparagingly. I wish they wouldn't feel so bad about themselves (Mostly thanks to society) and cut themselves down like that. I don't see how their any less good because of their weight.

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  22. I'm pretty outraged right now. Proposing not to serve overweight people? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Putting labels in plus size clothing? SAY WHAT!?!!?

    I don't think those are ways to help solve anything or "really make people think" when eating. I think if anything were to help, is to get rid of supersizing and the large portions you're served. Last night I was at McDonalds and the guy before me ordered a double quarter meal supersized and 2double cheese sandwiches on the side. He was by himself and I watched him carry his tray to a table. Those are the kind of portions I don't find appropriate for anyone.

    Also, trying to dive into this WW thing, I calculated points in a happy meal just for the heck of it, but didn't even make it that far once I saw that a mighty kids meal (double cheese, fries and small sprite) was over 800 calories. EIGHT HUNDRED CALORIES for a CHILD.

    anyways.... and the doctor thing- i saw my doctor at the end of December. She really offended me by all her "beauty" talk. It was clear her main concern is looks when she stated I need to "watch my weight" and took immediate notice to a few moles. First- I am not considered big by anyone I know. I mean, I could lose a few, yes. But I have not fluctuated my weight in 3 years. She just kept saying it over and over again. Be more active, healthy choices, watch your weight. No fricken kidding. I dont think people realize that for some, food is an obsession. To eat it, to get rid of it, etc.

    Anyways... thanks for a wonderful post today. I'm sure it's made us all think a bit more :)

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  23. Things like putting labels in plus-sized clothing or refusing to serve overweight people in restaurants - what do people think that will serve? To educate overwight people that they are overweight??

    I think it's cruel and a form of discrimination.

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  24. Oh, man. I'm hot. I CANNOT BELIEVE.. wha????? A BILL TO NOT SERVE OVERWIEGHT PEOPLE? WARNING LABELS IN CLOTHES!!!!????? We are SO fucked up.

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  25. The suggestion of putting warning labels on plus-sized clothing makes me very sad. That's just wrong. =(

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  26. Funny, according to the BMI calculator I just used, I am now on the top end of normal, but was "overweight" when I completed my triathlon (and had about 10 pounds more muscle on me).

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  27. Ugh. This totally pisses me off. Why do people focus so much on this without really talking about the problems?

    Okay, you can ban fat people from restaurants but you could just as easily limit portion sizes for EVERYONE and be more helpful. Or you could make it easier to walk and use public transportation in cities other than New York & DC.

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  28. I don't know what to say other than WORD.

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  29. What a thought provoking post!
    I have struggled my whole life with body image and i am not fat. It's crazy really. BMI is stupid! And weight isn't a good indicator either. I have always weighted more than I look like I do because I carry so much muscle.

    I wish we could focus more on health than size. I loved that Bigger Looser when they talked to the doc about how their health had changed. I wish they would focus more on that than the numbers on the scale.

    I wish all this wasn't such a big issue for me:(

    Thanks again.

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  30. This is a well-organized and strongly stated post. Clearly you put a lot of thought into it.

    The same people who call overweight people unhealthy are the same ones who call mothers whose children are having tantrums bad.

    Making generalities is a riding a very dangerous and fine line.

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  31. i am seriously FLOORED that they are trying to pass a bill like that "to raise awareness". so wrong.

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  32. Oh WOW. This bill? ridiculous.

    I can't believe that anyone would even propose it.

    I don't have any words to explain how wrong this is.

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  33. I was outraged when I read about that bill in MS. Ridiculous!

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  34. Great post! Maybe it has always been this way, but it seems like being fat today is the absolutely worst thing one could be. Overweight people are judged, scorned, and ridiculed. I would rather be a fat and nice person than a skinny bitch!

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  35. This is so well written, Jess.

    Thank you for organizing and sharing this information. It is worthwhile!

    I think obesity is a collective issue, not a really private, personal one. It is not some private moral failing on the part of overweight people. I AM SO SICK OF THAT VICIOUS UNDERCURRENT OF BLAME.

    It is a moral failing on the part of our government (and citizens) for protecting food processors and corporations whose only job is TO SELL MORE FOOD.

    It is a moral failing on the part of nutrition professionals for not rising up and RIOTING by what is being sold as "food."

    All of this results in a very private pain.

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  36. What I was also trying to say there is that I believe there are STRUCTURES in place that make it really difficult for ALL OF US not to eat too much, etc. That it is nearly impossible to be healthy.

    Also - healthy does not equal skinny. Many times skinny equals unhealthy - both physically and mentally.

    Basically, healthy people come in all sizes and shapes. Hell - we even come in different colors!

    Eh. I am struggling with what I am trying to say...

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  37. I've been on both ends of this, I've been thin and I've been overweight. I can say that I did not get treated the same when I was more overwight than I am now. It's a sad reality.

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  38. It isnt ok, at all. Not in the slightest and I think the bill to stop peple from eating in a restaurant is horrible, completely inhumane.
    The issue comes down to producing better foods, EVERYWHERE, getting rid of the shit, making cheap food= healthy food rather than the opposite, and supporting those that are overweight rather than judging them,
    Weight, whether big or small is an issue to everyone and its an issue that needs to be handled much more delicately.

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  39. What it comes down to is that it's societally acceptable to couch our distaste for fat people in the language of good health. We have given ourselves permission to judge overweight people based on their size. And I do not understand why that's okay.

    I also don't understand why it's okay. We need to stop marginalizing those who are obese/fat/heavy, we need to stop glorifying bony-ass skinny/gaunt/anorexic and we need to start making junk food astronomically expensive and healthy food ridiculously cheap. I could go on and on about what I think needs to change in this country (less emphasis on technology and entertainment, more emphasis on physical fitness and activity, etc.), but I'm sure you've heard it all.

    The bottom line is, stupid ideas that marginalize are still stupid ideas no matter how you try to cut it. The legislator from Mississippi should be slapped upside the head and often.

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  40. I think our society as a whole has become way too judgmental. The weight issue is a perfect example of this. What gives any of us the right to judge someone else on everyday items like what car someone drives, much less weight. This is a very sensitive topic and needs to be treated as such. The law not meant to pass but rather to call attention to weight? Crass. Ridiculous. Hateful.

    A very well written post. Thanks for shining a light on such a delicate subject.

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  41. Excellent post. I had never heard of the MS study or the labels in clothing. Ridiculous.

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  42. I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog!

    This post is not only informing but also eye-opening. I don't understand how they can put a label on plus size clothing, or refuse someone a meal?

    Oh goodness...if they do this then they need to put a label on all magazine covers/photos that says AIRBRUSHED. If they are going to alienate the real people, they better alienate the fake ones too.

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  43. I think its great that the nation i trying to reduce obesity because i personally beleive its a big problem. People asume fat people are unhealthy and lazy because if they were healthy and very active they wouldnt be obese and thats just the truth I think the whole world needs to try harder to look after their bodies & the changes being made might encourage more people to do so even if it is not right. i hope i havent offended you it wasnt personal, but i beleive bloging it about expressing your opinion? iam adele btw :)

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  44. I heard about that proposed bill on the radio. I'm not sure I'd go to a restaurant where you had to step on the scales on the way in. I'm not sure I know too many people that are in the normal BMI category (including me) so I guess I wouldn't eat out much if that happened here.

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  45. Wow, I had no idea about the idea for warning labels in CLOTHES - how fucking ridiculous is that? This was well written, and painful to read.

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  46. That's a ridiculous proposal to make, and I'm so impressed in the way you articulated your point of view. I completely agree with how you feel, and I also think that no matter how big or small someone is, there is always something to be self-conscious about, something that you feel that you have to defend.

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  47. I do think weight discrimination is the last socially permissable prejudice. It is so sad and so ridiculous. And women's magazines don't help any, when they have articles about eating disorders, how tragic blah blah blah, and then a freaking weight loss pill advertisement on the next page. We pay lip service to having a healthy body image and all, but the bottom line is that this culture is OBSESSED with beauty, and an arbitrary standard of beauty at that.

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  48. People never cease to amaze me. That bill is disgusting. What is to be gained by that? Is the patron supposed to be stunned into the realization that he or she is overweight? I'm so sure that would be the first time their weight would be brought to their attention. Idiots.

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  49. I hadn't heard about that proposal to not serve overweight people until just now and I am floored. Seriously? That is just wrong. Let's also rule out blondes and redheads while we're at it, sheeesh!

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  50. very very valid points. i think of it as a case of correlation DOES NOT equal causation! did you know that the FATTEST MAN according to guinness world records (he weighs more than 11 baby elephants)...has completey NORMAL blood pressure?!? how's that for contradictory!

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  51. Labels on your clothes? Fuck! I' already hate shopping. I hate going into clothing stores that only stock clothes for anorexic people. And this whole idea of losing weight for weddings .... Think I might write a blog post about this.

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  52. That bill- is so stupid I can't even express my feelings about it.

    And what should be important is that we feel comfortable in our own bodies- not whether or not we can fit into clothes sizes 0-4. I mean... wtf

    Right now I'm feeling a bit down about my body, but this has a hell of a lot more to do with my lack of exercise than my clothes size. I'm only up a size and a half but I feel like crap. Really must start doing yoga again. That is the only workout I actually like and tend to stick with.

    But yeah, we should all look at the risks of unhealthy eating habits- much worse to be skinny and only eat say McDonalds than be "Obese" and eat healthy food.

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  53. I'm reading this book right now for my book club called I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. You've probably heard of it.

    Anyway, the way he talks about overwight people makes me feel physically sick. That he feels like he has the right to look down on or judge people simply because they are different than him- and not does he feel that he has a right to do so, but he thinks of himself as "hilarious". I stopped reading halfway through, I was so irritated and disgusted.

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  54. You're so, so right. That legislation... I'm stunned. Even though I think The Biggest Loser often promotes dangerously unattainable results (NO ONE with a full-time job can be safely dropping 10+ pounds each week... they deemphasize how much the contestants are working out), last night the trainer talked to one team about how important it is to eat healthy. Even as a publicity stunt, acting as though overweight / obese people DO NOT DESERVE TO EAT, is so dangerous, destructive and wrong. Disgusting.

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  55. The depth to which this prejudice runs is so deep.
    I just got back from a conference where I saw a talk that showed how people feel as though, if they are about to go into negotiations with someone who is overweight, they automatically assumed that they are going to have more power and control in the situation. WTF??

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  56. Gee now you know how smokers feel. Even when they try to be nice and hide in alleys, and try not to offend anyone it is not enough for the loonies. The scale at the restaurant door is just the beginning. If you are going to have a vice it is best that it be alcohol or gambling as these are the sacred cows of the leftist socialists.

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