Fat stigma goes global

[Wink Tobasco]

The net headlines like this are everywhere. I always knew this embracing of fat was a bunch of bull. A fat actress walks the red carpet, the BS'ers exclaim she is beautiful. BS! A slim toned healthy actress walks the carpet and the BS'ers exclaim she is too thin. BS! Being fat is a condition that now even the 3rd world knows is unhealthy. They don't BS, they are brutal and honest about what they think of it. The BS machine will now go into high gear to refute this.

 

PS: I have a few (5) extra pounds, I will lose them pronto. I look better slim and slim is healthy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110330/sc_livescience/slimisinasfatstigmagoesglobal

[Ross PK]

I prefer fat women. I don't like skinny ones with no shape and just nothing being there.

[tman666]

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, what angers me are excuses.

 

The sad fact is that in my experience, people seem to be full of them. This doesn't just include fat people. It could include anyone who makes excuses for themselves for why they can't do something.

 

Most fat people know they're fat, and most don't like being fat. The whole "fat acceptance" thing is great and all, provided that the individual demanding acceptance also acknowledges the fact that it is THEY who have (in most cases) chosen such a lifestyle, and doesn't blame the "food industry" or why they don't possibly have the time to fit in daily physical activity.

 

I hear all sorts of excuses from my own fat friends: "Cooking healthy meals takes so much time", "I can't go to the gym today, I've got blah blah blah going on and I'm 'le tired' and not everyone has HOURS of spare time like YOU DO, ya know", "I actually eat very healthy food" (discounting the fact that they still eat too damn much).

 

It's very frustrating to me, personally, because one of my long time best friends is obese. It's at a point where his doctor has stated that he's pre-diabetic and needs to make big changes if he wants to live a full life. He's also having his first child in about 3 days. He's told me, practically in tears before, that he's tired of it, and that he wants to be there for his son for a long time, and to lead his family by example and do fun, active things outdoors.

 

It's not just a body image thing for him. His fatness and poor health are going to have very real consequences for him, his wife, and his infant son. What kills me is that HE KNOWS THIS, DOES NOT LIKE IT, and STILL hasn't consistently pursued any change in lifestyle. I try to help him by giving him diet advice, by designing doable training programs for a guy like him, by calling him to try and keep it on the forefront. However, he's the one that has to do these things to change. I can't do the exercise for him, and I can't be there to monitor his food intake.

 

It's mind boggling to me that even after getting red flags from medical professionals that someone would be able to ignore their health like that. To me, it's selfish.

[Thedude22]

Some fat girls can be hot depending on where the fat resides, but yeah 90% of the time they just look gross.

 

I don't buy the fat pride thing because even if we get past the "eye-of-the-beholder" argument, They are still physically unhealthy and it's not just guys telling them to lose weight, it's their doctor.

 

I like girls with tattoos and short hair, not a mainstream desire, however the national medical association is not telling those girls to lose the tattoos and grow there hair or else they'll die of a heart attack by 45.

[TheLoneSock]

Once you go fat you never go back.

 

 

Ok, maybe you'll come screaming back, with tears running down your face..

 

As usual the middle ground is best. In women, enough weight to bear healthy babies but not enough to make you overweight is ideal, really.

[Thedude22]

I personally like a girl to be somewhere between 120-160 with a height of 5'3-5'9. Still some girls have a really hard time hitting that and act as if I am shallow because I can't date someone 5'4 185. That is a 32.2 on the BMI scale. 2 points above obese. Not too much to ask I don't think.

[dreamingoftigers]

I'm fat, it sucks. Guess what? I also have a sugar addiction. Don't think sugar is addictive? Check out one of the Amen brain clinics and the work that they put out.

 

Guess what helps addicts? Education, support and serious counseling to get past the addiction and help their brains break away from the dependency. Guess what doesn't help? Shaming them.

 

Shaming addicts gives them justification to indulge in their addictive practice.

 

Maybe it's time we all grew up and realized that it us a brain function and health issue instead of a person being "gross," "lazy," "selfish," and "indulgent."

 

Food addiction and alcohol addiction tend to run in the same families. Over the past century alcohol addiction has vastly been on the decline. It would not be surprising in the least that those who were predisposed to it simply switched dependencies.

 

This isn't to say that food addiction us everyone else's responsibility because it isn't. I am fully aware that I have a problem and am more then happy to be rid of it (and the threats to my health, and my fat ass, and, and, and...)

But cognitive recovery alone (for those that even know it exists) has a 5% success rate. The reason is that cognitive change is tough for the brain to come to terms with if you look at it through the scope of Addictive Science.

 

Of course addicts blame others for their condition. This is out of Shane and frustration. When one sees a stimulating thing as an addict, it is almost like their brain is "hijacked" and their judgment impaired.

 

Unfortunately for food addicts it isn't as simple as not going to a certain neighborhood or having to hide things away. Our society vastly enables food addiction and then shames the addict ( same with sexual addiction).

 

It is actually pretty ridiculous the things that are available especially considering how unhealthy they are. The business world isn't going to put limits on that.

 

What is the answer? Treatment just like every other addict. Society is not educated enough to put the message out..... Yet.

 

So maybe another fat bash thread might help anyone here to feel a little justified against another large target. Most addicts of any type already feel that the world is stacked against them.

 

In that case, I volunteer myself open to any bashing or questions you might have as a representative of the "Fat and Sugar Addicted Community" in case you wish to know what the experience is like and why I have chosen to remain the way I am. I consider myself pretty well-qualified to represent this group having been married at 315 lbs and now having been stuck at a svelte 260 lbs.

 

I am 28 years old and have been this way since I was 15 (varying degrees). I am currently eating a cookie. I look forward to hearing your responses.

[Thedude22]

Well look being a very socially libertarian minded guy I really think it's people's right to be fat, just as I think it's people's right to be drug addicts or whatever they choose to be. If it makes you happy who am I to tell you what to do or how to look. Granted, the health costs cost the tax payers billions each year but that's another issue...

 

All I'm saying is that from a dating perspective, I do begin to have a say in the matter as dating a person who is morbidly obese is not something I want to venture on just like I don't want to date a heroine addict. Doesn't mean I can't find a big girl attractive now and then but I still can't date one long term.

 

I personally don't buy the whole "food addiction" idea, just like I don't buy gambling addiction, porn addiction etc. There is a huge, huge difference between being chemically addicted and being psychologically addicted. I like porn for example, but if I go without it for a couple weeks I don't go through withdrawal.You wouldn't either. I don't believe the obese are addicted as much as most of them are genetically pre-disposed to being fat. I can eat whatever I want and stay a sleek 145-150 lbs, someone with worse genes couldn't. That's just social darwinism though, the unhealthy genes will be weeded out in favor of stronger, healthier genes resulting in a longer life span for the human race overall.

[tman666]

In that case, I volunteer myself open to any bashing or questions you might have as a representative of the "Fat and Sugar Addicted Community" in case you wish to know what the experience is like and why I have chosen to remain the way I am. I consider myself pretty well-qualified to represent this group having been married at 315 lbs and now having been stuck at a svelte 260 lbs.

 

I am 28 years old and have been this way since I was 15 (varying degrees). I am currently eating a cookie. I look forward to hearing your responses.

 

I'm personally not interested in putting down or bashing you or anyone else here. However, since you've offered up that you're open for questions, I do have a couple:

 

1) Has a physician diagnosed you with sugar addiction?

 

2) How is "society" at fault for creating an environment conducive to sugar addiction and obesity? To rephrase, how does society have control over the individual to make personal choices regarding their health?

 

3) Many people say that they would do anything to ensure the well-being of their children. Since it's known the being obese can lead to a multitude of health problems and decrease longevity, would you agree that those who choose unhealthy lifestyles are potentially cheating their children and loved ones out of the full potential of the parent-child relationship? If you disagree, why?

 

4) Would you agree that children, especially at a young age, are heavily influenced by the examples that their parents lead? For example, there's evidence that suggests that the children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves. Using this logic, is it safe to assume that obese parents pass on behavioral traits that lead to obesity? If you disagree with this assertion, please explain why.

 

Again, my goal is not to antagonize you, but I do think that your perspective is an interesting one. While we may not agree, I feel that open dialogue is important for establishing mutual empathy.

Edited March 31, 2011 by tman666

[Ross PK]

Well look being a very socially libertarian minded guy I really think it's people's right to be fat, just as I think it's people's right to be drug addicts or whatever they choose to be. If it makes you happy who am I to tell you what to do or how to look. Granted, the health costs cost the tax payers billions each year but that's another issue...

 

All I'm saying is that from a dating perspective, I do begin to have a say in the matter as dating a person who is morbidly obese is not something I want to venture on just like I don't want to date a heroine addict. Doesn't mean I can't find a big girl attractive now and then but I still can't date one long term.

 

I personally don't buy the whole "food addiction" idea, just like I don't buy gambling addiction, porn addiction etc. There is a huge, huge difference between being chemically addicted and being psychologically addicted. I like porn for example, but if I go without it for a couple weeks I don't go through withdrawal.You wouldn't either. I don't believe the obese are addicted as much as most of them are genetically pre-disposed to being fat. I can eat whatever I want and stay a sleek 145-150 lbs, someone with worse genes couldn't. That's just social darwinism though, the unhealthy genes will be weeded out in favor of stronger, healthier genes resulting in a longer life span for the human race overall.

 

Doesn't matter if there is a difference, it's still entirely possible to be psychologically addicted to food. I was once for a long period, it was to do with the anti depressants I was taking. I was always craving to eat something at night all the time. If I didn't eat anything my mood would feel like ****. You could say this addiction was both chemical and psychological. Chemical because the anti depressants was causing me to feel that way, and psychological because of the actual addiction itself.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Ross PK

[EyesWideOpen]

If I wanted to, there's a number of "addictions" I could have chosen to claim throughout my life...

• I love the taste/fullness/whatever I get from eating food, and so I eat an excessive amount. Somebody published something about how foot can affect the chemicals in the brain. Therefore, I must be addicted to food.
  
• I love to play video games. In fact, it's practically all I do. There's an article about the chemical effect of video games on the brain - I must be addicted.
  
• I watch hours upon hours of TV, and there's a similar article about TV. I must be addicted.
  
• I love the feeling I get from running, and I run a lot. There's a well documented effect from running, termed the "runner's high", which is linked to a chemical change induced by long distance running. I must be addicted.
  
• It makes me feel good to go out for a hike, and I hike for miles upon miles. This is as a result of the release of endorphins into my bloodstream. I must be addicted.
  
• I drink a lot of water, and if I don't maintain three liters of water a day I feel like crap. I must be addicted.
  

I really do hate the term "addiction". It's so overused - especially as an excuse.

And here's a fun little experiment. When you looked through the list of "addictions", did you get to the second half and go "oh that person has a problem" or "oh that's bad to run/hike/drink water".

No. Absolutely not. Even though any single one of those items could be done to an unhealthy degree.

 

 

You can become "addicted" to anything, because anything you do that gives pleasure has a chemical effect on your brain as well as a psychological effect.

The problem lies in whether the activity is done to a self-destructive means, and whether you use it as an EXCUSE for the behavior.

 

 

Whether you cling to the belief that you have an addiction or not, the end result is the same: if you're not happy with how you look, or feel, or with the consequences of whatever your actions may be...then do something about it.

[Thedude22]

I completely agree with EyesWide. "addiction" has become a word for something you enjoy doing but you wish you could stop enjoying. You blame "addiction" because you can't blame yourself. It's the same reason why parents blame video games for their sons violent behavior. Ridiculous.

 

You can be addicted to smoking due to the highly addictive nature of nicotine, stop smoking all at once and your body goes through withdrawal. Anti-depressants are the same way, your body gets use to a pill producing serotonin instead of it's natural processes, drop the pill, you become chemically depressed due to the fact your body is producing no serotonin.

 

But sugar and fat? Please. Yes, sugar gives you a nice little jolt to the system, than a brief crash which can make you want more sugar. But that process is maybe 20 minutes. You don't wake up every morning for weeks with a chemical addiction to sugar like you do with nicotine and anti-depressants. The psychological memory of enjoying that candy bar is what makes you go back, not a chemical need.

[dreamingoftigers]

Well look being a very socially libertarian minded guy I really think it's people's right to be fat, just as I think it's people's right to be drug addicts or whatever they choose to be. If it makes you happy who am I to tell you what to do or how to look. Granted, the health costs cost the tax payers billions each year but that's another issue...

 

I am actually not so libertarian about it believe it or not. I believe addiction to be a form of abuse and self-harm. Considering we fine people for littering and the police can arrest people for harassment, I think that the government should regulate addictive items more closely (or offer far more effective treatment options) because at the end of the day not regulating them causes the costs to go up for everyone unfairly. Perhaps some kind if purchasing opt-in or out card. For example if I really wanted to quit eating addictive fast food things, o would have to be able to present proofs that I had "opted in" that year to purchase it, and there would bs consequences for using someone else's card. I know that sounds far-fetched but something where choice and protection could weigh even for everyone would be nice. Too many families are ripped apart by addiction regularly and the options for some addicts are dire (like jail) and others are just ostracism or people are told to act like there isn't a problem. There is.

 

All I'm saying is that from a dating perspective, I do begin to have a say in the matter as dating a person who is morbidly obese is not something I want to venture on just like I don't want to date a heroine addict. Doesn't mean I can't find a big girl attractive now and then but I still can't date one long term.

 

Absolutely agreed and a healthy choice on your part I might add. Having an obesity problem is symptom of another underlying issue whether or not the person is attractive to you. Obesity is unhealthy on all levels and no one should be expected to open their standards to someone who is clearly chemically unbalanced or emotionally unhealthy. A few extra pounds is also (I assume) not what we are talking about. An eating issue costs more, takes time, causes resent etc. Not a good dating idea. If you had to pick between the good addict and the heroin addict, I just say stay single.

 

I personally don't buy the whole "food addiction" idea, just like I don't buy gambling addiction, porn addiction etc. There is a huge, huge difference between being chemically addicted and being psychologically addicted.

 

Common misperception here that because you don't have the symptoms that it isn't addictive. Two things 1. The addictions that you listed cause the brain to expend dopamine every time either the action or substance is done and/or consumed. It can be picked up on spectral scans of the brain. 2. Funny you should pick porn because my husband is actually going into treatment for porn addiction on April 12th. If you get a chance to review my threads you can see that it has impaired his judgment to the point where he has very nearly lost everything to it. I kid you not. Furthermore the people that do end up sexually addicted (porn falls under thus umbrella) do have quite the chemical release to their stimulus that many do report symptoms of withdrawal including headaches, emotional roller coasters, and even physical symptoms. Your brain would appear to not be one of the 3-6% of the population that finds themselves hooked on porn etc. I have spent two years researching causes, symptoms, treatments and their effectiveness. The phenomenon that I thought was not real either has turned out to be sadly quite real.

 

I like porn for example, but if I go without it for a couple weeks I don't go through withdrawal.You wouldn't either. I don't believe the obese are addicted as much as most of them are genetically pre-disposed to being fat. I can eat whatever I want and stay a sleek 145-150 lbs, someone with worse genes couldn't. That's just social darwinism though, the unhealthy genes will be weeded out in favor of stronger, healthier genes resulting in a longer life span for the human race overall.

 

I would say that yes some people are genetically more apt to put on weight. But this does nit by any stretch if the imagination explain why science backs a sugar addiction's existence nor does it explain why I eat loads of garbage while knowing it is garbage and wanting to stay alive long enough to watch my daughter grow. The feelings and sensations that most addicts describe is very similar to my experience with sugary items. In fact posters and things at drive thrus do what porn used to do for me, it stimulates something. (I actually call those ads "food porn" and the presentation is quite striking similar, that is not a coincidence). And when I cut out flour and sugar it takes me through a week to ten days of withdrawal. I kid you not. Mostly headaches/ migraines that am not probe to otherwise. The rest of my diet is very healthy during this time period, largely vegetables both raw and cooked, some lean meats and yogurt (plain) and fruit in the morning with oats. As well as a sufficient amount of water during the day. Sugar simply messes with my chemistry and my brain. As well after the removal of sugar/flour after awhile takes away other physical symptoms (like feeling sick and low energy all the time) but I still go back despite knowing the cycle. I am quite convinced of the power of this addiction but appreciate your thoughts and opinions on the matter.

[Feelin Frisky]

Threads like this serve no purpose whatsoever except for people who pat themselves on the back for not having a compulsive eating problem. Granted. Everyone agrees obesity is not pretty, not attractive and unhealthy. Does mocking people afflicted change anything? No. The obesity "thing" continues and will continue forever because it's just a fact of human existence. People who have been short-changed by birth, by parenting and exploited by the food industries don't choose their own chemistry, parents and are not shielded from the penetrating reach of "comfort food" marketing. Live with it and don't pat yourself on the back if you're not afflicted.

[SummersEve]

I consider myself pretty well-qualified to represent this group having been married at 315 lbs and now having been stuck at a svelte 260 lbs.

 

I am 28 years old and have been this way since I was 15 (varying degrees). I am currently eating a cookie. I look forward to hearing your responses.

 

LOL.

 

I believe sugar is addicting, physically. Also I believe many things are addicting that don't have a physical substance to them. Or maybe "addicting" is not exactly an accurate word, maybe "compulsive" like gambling, shopping, internet, sex etc., but same effect as a substance.

 

It is extremely hard to change behavior or addictive substances that are how you are used to coping. All you can do is keep on trying and then eventually you make it.

 

Btw, you have lost 55 pounds, that is a lot!

 

I think the thing is that overweight people just want to be accepted and loved anyway just like everybody else. The worst thing is for someone else to hammer on your faults. I am not overweight but I definitely have my things that I could be instantly made to feel awful about. Don't we all.

[Linda9999]

I am what many would consider 'fat' also. 5'8" 180 to 190 lbs depending how much salt I ate the day before Why am I like this? Because I like food. I eat an extremely healthy diet - and I mean extremely healthy - I just eat too much of it and don't get enough exercise. Some days I am OK with it, some days I yearn for the days when I was 150 lbs after just having my third child.

 

Funny thing is, I was not as healthy then as I am now. I smoked 2 packs a day, ate almost all processed foods, drank pop and Kool Aid constantly. I would drink 2 pots of coffee during the day to suppress my appetite and then eat a half a plate of KD at suppertime. I got winded if I ran after a kid farther than across the room. Skinny DOES NOT = healthy.

 

I do know what I need to do to lose weight if I want to, but I like my beer and rum, and my nice thick juicy Alberta beef steaks, and my full fat raw milk, and my Lara bars and I miss them when I cut down on them. Portion control is key for me if I want to be thinner, but to say I was healthier when I was skinny is a load of crap.

[dreamingoftigers]

Oh shoot, my phone died in the middle of my last post so I will get back on with it now.

[Dust]

Fat shouldn’t be a stigma. People who are fat are every bit as worthy as some one who is not.

 

On the other hand being in shape is more attractive in my opinion. That’s not a put down on some one who isn’t.

 

I think the spread of corporate products such as Soda and other Junk foods has as much to do with the media of why fat is becoming stigmatized where it formally was not. It’s very easy to get fat if you are drinking Soda and eating Junk food.

 

Bottom line you should treat yourself with respect whether you weigh 100 or 1000lbs. You should aim to be healthy and happy, and work for the best in your life.

[LeaningIntoTheMuse]

I am fat, or at least chubby. And I hate it.

 

At the same time, it's extremely hard to lose. It's easy for people to say that I've caused it, but when you have a food addiction, you have an addiction. It's like a crack addiction. I wonder if these same people are saying, "Just get over it", to crackheads?

[pureinheart]

I'm fat, it sucks. Guess what? I also have a sugar addiction. Don't think sugar is addictive? Check out one of the Amen brain clinics and the work that they put out.

 

Guess what helps addicts? Education, support and serious counseling to get past the addiction and help their brains break away from the dependency. Guess what doesn't help? Shaming them.

 

Shaming addicts gives them justification to indulge in their addictive practice.

 

Maybe it's time we all grew up and realized that it us a brain function and health issue instead of a person being "gross," "lazy," "selfish," and "indulgent."

 

Food addiction and alcohol addiction tend to run in the same families. Over the past century alcohol addiction has vastly been on the decline. It would not be surprising in the least that those who were predisposed to it simply switched dependencies.

 

 

First and the most important ((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))). My daughter is a sugar addict and has been since a young child. Her grandparents used to think it was cute to get the kids all hopped up on sugar, and to also gain favor with the kids.

 

I am a former sugar addict, and had to quit eating all concentrated sugars such as cake, cookies, etc back when I was about 25 due to a growing sugar intolerance. I literally became very ill when eating it...that was a major blessing in disguise BTW...anyway I said all of that to communicate that I am very against sugar products and did not keep any in my home when the kids were growing up.

 

People give kids sugar, and a little is not bad, but there are those that have serious problems with it...now my grandkids are addicted...my oldest grandson fiends for it...

 

My heart goes out to you DOT, I have been there and my daughter and grandkids are trying to break their addictions. It is very real BTW.

 

I never shame them. I do get scared though because I know how it affects us physically.

 

My weight has fluctuated all of my life. Basically when I'm happy and content, I'm thin...let's just say I'm not happy and content right now:rolleyes:

 

Thought for the day: fruits and veggies rule!

[pureinheart]

I am fat, or at least chubby. And I hate it.

 

At the same time, it's extremely hard to lose. It's easy for people to say that I've caused it, but when you have a food addiction, you have an addiction. It's like a crack addiction. I wonder if these same people are saying, "Just get over it", to crackheads?

 

Food addictions are very real, AND at least a crack addict (or most other addictive substances) can walk away from crack, and yes will have severe cravings, BUT they don't have to eat crack to stay alive...we have to eat...it's constant temptation.

 

Have you had your thyroid checked recently?

 

I hope that we are all able to overcome these addictions:)

[dreamingoftigers]

Hi there,

 

Thank you for your thoughtful response and very appropriate questions:

 

I'm personally not interested in putting down or bashing you or anyone else here. However, since you've offered up that you're open for questions, I do have a couple:

 

1) Has a physician diagnosed you with sugar addiction?

 

I had my sugar dependency confirmed by my Regulated Naturopathic Doctor in Ottawa. In Ontario, naturopaths are considered primary care physicians, this does not extend to all other provinces in Canada. His qualifications are as follows:

 

Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

Ph.D. Molecular Biology & Protein Chemistry

University of Victoria

B. Sc. Biology

Simon Fraser University

As to the existence of sugar being addictive, the work done by the Amen Clinics, the premiere brain clinics in North America attest to it. I consider that to be a higher authority then those who claim that it doesn't exist with no credentials or research into neurological functions.

2) How is "society" at fault for creating an environment conducive to sugar addiction and obesity? To rephrase, how does society have control over the individual to make personal choices regarding their health?

 

Society is not to "blame" for any individual's choices. That being said we are all aware that everyone has their limit on what they can take.

 

I will start by saying that you cannot end up with a population that has a 30%+ overweight and obese group without it being conducive to sugar addiction and obesity. Clearly that many people have access and a predisposition and it must be acceptible enough to "get away with" at the very least.

 

To provide a rather odd example that I find fits well: there was an insurance company here in Canada that did a little "profit raising" not terribly long ago by refusing to settle claims from house fires and claiming that they were arson when they were not. (Sick, eh?)

 

The going thought was actually correct: not all of the families would fight it (being so wiped out from having just lost everything). This allowed the insurance company to keep massive settlements. A certain percentage of the families fought the false accusation and most won. At that point the insurance company did not stop there, they appealed the decision. One family made it all of the way to the Supreme Court. Only one. How many levels did a trial go through? I am not sure.

 

The company however only had to settle with that one family out of dozens or so. It wasn't to say that the other families did not have a right or didn't try. They got worn down and the obstacles became too big to overcome (or simply not worth it).

 

The family that did win tragically had lost the father before the final hearing. Plus years of time, money and effort. But I digress.

_______________________________________________________

 

I run my own business and I know a fair bit about corporate mentality. You won't sell a product that no one wants and the products that you do sell you try to make them look "necessary" "beautiful" "limited" "social acceptable/risque" "highly enjoyable" "better" etc etc etc.

 

The point is you are trying to persuade them to buy. Food products like sugar, flour and corn are very reactive with our brain chemistry and very easy and cheap to produce in mass quantities. A very profitable and easy sell. Couple that with people that are already pre-disposed to impulsive eating and you have an obesity epidemic.

 

No one but the individual is responsible for their own choices but almost every corporate entity on the globe knows that constant exposure and psychological twisting grabs attention and moves product. Certain foods, although addictive have managed to get under the radar (for now) that usually stops (or at least limits) harmful goods like drugs, tobacco, alcohol etc.

 

1. The ads and purveyors

 

As someone who has a predisposition to sugar and other refined garbage I can say that it is rampantly available and very well advertised. Part of the reason I elected not to have cable in my home. When I am away from garbage food I constantly get reminders of it, be it ads, flyers in my mailbox, billboards, sandwich board signs etc. Maybe of these ads are very tweaked to provide a certain visual stimulus to the brain (I actually call it food porn). I can honestly say that they grab my attention and give me a chemical reaction almost on cue.

 

One thing that I find very interesting is that drive-thrus almost as a rule have the lowest grade foods. Tim Horton's is virtually impossible to get anything sugar or flour-free (I know you may say don't go there then, and I usually don't but my point is what most of the quick foods are made up of is somewhat interesting in itself).

 

One thing that is not helpful to people with impulsive eating is the upsale. About 20% of people take the upsale when offered, the company's bottom line grows. (Stats from when I worked at Taco Time.) Quite frankly, if I go to Tim Horton's for a Hot Chocolate and I am sitting there in front of the menu I already know that they sell donuts, and then the drive-thru operator asks me if I want one with my hot chocolate (they even have TVs in their drive-thrus with their food ads on them, so that's another one). The upsale triggers the impulse in my brain that already has the issue to begin with to get that extra whopping sugar high. Odds are the next time I return there I will get it again. The corporate entity knows that a certain percentage of us will fall to the ads, a further percentage of us will fall at the TVs in the drive thru and yet a further percentage of us will take the upsale. No food addict without recovery is making it to the Supreme Court if you get my drift.

 

There is a marked difference between Canada and the US with food. Although we have the ads, drive-thrus etc. the US has it to the extreme. As well the obesity rate is much higher there. I do not believe it to be a coincidence.

 

I have been to 36 states, all ten provinces in Canada and 2 of 3 territories. I spent roughly a week or two in each state. I found the US to be a very interesting place with many different exciting regions. However, the food issue down there is very very apparent.

 

I think I may be considered "skinny" in Houston for instance.

The portion sizes in the vast majority of restaurants are disturbing and unhealthy to say the least. My husband and I who both have a weight problem would typically order one meal and split it. American "small" in most drive thrus is equivalent to our "medium" and "large" in some places. There is a very popular burger chain in the West who's average burger is more then I can eat in one sitting. It isn't very good but that's not the point. If there is a cheeseburger that I cannot finish, you have a very big problem. Notice that there is also a very big population, big in size, not just in number.

 

The ads down there are also much larger, and much more aggressive. Much more common too. The wording on them is even more aggressive. For instance there was a Rolo ice cream cone (my husband loved it, I thought it tasted like chemical crap, whatever). Up here the ad said something like "New: Rolo Ice Cream Cone with chocolate" down there, same image and it said "NEW ROLO CONE: TRY IT!" Just subtle things like that.

 

As well there is a sick corporate mentality of latching onto kids. Not just McDonald's (although they are the most notorious) but even the supermarkets. When I worked for a local grocery chain up here they had ways that we were supposed to treat children because they were future customers. Verbatim, right in the training manual.

 

2. The funny attitudes I encounter

 

There are a couple of strange things that help the fat stay fatter. One thing that has been confirmed often and I enjoy showing people is when I go to an open-service type restaurant or deli. If myself and a thin friend or my husband orders the same sandwich, "identical" guess who gets the larger one (and one of my girlfriends is quite thin, this works very well). This is virtually. every. time. I get a quite packed sandwich wherever I go. There have been a couple of vocal complaints made.

 

Now I realize that this must be entirely subconscious, like I am larger, so I must need more food. But it doesn't help.

 

As well one of the most bloody irritating things that people do and this is really common: is push food. We are a bloody society of sugar drug-dealers. Ugh! I do find myself a pretty obvious target for it too. I am often the fattest person in the room. If there is a treat or a cake or whatever and I am trying to cut back or not have any it is a guarantee that the conversation will go something like this:

 

"Oh did you get a piece of cake"

"Oh no thanks, I don't want one" "or I am not interested"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, thank you, I am .....trying to cut back......watching my health (sometimes I will even say that I don't want to die before 30).....not hungry.....I don't like cake."

 

You would think that that would be enough. But I think that subconscious thing kicks in for some partially because of my size and maybe their past social conditioning to people my size.

 

"But it's a birthday......you need to have a treat sometimes.......you can't just deprive yourself............blah blah blah"

 

I don't care that it's a birthday! I don't want to die before my next birthday of a heart attack! Do you really think I don't know where to find a treat if I need one? Trust me I am an expert!"

This actually happened to me the week before last:

 

There is a shop up here that specializes in frozen foods, I bought over $100 in items and they gave me a free apple pie. I told them I don't want it. The clerk says back "but it's free" I say "I am not interested, give it to the next person." She says "it's frozen so you can save it." Like, ****... I say "I really don't need an apple pie."

"Are you sure?" I mean it is a $6.00 apple pie, like I really give a ****, and you know usually I just take stuff so people shut up but I am really fed up with it so I finally say "look, do I look like I need an apple pie, really?" And so I took it and gave it to the next woman in line who also asked me if I was sure. YES YES I AM SURE! I get to the point where I want to be very rude sometimes.

 

3. The Diets

 

Everyone and their dog knows that dieting doesn't work any creates more metabolic damage then it helps. Do not even try to tell me that society doesn't condone this. Dieting offers no help for the underlying problem and creates and addictive cycle in itself while reinforcing the food issues. Many of us with dependency issues have done the dieting game. I went on my first "diet" at 12. I guess we can say that that didn't work.

 

People have approached me off an on for years telling me about dieting etc. People whom I have no idea who the Hell they were. On the bus, one taxi driver, some people in the mall. Some of them are strangers with good intentions. Some are people telling me about how unhealthy I am. Some are people trying to sell me things. One was a guy that couldn't have been out of high school yet trying to sell me weight-loss stuff. No one approached me when I was pregnant and it pissed me off, I really wanted to lip one of them off.

 

I give each the same response because I believe what they are doing is very rude: I tell them that "I am not trying to lose weight, I am trying to gain weight, my goal is to be a couch by 2012."

 

What's funny is that some of them actually get pretty pissed off, like somehow I wrecked their day. Really, I just want to hang out at the mall in peace.

 

4. The "fat is beautiful" idea

 

This is an interesting one, here is classic society condoning food addiction. Every embracing and encouraging it. That is so wrong I don't know where to start. It just is really really unhealthy and ignores the underlying problem and those suffering with it.

 

5. What we feed children

 

Needless to say but the hot dog and hamburger type meals served in daycares across the country as completely unacceptible. I have no idea how people sleep at night knowing that they are depriving developing children of proper nutrition on a regular basis. Hot dogs, bacon and microwaved popcorn are very very hard on your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system.

 

3) Many people say that they would do anything to ensure the well-being of their children. Since it's known the being obese can lead to a multitude of health problems and decrease longevity, would you agree that those who choose unhealthy lifestyles are potentially cheating their children and loved ones out of the full potential of the parent-child relationship? If you disagree, why?

 

I agree completely. And I know that I am responsible to provide the best for her well-being.

 

I completely agree that carrying on an unhealthy lifestyle creates tragic, sad, unnecessary circumstances for parent and child. I am quitting bringing sugar in my home even if I can't quit altogether because my daughter is old enough now to see that Mommy eats different food then her and I can tell it bothers her. That's not fair.

 

As well she needs a role-model of health instead of one that has all of these issues.

 

4) Would you agree that children, especially at a young age, are heavily influenced by the examples that their parents lead? For example, there's evidence that suggests that the children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves. Using this logic, is it safe to assume that obese parents pass on behavioral traits that lead to obesity? If you disagree with this assertion, please explain why.

 

Absolutely agree. My parents gave the worst possible patterning I have heard of for food addiction. They ate take out almost every single night. They went into massive debt and still didn't stop eating takeout. My mother has always been around 220-230 except when she would crash diet and lose 50 lbs. She has done this at least a dozen times. My father was around 280 until his diabetes and heart complications kicked it. He is almost thin now.

 

I do not wish to pass this behaviour on to my daughter. Even just for the fact that I am treated like an outsider and in school the boys were verbally abusive to me. I do believe that it had a very negative impact on my self-image and that I saw (and still see) myself as a "fat person" rather then someone with a weight issue.

 

Again, my goal is not to antagonize you, but I do think that your perspective is an interesting one. While we may not agree, I feel that open dialogue is important for establishing mutual empathy.

 

Thank you for your thoughtful questions.

[dreamingoftigers]

Doesn't matter if there is a difference, it's still entirely possible to be psychologically addicted to food. I was once for a long period, it was to do with the anti depressants I was taking. I was always craving to eat something at night all the time. If I didn't eat anything my mood would feel like ****. You could say this addiction was both chemical and psychological. Chemical because the anti depressants was causing me to feel that way, and psychological because of the actual addiction itself.

 

There is an actual chemical link, but it is nice to hear some backup from a guy who had his brain chemistry played with. It further reinforces my point. BRAIN CHEMISTRY PEOPLE!

[Ross PK]

If I wanted to, there's a number of "addictions" I could have chosen to claim throughout my life...

• I love the taste/fullness/whatever I get from eating food, and so I eat an excessive amount. Somebody published something about how foot can affect the chemicals in the brain. Therefore, I must be addicted to food.
  
• I love to play video games. In fact, it's practically all I do. There's an article about the chemical effect of video games on the brain - I must be addicted.
  
• I watch hours upon hours of TV, and there's a similar article about TV. I must be addicted.
  
• I love the feeling I get from running, and I run a lot. There's a well documented effect from running, termed the "runner's high", which is linked to a chemical change induced by long distance running. I must be addicted.
  
• It makes me feel good to go out for a hike, and I hike for miles upon miles. This is as a result of the release of endorphins into my bloodstream. I must be addicted.
  
• I drink a lot of water, and if I don't maintain three liters of water a day I feel like crap. I must be addicted.
  

I really do hate the term "addiction". It's so overused - especially as an excuse.

And here's a fun little experiment. When you looked through the list of "addictions", did you get to the second half and go "oh that person has a problem" or "oh that's bad to run/hike/drink water".

No. Absolutely not. Even though any single one of those items could be done to an unhealthy degree.

 

 

You can become "addicted" to anything, because anything you do that gives pleasure has a chemical effect on your brain as well as a psychological effect.

The problem lies in whether the activity is done to a self-destructive means, and whether you use it as an EXCUSE for the behavior.

 

 

Whether you cling to the belief that you have an addiction or not, the end result is the same: if you're not happy with how you look, or feel, or with the consequences of whatever your actions may be...then do something about it.

 

You obviously don't understand what addiction means. Being addicted isn't just as simple as enjoying or wanting to do something.

[Ross PK]

I am fat, or at least chubby. And I hate it.

 

At the same time, it's extremely hard to lose. It's easy for people to say that I've caused it, but when you have a food addiction, you have an addiction. It's like a crack addiction. I wonder if these same people are saying, "Just get over it", to crackheads?

 

Lol, probably. Idiots, the lot of them.