Why do Americans praise fat people that lose weight?

[Fifaguy360]

d21lewis said:

superchunk said:
Why wouldn't you praise someone for improving themselves in some manner?

I'll praise them for improving themselves when it becomes socially acceptable to deride them for harming themselves.  It should go both ways!  Why praise someone for doing something they're already supposed to do?

"Good job, Billy!  You didn't shit all over yourself!" 

No.  Billy shouldn't shit on himself in the first place.

It would be nice, but we don't live in an ideal world. A lot of people make bad choices or have their own circumstances i.e. depression leading to obesity, pregnancy etc. Turning around those bad choices/circumstances and overcoming their issues is championed because displays their will power and enourages others to do the same. A lot of motivational speakers have some sort of back story.