Is Weight Discrimination a Problem?

Yes, I believe it exists because of years and years of media brainwashing that you have be to perfect size "1" to be loved and acceptable. Unfortunately, many people pre-judge the book by its cover. They never explore the pages on the inside. Meaning that they think that large=lazy!! I have seen someone ridiculed for their weight. It made me sick!! I worked for a large corporation. When this gentlemen was not there I overheard some of the bartenders call him "fat boy". These employees were never punished and still remain employed.
I cared enough to get to know this man. He was a beautiful person. He writes books, wrote music, teaches art, and was very creative!! I like to make each person show me what they have!! Don't judge until you actually watch a person. Skinny people have huge character flaws too!! We just push it under a rug, because they might be good looking or drive a fast car!!
So Tit for Tat!!

By the Way Discrimination still prevails:
I am not obese, but I was discriminated against in a different way!!
Shame on companies that do nothing about employees that mistreat other employees.
The important thing is that you believe in yourself that you deserve respect. You deserve your rights.
Even if the EEOC turns down your case, and you have 90 days to file suit!! Do it!! If you believe in your cause do it, for every female that you care about. For your daughter:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-60s-type-discrimination-in-the-work-place-now
simply glue and paste:

People automatically associate big=Lazy!! They pre judge. They assume the cover of a book without investigating the "story" or the "inner pages"!!
I worked for a large corporation here in town. I would hear the other bartenders talk about this man when he wasn't working, like making fun and calling him a "fat boy"! It made me sick, because I knew him enough to get to know him. He writes prose and poetry, writes music, artistic, creative, and taught art classes downtown!! The jewel they never knew!!

Shame on big companies that see discrimination and do not do anything about it!
I should know!!

I was discriminated against in a different way. I won't back down and congress needs to enforce stricter laws!!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-60s-type-discrimination-in-the-work-place-now

Society has made it illegal to "discriminate" against people for things which have been points of discrimination for as long as there has been human life. That is just a fact.

Thus, as we are genetically programmed to establish "pecking order" then some criteria for socially-sanctioned discrimination must take the place of the outlawed areas of previous bias against a person. Merely another fact.

The question becomes; Can we overcome our genetic predisposition to "pick-on" another human being for self-serving reasons--ie..to reassure oneself that one is better than another--based on trivialities? When can we learn to judge another based on character, achievements, established positive traits???etc..?????

The scientists and doctors have been telling us for YEARS and YEARS about the damage that stress does to our bodies. Weight gain is one of the very NATURAL responses to being unable to take "flight or fight"--also disapproved of by "society."

When will we Americans learn to value the health of our society's members over the allmighty dollar?--which would suffer very little if everyone were more healthy? Other countries have less obesity and fewer health problems that are brought on stress--that's just a fact too. They have more vacation time and holidays for family time. And their GNP is not sacrificed.

Here the upper eschelon of profit-motivated corporations (etc) are so entrenched in WORK COMES FIRST that we are regularly cheated out of even ONE week a year for a vacation. We are not working to live--we are living to work--which is INSANE!--so get thee to a nut-ward!for a well-deserved rest.

OR---expect that you too will one day have more girth than you would like to have. Or if you don't then the stress WILL--and I do mean absolutely positively WILL be expressed otherwise--it MUST come out somehow--its up to you.

I've been on the recieving end of bullying over my weight all my life. It's been so bad that I couldn't even bring myself to tell people that a group of boys were sexually assaulting me on a daily basis because I was sure no one would believe anyone could possibly assault a "fat ugly cow" like myself.

My mom is also fat. She also had major back surgery 11 years ago - not due to her weight but due to a gentic condiction that causes the skin around the nerves in the spinal cord to shrink and also a cyst inside the cord as well. She's still in constant pain and sometimes has to be in a wheelchair. People see her and assume that she's in the chair because of her weight. They make snide remarks all the time about how she's in the chair because she's "fat and lazy." People have gone so far as to throw things at her legs to see if they'll move. It's sad how people think nothing of abusing a handicapped woman just because she also happens to have a weight problem.

We get the worse seats and service at restraunts. If I go through a "haunted house" the monsters ignore me in favor of skinny coeds. I have a MySpace page to promote my singing and more then once have gotten abusive messages saying that I'm "an ugly beast" and that I'll never make anything of myself because I'm fat. Nevermind that I DO have a lot of singing talent and put a lot of love, time, and work into every song I sing. All they see is my weight.

And the thing is, I don't really eat all that badly. And I excercise. I hate fast food. I love to swim and ride my bike - though I'm afraid to do the former because - well, who wants to see a fat woman in a bathing suit? I watch what I eat because I have TONS of food allergies - including many of the things that they use to make the healthy foods, like whole grains, especially whole wheat. I'm also allergic to artifical sweetners, pork, cinnimon, bell peppers, paprika, and a number of other things that either cause me to break out, have trouble breathing, or spend hours in the bathroom wishing I was dead. Some, like the artifical sweetners, have even sent me to the hospital. And people, seeing me use real sugar, look down upon me and sneer.

Even the clothing industry is discriminating. The clothes made for fat women like myself are terrible. Sleeveless, capped sleeves, spagetti straps, horizontial stripes, huge patterns - all these serve to make us look like a joke. Giving people more ways to pick fun of us.

It's a sad world we live in. I didn't choose to be fat. I try my best to not be fat. But I am fat. I'm also a human being. A talented singer, a caring person, a loyal friend. I'm more then the sum of my weight and I really wish people would take time to get to know me before judging me.

And I REALLY wish they'd stop abusing my mom. Even if she was a former Olympic athelete she'd STILL be in that chair. Her weight has nothing to do with it. So stop throwing things at her, stop making nasty remarks, stop walking in front of her on purpose and sticking your rear end into her face, stop treating her like she's less then human just because she's a 65 year old overweight woman in a wheelchair. If you had a cyst scraped out of your spinal cord and part of your vertabre removed, you'd be in a wheelcahir too!

(Oy vey! I hope this goes through this time. I've tried twice now and gotten that blasted 500 error. After all I've typed I'd hate to not be able to submit it!)

I think weight discrimination is a very real problem. When I go shopping, I always have to ask for assistance. No one ever comes up to me. When I'm in a non plus-size area at a clothes shop, women don't even look at me.

I think the worst was when I walked into Victoria's Secret for LOTION. I am well aware that I cannot fit into their cup sizes. The minute I walked in, a saw an employee in the corner's eyes grow wide. She looked me up and down and then whispered something to a friend nearby. It was very blatant and rude.

The truth is, I've worked very hard to love my body *now* while I am trying to get healthier. I don't think it's fair that I'm not 'allowed' to have to same confidence, and the same treatment, as a woman who isn't overweight.

I can say that, honestly, there is a big difference in the way a thin, not skinny, person is treated, compared to a heavy set person because I have been both in my lifetime. When I was younger and up until 10 years ago, I was in pretty good shape. Then illness grabbed me by the throat and shook me around and now I weigh 193 lbs. at 4' 11", and am on 13 medications and the side effects of some of those are weight gain. I could count on people helping me when I needed it when I was in pretty good shape, but not now that I am fat. People ignore me now. So there is my story.

I do discriminate against overweight people and I don't think thats wrong. I think that an overweight person can be very nice, intelligent, beautiful, caring, etc. But they are also more irresponsible, lazy, overeaters and I would not hire a heavier person if I could hire an equally competent thin person. And they are the ones that are usually too lazy to even get out of their cars and walk a mile to work.
They do pose more health problems. They are costly, requiring more time off, more sick days and more expensive health problems. Some countries in Europe are adding a $1000-$2000 fat tax and I completely agree. Its unfair for society to have to take up the burden of an overweight person. Very very few people are overweight due to health reasons. Take responsibility for yourselves!

I want to know HOW being overweight affects My "Values"?

and what is it to anyone else IF I am unfit or not?

I find the comments from people saying "being overweight is a choice" to be appalling. Obesity is a disease just like anorexia, people do not choose to overeat, but it becomes an addiction just like gambling or drugs, however, drugs and casinos can be eliminated from your life, unlike food, which is vital to our survival. People tend to be ignorant with the overweight population in America because they lack the proper information and/or are insecure and feel the need to insult other peoples' flaws. While not all obesity is caused by medical problems, genetics and your mental state have a tremendous amount to do with it. Overweight people are no different intellectually, while they may weigh more than you or me, they still feel the same emotions and have the exact same mental capacity as everyone else. A person's weight should not dictate who they are mentally, and it has no bearing on their qualification for jobs. If being in the presence of an overweight person makes you uncomfortable then I pity you and you clearly did not receive enough love or the proper upbringing from your parents. We are all the same, and just as people aren't or shouldn't be judged based on their ethnicity, sex, age, religion, or sexual orientation, they also should not be judged by a number on a scale. Be compassionate, not judgmental, because you may be missing out on some great bonds with wonderful people just because you form an opinion based on their appearance.

Maybe if more people were told that their weight problem is theirs and no one elses by their doctors they would take responsibility instead of some prescription that says "It's not your fault." Saying that being overweight is a "disorder" or "disease" simply takes responsibility from the person with the weight problem. So if it's not your fault you don't have to feel so bad about yourself. I believe that weight is a choice. I have been everywhere from 145lbs to 210lbs and the way people treat me is totally different when I'm at a normal weight. I also treat people differently if they are overweight I just blame them for being not being motivated enough to make a few lifestyle changes. My weight is something that I have accepted full responsibility for and since then maintaining a healthy weight has not been a problem. Yes, I do discriminate fat people...I'm sure I'm missing out on some interesting people. I am certainly working on my perception...

I think that there definitely is a weight discrimination problem in the world. I was once a perfect size 7, and because of a medication and a severe illness, I went to a size 17 in 3 months' time. The difference is amazing. At first, people thought I was pregnant and sneered at me for that. Then they thought it was my fault and that I was an overeater with no self control. In fact, I have a genetic insulin resistance that causes my body not to process carbs and simply store them as fat....unless I take medication, diet, and excersise to correct it. All of which I do. Because I've been there, I try my hardest not to judge people because I don't know their medical history. However, I do agree that it is annoying when you see obese people scarfing down bad foods and then complaining about their weight.

I am one of the "FEW" that actually have reasons for my weight. And yet, regardless of the facts I am told frequently that my problem is eating too much, not exercising, I am attractive and have a great personality, but I am fat. Although there may be a medical reason for the weight, people still do not care. For some reason, society has this feeling of right to tell people that they are fat and that this is the solution. I do not walk around telling skinny people that they are ugly and should eat more or those with large noses to go get a nose job. Why should they feel that their right is to walk around and tell me that their solution would "Fix" me?
Just something to think about.

This makes me really sad. I am a thin person and I have never thought these things about overweight people or done those horrible things.

I think it is just bad parenting. My mother taught me to never make fun of a person for their physical attributes. My cousins and aunt (who ironically were overweight) would make fun of people for acne and 'being ugly.' It seems that people learn it from their family and friends.

While I would like everyone to be healthy and accountable for their lifestyles.... IT IS NEVER OK TO HARASS OR DEHUMANIZE PEOPLE FOR WEIGHT (or race, sex, religion, age, and sexual orientation for that matter)

I gotta say that being overweight is, for most, a choice. You choose to eat more and exercise less...plain and simple. And I work very hard to make sure I am within a healthy range and you know what - it's hard work! But I chose to do it and I find that it's now apart of my lifestyle. I personally do look at overweight people and am upset. Its not really their weight - it's the lack of desire to do anything or when I hear them complain about their weight whilst eating a cup cake. Perhaps we should concentrate on other items such as poverty and realise that there are people over eating everyday whilst others would be stoked to have just one meal!

I think excusing obesity as an "addiction" is rather irresponsible. In the same way that gambling and drinking addictions are not irrepressible, over-eating "addicts" are not entirely beyond ability to change this self-damaging behaviour. I don't believe I treat over-weight people badly (that is to say, I won't knowingly insult, ignore or harrass them), but I do get annoyed when, for instance, an over-weight woman complains about the "shallow" fellows not noticing her despite her talents and intelligence (which in most cases she does not lack) because she is fat. While I understand that there are certain illnesses -and prescription drugs- which increase the likelihood of weight problems, I also notice that only the *tendency* towards weight problems is increased, which doesn't necessarily mean the person will definitely develop a weight problem. I think it's time to stop looking for excuses and suing fast food companies, and start taking control over our own bodies.

Okay, I'm chiming in again. Those of you who keep saying fat people choose to be fat are VERY IGNORANT.

I DO TRY. I DO WORK OUT. I DO DIET. It just won't come off. I DO NOT eat fast food or gobs of junk. I DO eat a lot of healthy stuff. I DO TRY. It just WON'T come off.

In fact, MOST OF US ACTUALLY DO TRY. The ones you see scarfing are the ones who are REALLY FEW AND FAR IN BETWEEN. And maybe they're scarfing at that time because some skinny person made them feel bad with ignorant and nasty remarks. Food never judges us, after all, and just like a skinny person might turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with problems, so too a fat person turn to food.

Bigotry is bigotry is bigotry. Be it against a gay person, a Jewish person, or a fat person. IT IS STILL BIGOTRY AND IT IS STILL WRONG.

Maybe if you had taken time to read the proceeding comments you wouldn't be so judgemental. I hope you enjoy living in your ignorance. Because one day, you'll be fat too. Metabolism slows as you get older. Remember that when you're a size 24 and some skinny person is telling you that it's all your own fault cause you're "lazy."

Okay, I'm chiming in again. Those of you who keep saying fat people choose to be fat are VERY IGNORANT.

I DO TRY. I DO WORK OUT. I DO DIET. It just won't come off. I DO NOT eat fast food or gobs of junk. I DO eat a lot of healthy stuff. I DO TRY. It just WON'T come off.

In fact, MOST OF US ACTUALLY DO TRY. The ones you see scarfing are the ones who are REALLY FEW AND FAR IN BETWEEN. And maybe they're scarfing at that time because some skinny person made them feel bad with ignorant and nasty remarks. Food never judges us, after all, and just like a skinny person might turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with problems, so too a fat person turn to food.

Bigotry is bigotry is bigotry. Be it against a gay person, a Jewish person, or a fat person. IT IS STILL BIGOTRY AND IT IS STILL WRONG. I don't judge you cause you're thin. I judge you because the words coming from you are basically the same as the bile spewed by a member of the KKK.

Maybe if you had taken time to read the proceeding comments you wouldn't be so judgemental. I hope you enjoy living in your ignorance. Because one day, you'll be fat too. Metabolism slows as you get older. Remember that when you're a size 24 and some skinny person is telling you that it's all your own fault cause you're "lazy."

And once again - 500 error. So I'm going to hit the button repeatedly cause obviously this hasn't been fixed yet.

Just last night, I was with my boyfriend at a Blockbuster, and there was a group of bigger girls about two people ahead of us in line.
This little kid who was right in front of us started making fun of them to his father. He was saying stuff along the lines of "Do these shorts make me look fat? I feel fat!" and laughing up a storm....WITH his father.

I could not believe that.
It was even more ironic to see the father laughing along with the kid, because even though the guy was thin, he had a large frame.

People who are built bigger generally get the 'fat treatment" too. So it was really just totally insane to see this happen.

Just last night, I was with my boyfriend at a Blockbuster, and there was a group of bigger girls about two people ahead of us in line.
This little kid who was right in front of us started making fun of them to his father. He was saying stuff along the lines of "Do these shorts make me look fat? I feel fat!" and laughing up a storm....WITH his father.

I could not believe that.
It was even more ironic to see the father laughing along with the kid, because even though the guy was thin, he had a large frame.

People who are built bigger generally get the 'fat treatment" too. So it was really just totally insane to see this happen.

If one uses the same line of reasoning as Katie Smith, I would not hire a heavier person if I could hire an equally competent thin person. And they are the ones that are usually too lazy to even get out of their cars and walk a mile to work. They do pose more health problems. They are costly, requiring more time off, more sick days and more expensive health problems" then you must say it is OK to use discriminatory hiring practices against people with AIDS, cancer, or individuals with children- all these people also require time off of work and yes, have expensive health related issues.

Motivation (ie motivation to lose weight) does not equate to character. Simple as that.

I do believe there is an issue with weight discrimination and unfortunately society and the press have only aggrivated the situation over the years. Everywhere you look, diet this and healty that and thats great but... I have seen even on a prominent Late Night Show such as Jay Leno, Jay making fat jokes. Albeit he is not mister skinny himself, its still degrading and bothersome. Yea I know, eat healthy and get excersize and it will all go away. Well why should that be the response? Why make people feel bad and not want to be part of society because they supposedly dont look good because they are overweight. Society has made everyone think people need and should look a certain way. What society needs to do is emphasize healty... not overweight and fat vs. skinny and nasty looking.
HEALTY, comes in all shapes and forms... The hit show from NBC The Biggest Loser has helped tons of people, but this season has concerned me, as some of the contestants have fallen well below their HEALTHY look and range and look ematiated and sick. I think its great they want to set records and win the big prize. Jay seems to have done well as he started 293 and he is now down to 202 and looks great (this coming from another guy) If he were to lose to much more weight and he would not look healty anymore. Alli(pink) has lost a tremendous amount of weight, that great, good for her but it almost looks like she has lost to much weight. For example her in week 15 compared to the show where they walked down the catwalk, she still had a little "meat" on her and looked really good.
Again, society, has told us we need to be this size and where these clothes and look like such and such super star.
Times need to change, yea, loose the weight and loog good. But be healthy and look the way YOU want, not what everyone else wants or how everyone else thinks you should look.

Since when has any 'addiction' been excused??? I think that others--who have no idea what it's like to be overweight or obese--shouldn't feel as if they have the right to judge anyone for what their weight is. It's easy to point fingers and say degrading things about someone's weight. But it's quite another to befriend that person and try to share with them some real knowledge about how to lose weight. Then and only then, after you've learned about who they are...and have stopped judging them for how they look--should you feel entitled to that low opinion...of someone you now KNOW.

I don't openly discriminate against fat people, but i do treat them differently. I agree, most of the time its their choice to be fat.sometimes i'll look at my fat friends and think "are you seriously eating that" And i do understand binge eating is a disorder like anorexia. but its up to the person to get healthy.
i'm a vegan and i tend to discriminate against anyone who gorges down meat especially if their fat. i love how its always the fat people who ask me how i get my protein. they have no idea about proper nutrition.

Weight Discrimination is Definitely a Huge Problem in our society. People are Shallow and Cruel, to judge a Human Being by how much they weigh is Ridiculous and should not be allowed to happen. When I was at my heaviest weight of 238 lbs after having a baby people where very cruel to me even going so far as to try to break up my family. Why because they thought they could because they were skinny and I was fat. I also felt invisible no one ever said Hi, Bye, Can I help you, anything, and they rarely made eye contact. I took control of my weight and lost 111 lbs in 10 months, I went from a Size 17 in Womens pants to a Size 7 in Juniors. Guess What those people who were so mean suddenly got nice, and all sorts of people want to talk to me now. I call SHALLOW there is NO WAY I would ever be friends with anyone who judged or judges a person on how much they weigh. My mom raised me to believe that beauty is skin deep, that saying is the truth. I believe that you can have a weight problem and be Beautiful, I also believe you can be thin and be hideous. In the end we are all exposed for exactly what and who we are. There are bigger people out there in the process of trying to lose weight and better themselves and our society as a majority is going to treat them like they are cows while they are in that process, but the instant that their weight is all gone society as a majority is going to be accepting and try to be friends with these people. WAKE UP people the skinny people they turn into are the same people they were when they were big. I think society needs to Stop judging people on their outward appearances and really try to treat people as human being as we all are.They wouldn't like it if they were on the receiving end and mark my words what goes around comes around.

I don't openly discriminate against fat people, but i do treat them differently. I agree, most of the time its their choice to be fat.sometimes i'll look at my fat friends and think "are you seriously eating that" And i do understand binge eating is a disorder like anorexia. but its up to the person to get healthy.
i'm a vegan and i tend to discriminate against anyone who gorges down meat especially if their fat. i love how its always the fat people who ask me how i get my protein. they have no idea about proper nutrition.

Katie Smith,
Wow, your words make it sound as if you're very angry at overweight folks. What's that all about?
I've found that the higher the soapbox I climb up on, the farther I have to fall.
I say grace and peace to Katie and all who struggle with various things, including me. I know I dare not cast a stone at anyone.

Given the social norm of requiring people to be a size ZERO to be socially acceptable (WHAT is up with that)and that most people will never resemble the current anorectic airbrushed standard of "beauty";we have become a nation of self-loathers!
Please, get your heads out of a magazine and go to a museum and take a good look at what has been depicted as beauty over our history. Women are about lush curves. We are not about cachexia!

I fell for the fattism and have tortured myself by trying for years and years to diet, cut down etc in order to lose weight and not be criticised or judged any more. Then I did a course and learned that I'm a compulsive overeater - which is as much an eating disorder as anorexia.

I learned how to deal with my eating because I didn't want to eat compulsively any more. My weight is absolutely no one else's business. I get mad when people point out that I've lost a lot of weight because it's rude and patronising to comment on other people's body shape.

It seems very strange to me that people think they can comment on my weight. I feel like saying something like: "Oh thanks. As a matter of fact I was just thinking how your nose isn't quite as big as I first imagined it to be. You could still do with shaving a bit off the end, though. Are you planning rhinoplasty?!"

That is exactly how rude it is to comment on someone else's weight!

I fell for the fattism and have tortured myself by trying for years and years to diet, cut down etc in order to lose weight and not be criticised or judged any more. Then I did a course and learned that I'm a compulsive overeater - which is as much an eating disorder as anorexia.

I learned how to deal with my eating because I didn't want to eat compulsively any more. My weight is absolutely no one else's business. I get mad when people point out that I've lost a lot of weight because it's rude and patronising to comment on other people's body shape.

It seems very strange to me that people think they can comment on my weight. I feel like saying something like: "Oh thanks. As a matter of fact I was just thinking how your nose isn't quite as big as I first imagined it to be. You could still do with shaving a bit off the end, though. Are you planning rhinoplasty?!"

That is exactly how rude it is to comment on someone else's weight!

Well, how about reverse weight discrimination? I consider myself by no means too thin, and would even like to get rid of my gut. However, I've had people tell me, "You need to eat more", and "Look at you, you're so skinny, what do you mean you want to exercise"?

There are many comments about overweight being a "choice" and I know that if I ate less and exercised more I'd weigh (somewhat) less. Having said that I have a skinny friend who eats way more than I do. She says if she ate the amount I did, she'd shrivel up and blow away. If I really wanted to be thin, I'd have to starve myself. It's not worth it to me. I'd rather eat normal and weigh a little more than society deems "acceptable".

I would almost rather be bulemic or anorexic. Being too skinny doesn't have the stigma as being too fat. Anorexics get much more sympathy because at least they 'try to be normal', whereas fat people get the shaft because they are perceived as unconscientious, lazy or refusing to want to get with the normal program. Most bulemics would be fat were it not for their knack of throwing up the food that fat people allow to digest, but even they get more respect or pity for their plight.

I would just like to say that if you discriminate against anything - well that just show what kind of person you are
shame on you

Hi everyone,
Iam 59 years old,and have been over weight all my life. Had the gastricbypass,and lost a half of a person. But I have realized in life, If you do not love you as a person than the reflects on others,because they see this,so it opens the door for people to say bad thing's. you need to tell yourself, I love me,and Iam beatiful.

the dicrimmination of overweight people is horribly rampant. i have never been overweight, but i see how others are treated and it disgusts me. it is so sad that people can be so mean and judgmental. some tv shows will try to pretend that they care and put the word out, but they always end up proving themselves as shallow as we first thought. in cases of the defined "beautiful", all societies are corrupt with skewed values.

I've never been obese, but I've definitely been "chubby", and I'm usually able to dress in a manner that wouldn't (and I don't think has) affect me at work. I.e., there are ways to dress to accentuate your good points and minimize your bad ones, thus masking some of the extra weight.

However, when I've been at my slimmest, I notice a difference in how guys respond to me. Usually when I'm thinner I'm more likely to get attention from guys who just have physical attraction (and physical relationship?) on the brain.

I know there's an element of that in guy-gal relationships, but if that's the most basic element, is animal physical attraction, then I'm not so much interested in it.

In any event I'd like a guy to want to get to know me as a person, whether or not there is going to be any physical relationship.

So I don't think it's necessarily good in some ways to be too thin and attractive. It can also be a nuisance and barrier to some things.

Well there's a very vague definition for being overweight...
in Asia for example they're mostly size 6-10, anything over that is "fat"...I'm Asian (size 14 on top and size 12 bottom)...however I have lived in UK, Canada and now Australia where I'm actually considered to be 'average' so its very confusing to set a standard. Factors that also have an impact on weight yo-yoing - genetic predisposition, depression (eating to compensate), belief that it's a quick fix rather than for health reasons (i.e. when I'm skinnier, all my other problems will cease to exist), binge drinking, smoking, weight loss drugs etc
I have been on various diets from the time I was 13 because family friends remarked on my weight...irony is that I walk my dog, attend dance classes twice a week and these people are size 6-10 BUT diabetic, I have had a blood test and was found to be anaemic, still healthy compared to them...Also I don't blame the media, I choose to look at healthy celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Megan Gale and they don't inspire starving but being happy with my body. Some of my friends are not fat all over but carry spare tire and strangers make rude comments -"are you pregnant? whens the baby due?"...tactless and insensitive, nobody's perfect and associating being fat- automatically not beautiful...there are plenty of skinny women who are shallow, narcisstic, bitchy and high maintenance...and research study has shown that men actually prefer women to be 12-14 best example David Beckham cheated on skeletal spice wife with voluptous curvier Rebecca Loos...who wants to have sex with a bag of bones? *shudder*

Jen: That's not true. Employees ARE allowed to not hire smokers, for example. I'm not even arguing that that's fair, just that it IS legal and NOT the same as not hiring someone with cancer.

I admit to being "fatist" in some situations. Some of it is defensiveness. A lot of overweight people (not all, maybe not most, I don't know) have an instant dislike of people who are thin. It's kind of a vicious cycle. I can sometimes FEEL the anger coming at me from someone who's overweight. And that's understandable, they're also being defensive, when they've so often encountered rude and horrible reactions. But, it's just as unfair.

The other situation in which I get "rude" myself is when I'm forced to give up some of my seat on a plane, bus, whatever, because the person who is sitting next to me can't fit in their own seat. Just because I don't entirely fill up my seat doesn't mean someone else can have that room. I do understand that often it's not their fault -- there's no where else for them to go -- but I would completely be okay with an "Excuse me, sorry" than a nasty look or being told to move over to make more room as if they're entitled to my room (as opposed to being politely asked.) Argh, that happens SO often it makes my blood boil!

People really need to learn to be NICE. Whether they are thin or fat. Or [insert race here]. Or [insert religion here}. Etc.

Hi, My opinion is..
We live by the constitution of the USA. It is OUR freedom of choice what we want to weigh.
Growing up in the Hamptons on Long Island, people definately were rude to people who were even a little overweight.
I've been in Georgia 9 years and I'd say 80 % are overweight(just a guess).It's very accepted.My attitude has changed toward this issue.
People are the same fat or thin.I don't hold it against a person.It is a choice.
I came here 137,now I'm 153 pounds.I must admit the "to do" list here is smaller.You can't walk to town here.You must drive to get anywhere!(so sidewalks!)
No jogging on the beach,only walk on your street(still risky(no sidewalks,speeding cars).I've lived in nw georgia and the north mountains.You really have to work out at home,the gym or a state park.
Long Island people took to the sidewalks as soon as spring comes.Whether with a friend or alone,one would always see walkers and joggers,people pushing strollers.
Going out to dinner seems to be the event of the evening here.I use to focus on other things first and food was last.
Thats not the case here!(i left in my 30's and am now in early 40's)

One thing that I have noticed is that it is assumed that I am lazy because I am fat. I worked 70-80 hours a week as an auto mechanic/service writer before answering a call into ministry, and in both situations, I have found that I have to exert twice as much effort as any one else and yet people will still think I am lazy. The answer comes back "you could always lose weight", but in my case I have to take a series of meds which make significant weightloss nearly impossible, unless I was willing to give up food for a month and exercise 8 hours a day.

I have been both thin and fat, and i know that the ease with which myself and all the members of my family put on weight is in fact a significant survival trait, dating back thousands of years to when ther night be periodic occasions of food scarcity. The ability to easily and quickly put on weight gave my ancestors (1000 years ago) gave them an advantage.

All of us alive today are the results of thousands of years of adaptation and survival. We are, to quote Neal Stephenson, "stupendous badasses" evolutionarily speaking. When the oil runs out in a few years, we'll see a little better how this works. Granted, some adaptations in our current culture seem anachronistic, but my sense is that our current culture and life style is much more transitory in nature than most realize (or want to realize).

When it's cold, and I can produce enough body heat to keep my wife warm and alive just because of my body weight, we'll see how this pans out.

Additionally, Plato said the most perfect of nsture's shapes was the sphere, so just tell people that the more spherical you are, the more physically perfect you are.

Touche, exercise Nazis.

BK

I think another thing that society has not yet realized is that it takes money to eat healthy. The cheap foods are all boxed, processed, or otherwise unhealthy. Fresh/organic/healthy foods are quite expensive for someone that has a lower income and this makes it quite a bit harder to lose weight without extra money. When it comes down to it, I'm going to make sure my children have enough food to not go hungry rather than trying to make myself thin. I am very frustrated with hearing people talk horribly about overweight people but not offering to help any of them pay for the expense of losing the weight. My kids come before me, and I make sure that they eat healthy even when I can't afford to do that for myself.

I think another thing that society has not yet realized is that it takes money to eat healthy. The cheap foods are all boxed, processed, or otherwise unhealthy. Fresh/organic/healthy foods are quite expensive for someone that has a lower income and this makes it quite a bit harder to lose weight without extra money. When it comes down to it, I'm going to make sure my children have enough food to not go hungry rather than trying to make myself thin. I am very frustrated with hearing people talk horribly about overweight people but not offering to help any of them pay for the expense of losing the weight. My kids come before me, and I make sure that they eat healthy even when I can't afford to do that for myself.

There is soooo much to say on this one, including the why's of becoming seriously overweight. I was a ballet dancer, in a strong frame, so the work to stay Balanchine light was tough(he's the one who really promoted the anorexic type of dancer as far as I know).And then, after a childhood accident left without serious treatment that damaged forever my career, I chose to follow through on my singing..and luckily had a real voice. That, at 22, was recognized as a true Wagnerian Soprano. And the training began. 175 cm tall, I had to put on weight in muscle and some fat to give me the strength in my body to match the strength in my voice. Just like the training needed for the channel swimmers. Five hours of an opera with the biggest voice there is singing over the biggest orchestra that exists in opera..For comparison, singing a light soubrette part for a total of 20 minutes in an evening makes you lose 2 kilos I read some years ago...My body won't go too high so used to a more moving athletic structure but I'm a good round sized woman, though small next to many of my colleagues. And I thought that dating was finished...and it wasn't, in the least!! To my utter surprise--and it is now 20 years later--my newly enhanced curves brought out excitement in many many males, my age as well as older..and still do, all ages. Which is great. When this career is over, I will lose a bit, for my feet and heart's comfort...but not too much. It is true that in the last ten years I see many young American women way overweight, which speaks of many things..but let us look at those things, and stop hurting them further. France's new law about this is verry interesting indeed. It is good to see this law's care that the reflection given back to women is about women and healthy girls, not a reflection of adolescent boys as the top idea of beauty, which is part of where I believe the fashion model syndrome of girls or women that are as sexless and un-woman as possible comes from, or of a just abused and "asking" to be abused again [ie out of her body] adolescent girl as the "most beautiful" and that which "sells"(what???!). Our bodies always tell our truths...so others who look at you and your bodies won't be real cool if they don't want to hear what their own lives are saying to them..all the -isms come from that same dynamic, racism, sexism ageism, etc. Where there is compassion and respect, responsability for oneself has gone before..

It bothers me that so many people think that being overweight is strictly a "choice". For many of us, we have medical problems that contribute. My point is to all you who discriminate against the obese, STOP. Many of us are extrememly responsible, capable, fun, adults. We try very hard. So it's easy for you to skinny. Ok, I accept that. But it's not easy for someone with medical problems and medications that cause weight gain. I've had type I diabetes for most of my life. Type I is NOT a weight related disease, it's a problem with your immune system. The insulin I require to live (I would die without it) causes weight gain. So does my thyriod problem. Between that and my Rheumatoid Arthritis (also an immune system problem), make it very hard for me exercise. And since losing weight will not fix these diseases I have no real motivation to start an exercise program. I try to watch what I eat but it's frustrating to see a friend who's skinny and doesn't exercise eating the same amount of food you do and you're fat and they're skinny. Being overweight for me is not a choice. If there was somthing more I could do to lose weight that won't hurt my joints I'd do it.

As far as socializing goes, I would rather hang out with overweight people. In general I find them to be far friendlier, less concerned with shallow things such as your looks, and very understanding of the weight-related issues that we face everyday. They also talk about many other things than weight and your looks. Focusing on more important things like personality and being treated with respect. Not that skinny people don't. But i've left many conversations when people start talking about how "ugly" or "fat" someone is, totally ignoring the fact that i'm standing there. I've seen lots of perfectly nice, successful, intelligent, responsible, and fun people discriminated against because of their weight. And i'd like it to stop.

Think about it this way. In stead of critcizing us, why don't you try supporting and helping us and encouraging us? Offer to go on walks with us during lunch. Help us pick out something healthier to eat at a restaurant, Etc. Then maybe we won't be so expensive to insure, employ, or embarassing to be around.

People who need to judge others, for anything, do not have whole souls, in my estimation. If you felt good about yourself and accepted yourself you have no need to judge another. I to have a weight problem caused by several medical challenges. My weight yo-yo's from 120 - 220. My closet is full of clothes from size zero to 22. I wear them all. I constantly work with my medical issues. All of this does not matter. I pray for the health, all kinds, of all people constantly, I am also fearful that when we all become kind it will be the end of the world. So have at it. If it makes your day to belittle me then thank you for letting me in your life today.

I try so hard to get up , exersise , rather its walking for a hour , swimming for a hour or even riding my stationary bike , I also have a leslie sansone video that i have followed so strictly ,
I try to eat right , not buying to much junk foods if none at all , watching my portion sizes ,and following any helpful hints i get on many sites .
But , to no avail I cant seem to loose any weight , I guess I should feel lucky im not gaining , but I feel like Im in a useless struggle ,
People have told me repeatly that because Im over weight that Im lazy , I should excersise instead of watching tv., I should put the fork down once in awhile .
These comments not only hurt , but they have no clue what I go through.
I also have fibermayagia ,manic depression, throid problems.
My doctor now has put me on a diet pill to try to encourage more weight loss ,people really should realize that some really do try and just arnt able to find the right key ,that makes the body loose the excess...
thank you all for listening , have a nice day

It bothers me that so many people think that being overweight is strictly a "choice". For many of us, we have medical problems that contribute. My point is to all you who discriminate against the obese, STOP. Many of us are extrememly responsible, capable, fun, adults. We try very hard. So it's easy for you to skinny. Ok, I accept that. But it's not easy for someone with medical problems and medications that cause weight gain. I've had type I diabetes for most of my life. Type I is NOT a weight related disease, it's a problem with your immune system. The insulin I require to live (I would die without it) causes weight gain. So does my thyriod problem. Between that and my Rheumatoid Arthritis (also an immune system problem), make it very hard for me exercise. And since losing weight will not fix these diseases I have no real motivation to start an exercise program. I try to watch what I eat but it's frustrating to see a friend who's skinny and doesn't exercise eating the same amount of food you do and you're fat and they're skinny. Being overweight for me is not a choice. If there was somthing more I could do to lose weight that won't hurt my joints I'd do it.

As far as socializing goes, I would rather hang out with overweight people. In general I find them to be far friendlier, less concerned with shallow things such as your looks, and very understanding of the weight-related issues that we face everyday. They also talk about many other things than weight and your looks. Focusing on more important things like personality and being treated with respect. Not that skinny people don't. But i've left many conversations when people start talking about how "ugly" or "fat" someone is, totally ignoring the fact that i'm standing there. I've seen lots of perfectly nice, successful, intelligent, responsible, and fun people discriminated against because of their weight. And i'd like it to stop.

Think about it this way. In stead of critcizing us, why don't you try supporting and helping us and encouraging us? Offer to go on walks with us during lunch. Help us pick out something healthier to eat at a restaurant, Etc. Then maybe we won't be so expensive to insure, employ, or embarassing to be around.

well people like izz and some others are a bit one sided in the extreme,,,they see some who are pigs and decide every one who is fat wish to be,,,in a servival cercumstance they would be dead and those who are fat would be alive!!!,,,also there are times that you will have to have meat to be healthy,,,yes you can live only on plants,,,but in a real hard way those who are omnivores live and servive longer,,,and it takes more to get the right things to live on when you eat only plants,,,and sometimes there can be health reasons that one becomes fat,,,over all i eat little but due to damage to my body i am plain ugly with to much weight,,,and will likely take a far amount of expence and efforts i am unable to get to change that situation,,,and there are also genes that say to the body you be thin you be large you be vary large,,,so dont put that wild card of them who fat dont know how to eat,,,that card is so old that is is plain ridictculous to bring forth,,,it will take afew maliniums to make that whole wire job of mother nature fixed any differently,,,,be blessed

Chocking up discrimination against overweight people in the workplace as being ok because, "They pose more health problems than thin people," is a testament of ignorance. Being thin does not make someone healthy.

I only hope that companies don't try to regulate people's private lives by justifying the discrimination of overweight people as a cost-saving issue. Some companies have already made a policy that none of their employees can smoke either at work or at home because it’s not healthy and may lead to higher medical costs. I don’t agree with smoking, but it's someone's private life! Private lives should not be regulated by companies and people should not be discriminated against for them either.

So what's next? If you don't lose weight you're going to be dismissed because it's not healthy and you're costing your company money? It happened with cigarettes…

When my daughter was about 3, we went to Shoneys. I loooove their salad bar. I wasnt very large, a normal size 16.
I was up there taking all kinds of good healthy things, and a woman came over, reached out and touched my shoulder and my hand with teh lettuce tongs in it and said" dont you think you have had enough dear?"
I beg your pardon?
I think you have had quite enough, dont you think so too? The manager overheard what had transpired and we talked.The manager asked the women to leave and pay for our tab.

I was never so humiliated in any manner as that day. How dare another person come over, touch me, then make a snide comment on what I wa staking. It was downright rude and insensitive. the woman was about 70 years old, thin as a rail and very fancily dressed. While I was justa plan ol mom.

The audacity that some people have is just mind boggling.
Its almost 17 years later after that, and I find myself keeping in check wihen i do go to a salad bar, on how much I take.
Is some one watching, am I eating too much, are they commenting.........

I am very sorry but most of the time IT IS A CHOICE!!!! Of all the over weight people I know only 1 is because of a medical problem, the rest just love to eat and they admit it. But because you feel you are treated differently you become rude. You stand in the middle of aisle and stop short for no reason other than trying to annoy someone trying to pass you. I find overweight people very rude most of the time. It is not fair and I have done nothing to you to deserve this treatment. If you are happy with yourself then there should be no problem but most are not and take it out on people who do watch what they eat and workout.

You know who I discriminate against????
Judgemental and mean SKINNY people! People who think they are better then me based on the fact that I wear a size 16 (Im 5'10 by the way). People who go out to nice resturuants and eat salads with dressing on the side and drink water with a lemon wedge while the rest of their party enjoys full meals(enjoying food not your style ladies?), people who go to the beach fixed up for a fashion show to parade their size 1 frames instead of going to enjoy the sun and water and outdoors, people who sneer at me when I walk into a Fredricks of Hollywood to buy something sexy (yes their stuff fits me and yes Im smokin hot in it!), people who think I have faulty values based on the fact that Im overweight(I have very good values thanks), people who think I am lazy because I'm overweight (I am a fulltime student, part time secretary and Im remodling a home, NOT LAZY), people who think skinny = healthy...dont be dumb...skinny doesnt always mean healthy! Puhhhlease!
And just so you know....thin being "in" is a very modern idea. In fact "big women" have been considered beautiful much longer through out history then thin women......"during this era, flesh was a symbol of health, wealth, and stability (“Sandro …”, 1). Women of this build were obviously healthy because this showed that they ate well and were thus financially secure. Thin women on the other hand were viewed as being poor and thus underfed and unhealthy due to lack of funds and hard labor. Also, men viewed Venus (especially her wide hips) to be the perfect figure" this is from an article on women in Bottecellis art. So remember all you judgemental skinny ladies! Bottecelli would have looked at you in disgust and embraced me as gorgeous!
You mull that over while I go have a snack...........LOL

Discrimination does occur. I lost a large amount of weight and am not what is considered average. (size 12-14). I don't stand out in a crowd like I used to, but I'm not skinny by any means. People don't stare anymore, and I can blend in. As a culture, We are bombarded everyday with what is considered "normal and acceptable", but who was given the right to decide that anything more than a size "0" is unacceptable? I was turned down for jobs that I was more than qualified for, knowing full well that it was totally based on looks. I have always been very well groomed and professional, no matter what my size happened to be. Anyone who thinks they have the "RIGHT" to discriminate based on someone's size is truly a pathetic individual. What gives you the right to decide that someone is worthless based on their weight? Isn't that a ridiculous notion? Because I don't weigh what YOU think is ok, I'm shouldn't get that job, apartment, restaurant seat, etc..etc...
How does someone's weight reflect on you and why would you care ?

This past summer I was doing some advanced military training in Maryland, and one of my instructors, while finishing up his quarter pounder with cheese extra value meal, supersized, made some comment about how its okay to disrespect fat people because they don't respect themselves. I was horrified. Thin does not equal healthy, as this Sailor's diet of fast food, candy bars and Mountain Dew proved. In fact, judging just by what he ate in class, I think it is safe to assume that this Sailor easily ate three times the calories I consume in a day, but I struggle with my weight, and he stays remarkably thin.
We are both in the military, and I, being Army, actually have higher PT standards. Even still, I don't think physical training can really make up for the 3000 some odd calories this man was consuming daily. I mean, he wasn't a body builder, or anything. In fact, he was kind of short and skinny. And not runner skinny either. Just normal dude skinny. Obviously, this guy has never had to worry about his weight. He could shove whatever he wanted into his face and not gain an ounce. He could never comprehend the kind of struggles someone like me faced just to be able to join the military, let alone to stay within weight standards all these years. From his point of view, I was doing something to deserve that struggle, dispite the fact that I eat a low calorie, low fat, all organic, high fiber, lean protein diet. From his point of view, anyone who couldn't eat the same crap he ate and stay thin was a bad person because they "don't respect themselves".
Don't respect themselves? I'd say anyone who lives off fast food and candy bars doesn't respect themselves, and I don't care if that person is thin or fat. That thin man, who lived on a high fat, high calorie, high chemical diet (and smoked, to boot), has a dramatically higher risk than I do of developing every disease known to man, getting sick, and taking longer to heal from an injury. Even though I struggle to keep my weight under control, and will likely never be as thin as he was, I eat healthy and treat my body with respect.
The fact is that thin does not equal healthy. The vast majority of Americans shovel crap into their mouths all day and it affects all of us differently. Some of us get fat. Some of us get cancer. Some of us have both these things happen to us. There is nothing I hate more than seeing thin, unhealthy people criticizing overweight people, as if they are some how different. In fact, I know several overweight people who eat very healthy diets, and are probably better off than that instructor was, health wise.
Now I'll admit that an overweight person is more likely than not to eat an unhealthy diet, but its not right to assume that just by looking at someone. Especially if you're the sort who eats a bunch of crap yourself. Thin crap eaters are no better than fat crap eaters.
I might add that people who truely respect themselves treat other people with respect. You have no idea what circumstances someone else is in. Don't judge.

I have been "morbidly obese" my whole life, BY THE WAY I HATE THAT TERM AND IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME WHEN I FIRST HEARD IT AT AGE 12, I am 44 years old and have been judged on BEING FAT MY WHOLE LIFE. My fatherinlaw even went as far as to say to my husband while I was pregnant with triplets. That I should not go through with the pregnancy beacuse there is no way I could be a good mother being fat. I would never be able to keep up with the children's needs.(There 19 NOW, were born with special needs and DOING GREAT!)without any proffesional help like nannys or sitters or homemakers!

I have always had a great self esteem regardless of what society wanted me to feel. Which I thank my mother for,She always told me I was beautful both inside and out. She was a "NORMAL SIZE" woman and very elegant, I use to feel so EMBARRASED walking with her , after all how can such a beautiful and elegant woman have such a FAT KID.They would give HER BACK HANDED COMPLIMENTS LIKE "OH SHE IS SO BEAUTIFUL IF ONLY SHE WOULD LOOSE WEGIHT. She would always tell them she is Beautiful Period THANK YOU!

I have had the job prejudice, Life prejudice PERIOD. Now I face
it every time I go to see a doctor. I have never! felt so judged the way I do NOW as an adult about being FAT. I have multiple health issues too many to write down. One I have had and not dicovered until after the birth of my fourth child second pregnancy at age 33. I have and always have had no METABOLISIM, MY THYROID IS SHOT. Well I go to doctors and I immediatly get this LOOK FROM THE MINUTE THEY OPEN THE DOOR. YOUR FAT, I CANT HELP YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU? YOUR FAT!
I LEAVE CRYING SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER DONE BECAUSE "IM FAT" and now I do on a regular basis. When you go for MEDICAL CARE AND THAT'S THE LEAST THING YOU GET! As a FAT HUMAN BEING I WISH THEY WOULD TREAT THE HUMAN BEING THAT HAPPENS TO BE FAT!. The medical proffesion looks down on you and pretty much doesn't even want to attempt to help you, THAT IS "TOO MUCH".

Would you tell a Diabetic Im not going to give you Insulin because well YOUR FAT! AND YOU HAVE DIABETIES CAUSE YOU MUST WANT IT!, Well you have a hernia , you want it repaired? BUT YOUR FAT! YOU HAVE ARTHRITS WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US THE MEDICAL FIELD? YOUR FAT! HOW ABOUT TREATMENT LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE. YOU DON'T GO IN TELLING A DOCTOR THAT YOU ARE CHOKING AND COUGHING , CAN'T SWALLOW AND IN SEVERE STOMACH PAIN.AND THE RESPONSE IS WELL IF YOU LOST WEIGHT IT MIGHT HELP! AS I ASKED THE DOCTOR IF A 125 POUND PERSON CAME IN WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS IM HAVING WHAT WOULD YOU DO. "I WOULD RUN TESTS"
"WELL THAN WILL YOU PLEASE RUN TESTS ON ME" IT ENDED UP I HAD 2 ULCERS THAT NEDDED TREATMENT, BUT HAD I NOT BEEN STAND OFFISH, I WOULD OF LEFT THAT OFFICE LIKE I HAD BEEN DOING WITH OUT SO MUCH AS A TEST. JUST YOUR FAT!

I just had my new family doctor, ask me if I had ever thought about loosing some weight, my sarcastic answer "NO NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEFORE, SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA" DAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Being FAT does promote Bad Health there is no argument there from me, but some of us just can't do much about it. Maybe some of us DONT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEY JUST WANT TO LIVE THIER LIVES LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! IF YOU HAD A MOLE ON YOUR FACE, SHOULD YOU BE FORCED BY SOCIETY TO HAVE IT REMOVED JUST BEACUSE IT MAY IRK SOMEONE OUT THERE? LIVE AND LET LIVE, AND TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR AND YOUR SOUL AND SEE WHAT YOU COME UP WITH! THERE WLL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE.

BE YOURSELVES LOVE YOUR SELVES TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES
LOVE FROM
SOME ONE WHO'S FAT!

I have noticed that I get treated different because I'm heavy. And I'm not that heavy! I have seen other people much heavier than I am. I don't know about all those people. But did anyone consider that the weight might be a symptom of something other than overeating?? Such as medication (in my case medication for arthritis), thyroid issues, diabetes (I don't agree that all diabetes can be prevented... some people ARE born with it or it's an inherited condition). Do I judge you because your skin is not perfect or you walk with a limp or your voice sounds different or you smoke? I try not too and I don't think I do. But it is something that I try to be on guard for. I certainly do not encourage my kids to pick their friends based on any of these things. Let's get to know what is in the package before we make judgments. OK?

I actually am a vegetarian and have been since I was a small child. I do understand and am quite knowledgeable about nutrition but I was sexually abused as a child and raped at 11 as consequence I believe my weight was a security blanket. It has taken me till my fifties to actually address this, plus a number of years of therapy and probably a few more to go!!! So please remember a little compassion can go a very long way and try not to judge me too harshly until as they say you have walked a mile in my shoes.....

It bothers me that people judge people by their looks. I am a big women & I have been trying to lose weight for 5 years now & I cant do it. I have tried all the over the counter diet aids . I have tried to stop eating & I excersice & I also try to eat right but I still havent been able to take off the weight. I am a widow & a single mother of 3 . I cant even afford the programs like weight watchers, jenny craig or any of those becouse they are so exspensive for someone like me. Who is trying to provide for her family on her own. People judge me every day of my life becouse of my weight . It is sad . I even tried to get a job but they take one look at me & they just throw my application in the trash. I know this becouse I have seen them do it.I think something needs to been done about it. Either the doctors need to help out their patients more or programs like the ones I mention needs to have a program where people like me who can have help losing the weight instead of every door getting slammed in our faces. I have asked doctors for help but the refuse to help but when I get sick & need an operation they wont do the operation becouse I am big & its a real big risk. well I say then help a person out instead of telling her that she needs the operation but she cant get it becouse of her weight.We need to find away to stop all of this.

I find it interesting the comments posted by those who have not had to battle with weight. Weight gain and loss is not always a choice!

I have always battled with my weight growing up. I grew up in a very active family. My father was my softball coach and my mom was my guard coach. When there was no practice we were riding or walking. Both my parents battled weight issues. We ate exactly what is considered "healthy". We never had sweets or treats in the house.

I kept this up as I went on my own and I still battled with weight issues. I have gone from size 8 to 26 and back numerous times. I am diabetic and the meds mess with my weight. The birth control pills I took added more weight. Once I stopped taking them I lost over 70 pounds. Since being diagnosed with lupus and having meds for this and fertility meds I have gained another 20 pounds.

I have been told by a doctor during an employment physical he wouldn't hire me because of my weight. When I went back for the same position after a year and lost 50 pounds, He signed the papers and asked where I had been, with my credentials he asked why I hadn't applied before. When I told him I did and what he had said, he quickly left the room with nothing to say.

I work in the local hospital on a medical/surgical and ICU floor. There is no time for sitting let alone getting breaks. We wear pedometers to count our steps towards our exercise regimines. Last week I walked 78 Miles in 3 days.

I am very active and eat very healthy and I still weight 240 pounds at 5 Foot 4 inches and am considered obese. Not by choice am I over weight. Not because I am lazy am I overweight. Not because I eat badly am I overweight.

I am overweight because of my health, that I can't change and the medications I take!

I posted one comment earlier but wanted to post this as well. I hope it may give perspective to some of you.

To all those who discriminate against the obese:

"Excuse me for being FAT"

Excuse me for being gross,
Despite keeping myself clean and showering everyday.

Excuse me for being lazy,
Despite keeping a busy schedule.

Excuse me for not trying hard enough,
Apparently trying a dozen different diets and exercise
programs over the last 10 years for the goal of losing
weight isn't enough.

Excuse me for eating fast food,
My busy schedule doesn't allow much time to
cook for myself.

Excuse me for being incompetent,
I didn't think you could be a statistician if you were.

Excuse me for being unsuccessful,
Though I most likely make more money than you and
have better insurance.

Excuse me for being uncaring,
I care very much, just more about others than my weight.

Excuse me for not having my priorities in order,
I thought family and God should be first.

Excuse me for being unhealthy,
I can't help being diagnosed with genetic diseases that
contribute to my weight gain.

Excuse me for having bad habits,
We all have them, mine happens to be food.

Excuse me for not exercising enough,
It's hard to do when your pressed for time, exhausted,
and your back and joints hurt.

Excuse