America is the only place where it's ok to be obese, in other countries it's kind of seen as a problem (shocking right) so over-eating is much more demonised. I'm pretty sure even in america though people value being skinny more than being overweight so you're just talking out of your arse really
Why is under-eating more demonized than overeating in society?
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For one thing, I think the stigmatization behind our language is also partially to blame. If you greeted someone with, "Hey! You're really fat," it'll probably lead to a fight.
Replace "fat" with "skinny" and many people will take it as a compliment.
Replace "fat" with "skinny" and many people will take it as a compliment.
Governments and all kinds of experts talk about The Obesity Epidimic.
Yap, fat people getting sidelined with The Black Death, The Spanish Flu etc.
Think that answers all.
Yap, fat people getting sidelined with The Black Death, The Spanish Flu etc.
Think that answers all.
This, this so hard.Daystar Clarion said:
The worst I've heard levied against an anorexic is that they're vain, but that's pretty uncommon. Anorexics are almost always characterized as victims, while the obese are most most commonly seen as weak. While calling them victims as well isn't unheard of, it's more often the former than the latter.
As an aside, apparently now that obesity has been labelled a disease in the US (against the advice of the experts they asked, of course), there's lots more money to be made out of it. More than there was before, I mean.
And more dangerous pseudoscience, of course.
And more dangerous pseudoscience, of course.
Type "biggest loser" into youtube and tell me fat people arent demonised. That program is actually sickening. Its basically about this scary lesbian woman (who is probably less attractive than the fat women) and her muscly man friend who together have the personality of a brick, a big grey breezeblock infact. Their lives revolve around eating leaves and lifting heavy shit. They make it their life ambition to abuse fat people. Its almost as if they were the school bullies and that was all the were good at. Even the title "biggest loser"meaning the contestant who has lost the most weight and still makes it sound negative.afroebob said:
Im not saying that being obese is attractive or healthy but neither is being a ****. Id rather we had a nation of nice happy fat people than a nation of irritating self obsessed twats
Probably because eating disorders that cause malnourishment are mental health issues, and much of the western world still has an appalling attitude towards mental health issues.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it's demonised as much as overeating, though. I suppose overeating, while it can be compulsive and a serious problem, is an easy thing to end up doing and is therefore more easily relatable and ultimately becomes a topic for amusement (not precluding concern). Undereating is the opposite, it rarely comes without some kind of mental health problem, and there's a stigma there; thus people prefer to sweep it under the table rather than discuss it.
I wouldn't go so far as to say it's demonised as much as overeating, though. I suppose overeating, while it can be compulsive and a serious problem, is an easy thing to end up doing and is therefore more easily relatable and ultimately becomes a topic for amusement (not precluding concern). Undereating is the opposite, it rarely comes without some kind of mental health problem, and there's a stigma there; thus people prefer to sweep it under the table rather than discuss it.
Are you sure that they regard <18.5 as anorexia nervosa? I am looking at the WHO site on BMI and can't find a mention of it, and it would seem rather sensational for them to say this. As an aside, I have a BMI of 16.9 according to the calculator, and yet I eat what I like and don't in any way restrict my food -- so clearly this is the weight I should be, and I don't like being told I'm "underweight".Johnny Novgorod said:
Forgive the wording. Having a BMI lower than 18.5 is just a symptom of anorexia, not the actual condition.MasterOfHisOwnDomain said:
Regarding whether you're underweight or not, the WHO would classify you as Underweight, of the moderate thinness kind.
http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html
Remember BMI is not a very accurate measurement. Really BMI should be measured through your bodys electrical resistance. Remember also that people who are muscular will appear to have a high BMI when infact they are very lean.MasterOfHisOwnDomain said:
I wouldnt worry about 16.9 especially if you eat what you like. I would like to take a stab in the dark and say you are still fairly young which is probably a factor
You only get demonized for eating too little if you're way, WAY under the norm. As in, barely able to walk. At that point, it becomes a danger to your well-being. You could literally fall over dead the next day- thus people are very concerned.
Meanwhile, being fat may kill you in 20 or 30 years or never.
If you're a little underweight though? That's pretty much a 100% positive trait.
Meanwhile, being fat may kill you in 20 or 30 years or never.
If you're a little underweight though? That's pretty much a 100% positive trait.
The local culture and internet culture where I dwell demonizes both undereating and over eating; however, it is over eating which carries more of a stigma, and rightfully so. Those who under eat may be victims of the media and uncommonly concerned with image, but at least they must put forth uncommon effort to change their body. Further, there are demonstable health benefits to being under weight. Those who over eat are putting forth the opposite of effort, giving in to base desires without moderation. Sure, some people are affected by health issues which cause them to gain weight, but they represent the uncommon minority. Society should not adjust it's perception of the common cause of obesity to accomodate those affected by rare defects.
Well, don't look to BMI for any real use, it's very misleading. BMI is basically just your height to weight comparison, meaning that someone who has lots of muscle and incredibly low body-fat percentage will be considered "overweight" by their standards. It also doesn't factor in things like cholesterol, resting heart rate, blood pressure, etc. There are plenty of people in phenomenal shape and extremely healthy who would be considered "underweight" or "overweight" by the BMI scale.MasterOfHisOwnDomain said:
I'm going to go ahead and say that it's not society doing that, it's your hamlet.
Because seriously, what the whatty what what?
Because seriously, what the whatty what what?
Not...eating... demonized? Never heard of such a thing. What part of the US are you from, OP? I've lived in various places on both coasts as well as Kentucky/Tennessee (kind of on the border), Arkansas, Idaho and Mississippi (granted, only around military installations)... and I've never seen someone with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia treated with anything but pity or compassion.
...you sure it's not just a thing in your family?
...you sure it's not just a thing in your family?
I think the experience that the OP is talking about is fairly unique. It has always been my experience that people who over eat and are obese are objects of scorn and ridicule, whereas those who under eat to the point where their health is affected are viewed more along the lines of being mentally ill.
As an aside though, working in the healthcare field has shown me what the long term effects of obesity are first hand. Looking at the shape some of these people are in (amputations from diabetes, unable to bear their own weight for more than a few seconds, soiling and being unable to properly wash themselves), I would rather be put down like a dog than end up in that situation. This movement towards acceptance of the grossly overweight is dangerous, as is calling it a disease. Most of the people in this situation are already full of excuses for why they are the way they are, that adding any more only compounds the problem. There are a few rare genetic conditions tat predispose someone to put on weight, but most of these are glandular, and can be controlled with medication.
I put on 40 lbs when my wife was pregnant. I felt like crap all the time. After maybe a year or so I decided to do something about it. I fixed my diet (fresh veggies, meat, limited carbohydrates, whole grains, no processed sugar or junk), and got back into an exercise routine. I am currently running 30-40km per week and weigh in at 180-185lbs (at 6'1"). I feel better, I look better, and was able to do this while working and with a very young child at home (my wife also works). There is no reason that most people could not accomplish the same thing if properly motivated. It was a real lifestyle change, not a diet. You also really need to look closely at the nutritional information on food since a lot of stuff that is marketed as healthy is really full of garbage.
As an aside though, working in the healthcare field has shown me what the long term effects of obesity are first hand. Looking at the shape some of these people are in (amputations from diabetes, unable to bear their own weight for more than a few seconds, soiling and being unable to properly wash themselves), I would rather be put down like a dog than end up in that situation. This movement towards acceptance of the grossly overweight is dangerous, as is calling it a disease. Most of the people in this situation are already full of excuses for why they are the way they are, that adding any more only compounds the problem. There are a few rare genetic conditions tat predispose someone to put on weight, but most of these are glandular, and can be controlled with medication.
I put on 40 lbs when my wife was pregnant. I felt like crap all the time. After maybe a year or so I decided to do something about it. I fixed my diet (fresh veggies, meat, limited carbohydrates, whole grains, no processed sugar or junk), and got back into an exercise routine. I am currently running 30-40km per week and weigh in at 180-185lbs (at 6'1"). I feel better, I look better, and was able to do this while working and with a very young child at home (my wife also works). There is no reason that most people could not accomplish the same thing if properly motivated. It was a real lifestyle change, not a diet. You also really need to look closely at the nutritional information on food since a lot of stuff that is marketed as healthy is really full of garbage.
True, true. There's this Youtuber, boogie2988, who does these videos under the character "Francis" who rages with a fake voice over shit. But he also does a lot of videos on topics of being fat, and depression and all that.Daystar Clarion said:
I'd recommend checking them out. This is a particular one that I found very interesting:
There's another issue to that, BMI doesn't really tell you shit. It was neat experiment by a mathematician to measure the correlation between weight and height. Each person has different metabolisms, bone/muscle structure, and other factors that make the issue far more complicated than "your height is X, therefore your weight is 'supposed' to be Y". Here's a pretty good video regarding the matter with lots of sources in the description:Johnny Novgorod said:
Penn & Teller also did a "Bullshit!" episode about it, but they got a bit heavy into genetics being the main deciding factor as if you couldn't exercise and properly eat your way to something that's healthy for you. That's the most important thing, that you're healthy for you and feel good and happy and satisfied, not pleasing the almighty chart regardless.