[Livia]

I find it interesting how someone who is anorexic gets so much more sympathy than someone who is obese. In many cases they are similar in their psychosis, in that both have a freaked-out relationship with food and suffer from life-threatening mental illness. The anorexic though, is tiny, pixie like and more socially acceptable than someone who is obese. Obese people are fair game it seems for anyone who wants to have a pop at them and they are ridiculed mercilessly by society. People's heart bleeds for the tiny anorexic, while assuming the obese person is just greedy and lazy. Surely both are mentally ill and deserve understanding and treatment?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find it interesting how someone who is anorexic gets so much more sympathy than someone who is obese. In many cases they are similar in their psychosis, in that both have a freaked-out relationship with food and suffer from life-threatening mental illness. The anorexic though, is tiny, pixie like and more socially acceptable than someone who is obese. Obese people are fair game it seems for anyone who wants to have a pop at them and they are ridiculed mercilessly by society. People's heart bleeds for the tiny anorexic, while assuming the obese person is just greedy and lazy. Surely both are mentally ill and deserve understanding and treatment?

Definitely agree with all of this

[Claymores]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find it interesting how someone who is anorexic gets so much more sympathy than someone who is obese. In many cases they are similar in their psychosis, in that both have a freaked-out relationship with food and suffer from life-threatening mental illness. The anorexic though, is tiny, pixie like and more socially acceptable than someone who is obese. Obese people are fair game it seems for anyone who wants to have a pop at them and they are ridiculed mercilessly by society. People's heart bleeds for the tiny anorexic, while assuming the obese person is just greedy and lazy. Surely both are mentally ill and deserve understanding and treatment?

It does occur to me that obesity can be a long-term lifestyle choice in many cases, whereas starving yourself to death is a form of body dysmorphia which requires sympathy and intervention for the mental illness. It implies conscious angst rather than a love of food and fun over years. The two are incomparable and to mention the two extremes in the same breath is silly.

Nobody is going to stop the fatty having the chocolate pudding + enjoying themself at the dinner table while he/she engages with everyone..........I believe it is less torrible if another is not eating, having food issues and/or 'doing a Diana' down the toilet pan in mental anguish.

[Boothy]

Originally Posted by Claymores

It does occur to me that obesity can be a long-term lifestyle choice in many cases, whereas starving yourself to death is a form of body dysmorphia which requires sympathy and intervention for the mental illness. It implies conscious angst rather than a love of food and fun over years. The two are incomparable and to mention the two extremes in the same breath is silly.

Nobody is going to stop the fatty having the chocolate pudding + enjoying themself at the dinner table while he/she engages with everyone..........I believe it is less torrible if another is not eating, having food issues and/or 'doing a Diana' down the toilet pan in mental anguish.

I'd agree with this.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Claymores

It does occur to me that obesity can be a long-term lifestyle choice in many cases, whereas starving yourself to death is a form of body dysmorphia which requires sympathy and intervention for the mental illness. It implies conscious angst rather than a love of food and fun over years. The two are incomparable and to mention the two extremes in the same breath is silly.

Nobody is going to stop the fatty having the chocolate pudding + enjoying themself at the dinner table while he/she engages with everyone..........I believe it is less torrible if another is not eating, having food issues and/or 'doing a Diana' down the toilet pan in mental anguish.

As long as there not to big I dont see why they should be made a fool out of.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Claymores

It does occur to me that obesity can be a long-term lifestyle choice in many cases, whereas starving yourself to death is a form of body dysmorphia which requires sympathy and intervention for the mental illness. It implies conscious angst rather than a love of food and fun over years. The two are incomparable and to mention the two extremes in the same breath is silly.

Nobody is going to stop the fatty having the chocolate pudding + enjoying themself at the dinner table while he/she engages with everyone..........I believe it is less torrible if another is not eating, having food issues and/or 'doing a Diana' down the toilet pan in mental anguish.

You've just illustrated my point beautifully. "nobody is going to stop the fatty having chocolate putting and enjoying themselves at the dinner table..."

Both these extremes need understanding as, like I said, they are both mental illnesses. To some people who are morbidly obese, eating is a guilty thing, done in secret, it's not all frivolity and fun round the dinner table. Life-threatening mental illness is life-threatening mental illness, no matter what the scales say. It's just that the skinny ones get more sympathy while the fat ones get more ridicule.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Livia

You've just illustrated my point beautifully. "nobody is going to stop the fatty having chocolate putting and enjoying themselves at the dinner table..."

Both these extremes need understanding as, like I said, they are both mental illnesses. To some people who are morbidly obese, eating is a guilty thing, done in secret, it's not all frivolity and fun round the dinner table. Life-threatening mental illness is life-threatening mental illness, no matter what the scales say. It's just that the skinny ones get more sympathy while the fat ones get more ridicule.

I think this is true, both need to be treated with the same level of seriousness. I think it is wrong but true that underweight is more socially acceptable than overweight. The morbidly obese have just as many health risks as seriously underweight people, which if they are lucky they are helped with by supportive medical care to try and succesfully lose the weight but they are not often helped so much emotionally to find the cause of their eating habits in the first place. There is a stigma attatched to being overweight where society assume the person is just greedy or lazy, which just completely dismisses the issue, which is not the case with anorexics. You make a good point and it is a true but sad reflection of the 'thin' being more acceptable thah the 'fat'

[Claymores]

Originally Posted by Livia

You've just illustrated my point beautifully. "nobody is going to stop the fatty having chocolate putting and enjoying themselves at the dinner table..."

Both these extremes need understanding as, like I said, they are both mental illnesses. To some people who are morbidly obese, eating is a guilty thing, done in secret, it's not all frivolity and fun round the dinner table. Life-threatening mental illness is life-threatening mental illness, no matter what the scales say. It's just that the skinny ones get more sympathy while the fat ones get more ridicule.

You deliberately missed the end of that quote where I was implying that a person was being socially engaging. There are no rights or wrongs - I was suggesting that a young person with anorexia/bolemia might need more care than an oldie who has spent 40 years eating too much in enjoyment.

In my random explanation, I was talking of people not happy to sit at the dinner table or who have to exit to puke down the loo - seems their illness is more pressing and disturbing than the obose

[Claymores]

I can see why you are a Tory assistant playing with misquotes or half quotes - good luck with you on that Livs

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Claymores

I can see why you are a Tory assistant playing with misquotes or half quotes - good luck with you on that Livs

I am not a "Tory assistant", I am a political agent.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Claymores

It does occur to me that obesity can be a long-term lifestyle choice in many cases, whereas starving yourself to death is a form of body dysmorphia which requires sympathy and intervention for the mental illness. It implies conscious angst rather than a love of food and fun over years. The two are incomparable and to mention the two extremes in the same breath is silly.

Nobody is going to stop the fatty having the chocolate pudding + enjoying themself at the dinner table while he/she engages with everyone..........I believe it is less torrible if another is not eating, having food issues and/or 'doing a Diana' down the toilet pan in mental anguish.

Actually many obese people do have body dysmorphia. A lot of fat people are in denial about how fat they are, because it usually happens slowly, gaining weight i mean, so they still see themselves as thin, even though they are over weight. Plus there are so many media sources saying "women are supposed to be curvy" justifying being over weight.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by lostalex

Actually many obese people do have body dysmorphia. A lot of fat people are in denial about how fat they are, because it usually happens slowly, gaining weight i mean, so they still see themselves as thin, even though they are over weight. Plus there are so many media sources saying "women are supposed to be curvy" justifying being over weight.

I'm not buying this....... an obese person can still see themselves as thin?

Many obese people are in complete denial about the amount of food that they eat, but they still are more than aware that they are obsese - they will argue blind about how little they eat, and the type of foods that they eat. Many more than admit to it being 'a comfort, makes them feel good/better' - they are aware they are obsese.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I'm not I'm buying this....... an obese person can still see themselves as thin?

Many obese people are in complete denial about the amount of food that they eat, but they still are more than aware that they are obsese - they will argue blind about how little they eat, and the type of foods that they eat. Many more than admit to it being 'a comfort, makes them feel good/better' - they are aware they are obsese.

have you ever been obese?

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by lostalex

have you ever been obese?

I don't have to be obese to have a viewpoint.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I don't have to be obese to have a viewpoint that simply doesn't match yours.

I didn't ask you to agree. But the way you spoke, you sounded very authoritative about the issue, so i was wondering if you had personal experience. just wondering.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I'm not buying this....... an obese person can still see themselves as thin?

Many obese people are in complete denial about the amount of food that they eat, but they still are more than aware that they are obsese - they will argue blind about how little they eat, and the type of foods that they eat. Many more than admit to it being 'a comfort, makes them feel good/better' - they are aware they are obsese.

Very informed and totally correct statement, Obese epeople do know they are overweight,its as you say they won't admit the reasons they are,as in how much they eat as you point out for one example.
Well said.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Very informed and totally correct statement, Obese epeople do know they are overweight,its as you say they won't admit the reasons they are,as in how much they eat as you point out for one example.
Well said.

Thanks Joey. I recall years ago, watching a documentary - iirc, it was a teenager or a young adult. They/their mother replaced regular crisps with 'low fat' crisps -(they continued to munch their way through a dozen packs a day or so, but it was okay, coz they were eating 'low fat' varieties). Instead of thick chocolate biscuits, they stocked up on 'non choc' biscuits, instead of enough fried breakfast to feed 6 people, they moved to grilling - and reduced (for example) the 6 bacon rashers, tin of beans, 4 eggs, 5 sausages, 4 slices of toast - to about 3 bacon, 1/2 tin of bean, 2 eggs, 3 saus, 2 slices of toast - then had two bowls of cereal afterwards...... and let the kid eat their way through kilos of fruit via constant snacking all day.

The dieticians, nutrtionists, doctors could not get it through to either the child or the mother, that regardless - the amount of food being consumed was still far too much - as well as still being much of the wrong type.

Incredible, ignorant and in complete denial in every sense.

Their argument? He eats healthy food and lots of it

[tmi]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Thanks Joey. I recall years ago, watching a documentary - iirc, it was a teenager or a young adult. They/their mother replaced regular crisps with 'low fat' crisps -(they continued to munch their way through a dozen packs a day or so, but it was okay, coz they were eating 'low fat' varieties). Instead of thick chocolate biscuits, they stocked up on 'non choc' biscuits, instead of enough fried breakfast to feed 6 people, they moved to grilling - and reduced (for example) the 6 bacon rashers, tin of beans, 4 eggs, 5 sausages, 4 slices of toast - to about 3 bacon, 1/2 tin of bean, 2 eggs, 3 saus, 2 slices of toast - then had two bowls of cereal afterwards...... and let the kid eat their way through kilos of fruit via constant snacking all day.

The dieticians, nutrtionists, doctors could not get it through to either the child or the mother, that regardless - the amount of food being consumed was still far too much - as well as still being much of the wrong type.

Low fat is not always a good alternative has they have a high sugar level in
Incredible, ignorant and in complete denial in every sense.

Their argument? He eats healthy food and lots of it

Low fat is not always a good alternative has they have a high sugar level in time that could have more damaging effect also numeorus fruits too have high sugars although natural sugar, its still sugar, its all about moderation.
People who neglect they children by not feeding them is seen has bad parenting, but people who over feed they kids think they do no harm, in most cases the parents themsleves were taught bad habits, bit like history repeating themselves.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Thanks Joey. I recall years ago, watching a documentary - iirc, it was a teenager or a young adult. They/their mother replaced regular crisps with 'low fat' crisps -(they continued to munch their way through a dozen packs a day or so, but it was okay, coz they were eating 'low fat' varieties). Instead of thick chocolate biscuits, they stocked up on 'non choc' biscuits, instead of enough fried breakfast to feed 6 people, they moved to grilling - and reduced (for example) the 6 bacon rashers, tin of beans, 4 eggs, 5 sausages, 4 slices of toast - to about 3 bacon, 1/2 tin of bean, 2 eggs, 3 saus, 2 slices of toast - then had two bowls of cereal afterwards...... and let the kid eat their way through kilos of fruit via constant snacking all day.

The dieticians, nutrtionists, doctors could not get it through to either the child or the mother, that regardless - the amount of food being consumed was still far too much - as well as still being much of the wrong type.

Incredible, ignorant and in complete denial in every sense.

Their argument? He eats healthy food and lots of it

That sounds exactly like anorexia to me...

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I'm not buying this....... an obese person can still see themselves as thin?

No more odd than an anorexic viewing themselves as fat

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

No more odd than an anorexic viewing themselves as fat

I disagree. The physicalities alone, not being able to walk up stairs without getting breathless, having to go out and purchase bigger sized - oversize clothing showing sizes like 22/24/26, not being able to do basic every day tasks due to their weight restricting them, not being able to fit into airplane seats, having to be assisted in washing, getting dressed etc in the more extreme cases... I'd personally think there were far more signs that the person was obese than just looking in a mirror and seeing a distored visoin to realising that they are fat/obese.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I disagree. The physicalities alone, not being able to walk up stairs without getting breathless, having to go out and purchase bigger sized - oversize clothing showing sizes like 22/24/26, not being able to do basic every day tasks due to their weight restricting them, not being able to fit into airplane seats, having to be assisted in washing, getting dressed etc in the more extreme cases... I'd personally think there were far more signs that the person was obese than just looking in a mirror and seeing a distored visoin to realising that they are fat/obese.

Maybe thin is the wrong word. I would think most dont know quite how big they look.

I have never been obese, but a few years back I put on quite a lot of weight. And I didnt even know about it, I still looked the same to myself in the mirror, until I saw a photo. So I would think thats not too uncommon :/


Plus, with what you say about physical problems too...that could also apply to anorexics. Surely they notice that the feel faint all the time, have no energy, have to buy childrens clothes if they want them to fit properly etc

[GypsyGoth]

Originally Posted by Livia

I find it interesting how someone who is anorexic gets so much more sympathy than someone who is obese. In many cases they are similar in their psychosis, in that both have a freaked-out relationship with food and suffer from life-threatening mental illness. The anorexic though, is tiny, pixie like and more socially acceptable than someone who is obese. Obese people are fair game it seems for anyone who wants to have a pop at them and they are ridiculed mercilessly by society. People's heart bleeds for the tiny anorexic, while assuming the obese person is just greedy and lazy. Surely both are mentally ill and deserve understanding and treatment?

I never thought of it like that before.