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kain_kusanagi on 11 January 2012
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sethnintendo said:
kain_kusanagi said:
Yes, but only if we also force all who are deemed abnormal to undergo normalizing treatment. If we aren't going to force the short to be surgically stretched, or the gay to go straight or the skinny to go to skinny camp then I say it's not fair and the fatties can stay fat.

Seriously though, people are fat for many reasons. They are free to eat and do as they like. If they pay into a health insurance company than they should get equal care. Like smokers and heavy drinkers the fat may have to pay more due to their lifestyle choices, but it's their right to eat, drink and smoke what they want. I don't want to live in a country that tells people they have to be "normal".

Instead we as a society should encourage healthy lifestyle through education. Schools should offer healthy but tasty meals to get kids to enjoy eating healthy. P.E. should be mandatory and well funded so kids learn to have fun outside. Health class should also be mandatory so all kids learn how the body works and why inactivity and bad diets lead to obesity and diabetes.

Just because you decided to get healthy and lose wait, (congrats, good job by the way), it doesn't mean you have the right to force anyone to live your lifestyle choices. This past year I decided to take my health seriously too. I've lost over 60 pounds by exercising and eating healthy. For me it's about health, not my appearance so I changed my lifestyle instead of going on a diet. But I would never tell a fat friend to drop the doughnut and pick up an apple. My weight loss has encouraged friends and family to get healthy and they've asked for advice so I happily gave it to them.

Educate, don't dictate.

Most of what you typed I agree with.  I was going for a controversial topic and wanted to try and support a radical idea.  One thing that all Americans can agree on is that there needs to be a drastic change in our lifestyles asap.  More and more children are obese and are now getting diseases that shouldn't show up till at least teens (diabetes, etc).  Yes, I made a lifestyle change and I do not view it as a temp diet.  Diet is your lifestyle not just some temporary thing.  Education and promotion of physical activities (sports, play outside, etc) should be top priority to make sure USA doesn't end up with a 70+% obese rate.  I really don't think fat camp should be forced but fatties just aren't giving me any hope that there will be a brighter, healthier future for Americans.  If anything most humans have devolved into lazy fat asses.

I'm glad to hear you just wanted to strike up a discussion and don't actually want government mandated diet laws. However I do think you should refrain from using the word fatty/fatties to describe the overweight. You've lost weight, that's great, but that should me you know what it feels like to be overweight. I've lost over 60 pounds and feel great, but I don't feel like that suddenly gives me the right to call others fat just because I'm not. People may have too much fat, but that doesn't mean that's all they are. People are worth more than their outer appearance. I suggest using clinical terms like "the obese" or at the very least refer to them as the overweight rather than as fatties. It's just a little insensitive. Not as bad as using the n-word or the f-word, but insensitive still. How would you have liked it if people brushed you off as a fatty instead of seeing the value of your character.

The USA may have an obesity problem, but we also have another problem. Too much fixation on outward appearance. Too many people consider all but the most beautiful to be undesirable. Movies and TV have a lot to do with this. It would be nice if people weren't so wrapped up in how they look and focused on what's inside, what really counts.