"Fat" revolution?

[Emilia]

All true as causes of obesity, but if it's all you know, is it laziness?

 

A person can be a very hard worker and not be physically active or eat a healthy diet. So much of this is learned in childhood, and habits and preferences are set for life if the individual doesn't make a huge, intentional shift.

 

My husband was raised with some unhealthy habits. I was raised with healthier ones. I tried very hard, when our kids were small, to keep my husband from passing those habits on to them because that's what he associated with "happy childhood". It finally clicked with him. The chain is broken.

 

Is that comfort eating? You are right that's definitely another issue.

[Emilia]

+ stress + long commutes + broken family units + larger portions of everything (30% in 20 years for a curry, forex) + emotional / mental issues = not so simple.

 

Yes comfort eating as well. However physical resilience helps with mental health and honestly hand on heart I think life for most people was MUCH harder in the 50s

 

Portion control is an individual's responsibility.

[Emilia]

 

Probably true. Are you and I poverty shaming now?

.

 

i knew someone wouldn't think it through. No I'm shaming those that don't value education enough to provide it to those that can't pay for it. Keep up.

[xxoo]

Is that comfort eating? You are right that's definitely another issue.

 

 

Not necessarily comfort eating in place of coping.

 

More like "comfort food" (foods that make you think of being a kid) being really unhealthy crap. I had a sort of radical mom, I guess, who fed us Shaklee shakes back in the 70s When I think of my childhood, the treats are from a health food store. Peanut butter is ground peanuts, no sugar. Fish is fish, not fish sticks. A burger is grilled by dad and served with lots of veggies, not McDonald's.

 

My husband saw all the crap (fast food, fried items, candy bars of every kind, packaged cookies, sweetened cereals) as a sort of entitlement of childhood. But he still loves that stuff, because that's what he was raised eating. I never, ever buy that stuff. Ever. Not even tempted. Because I wasn't raised with it. I didn't think that our kids needed to try every variety of these things by the age of 10. My daughter didn't know there was a soda aisle in the supermarket until she went shopping with one of my friends, and she was 10

[pureinheart]

I disagree with y'all blaming processed food. It doesn't matter it is, it can be grilled fish and steamed rice, you can't eat that much of it. I used to work with a bunch of women who were the pickiest eaters, they wouldn't even eat bread and they never lost a pound.

 

Jay, I think it's about balance and I too worked with women who were all between 50 and 100lbs over their target weight. From what we could see they were eating like rabbits a lot of the time, so who knows. One thing I did notice is the lack of activity as they had me run all of their errands (work errands), like if they needed to go into the ship (aircraft/shuttle), they had me do it because of not fitting in certain areas.. also there were four flights of stairs to tackle. FTR I wasn't much younger than them.

[SummerDreams]

I bet in the 60's when Twiggy and all the skinny models became trendy people were saying the same things "where are we headed?" etc. I'm sure they used to find that model not healthy, and it was not. Obesity is not the only unhealthy way of life, anorexia is one as well. The best thing to do is ignore what the magazines are selling and mind our own life and choices. I won't become skinny or obese cause a magazine tells me so.

[SpiralOut]

I saw a documentary that talked about food insecurity in parts of America. It described why eating healthy can be difficult for poorer people, hence the increase in obesity for those particular people. Certain towns are "food deserts" meaning there is limited access to healthy food, especially fresh vegetables and fruit. The people living there wanted to eat well but couldn't. In order to get fresh vegetables, they would have to drive over to another town, which is difficult for someone who is working 2-3 jobs to feed their family and may not have time to do so, OR may not have a car OR if they have one, cannot afford the gas needed to make a trip out of town.

 

 

I believe it was called A Place at the Table.

[123321]

I saw a documentary that talked about food insecurity in parts of America. It described why eating healthy can be difficult for poorer people, hence the increase in obesity for those particular people. Certain towns are "food deserts" meaning there is limited access to healthy food, especially fresh vegetables and fruit. The people living there wanted to eat well but couldn't. In order to get fresh vegetables, they would have to drive over to another town, which is difficult for someone who is working 2-3 jobs to feed their family and may not have time to do so, OR may not have a car OR if they have one, cannot afford the gas needed to make a trip out of town.

 

 

I believe it was called A Place at the Table.

 

Sounds pretty damn rare - I'm pretty sure the vast majority of Americas obese have a Vons or whatever nearby.

[PrettyEmily77]

Yes comfort eating as well. However physical resilience helps with mental health and honestly hand on heart I think life for most people was MUCH harder in the 50s

 

Portion control is an individual's responsibility.

 

 

I agree it was harder in some ways, but it was also much simpler.

 

 

And yes, portion control is an individual's responsibility but we're not all machines, and nothing is to say that people being 15lbs heavier now than what they used to be 30 years ago is such a bad thing anyway, if their health isn't affected. I don't think it should be a concern, it personally doesn't affect my own life in any way, and it's probably a natural evolutionary thing anyway going by the articles I have linked.

 

 

As always, extremes either way (dangerously thin / big to the point where it's impacting on someone's life) are the problem but I don't think there's a revolution and I actually think these issues are already being openly addressed. I just think that support, understanding and empathy would work better than finger pointing and making it look like it's simpler than it actually is.

[xxoo]

I have studied food insecurity and it is pretty much hogwash, at least in the USA. Poor people can eat frozen vegetables, which are almost as good as fresh, and generally cheap. If they are particularly industrious, they can do like my friend has done, and start raising a few chickens. They have so many eggs that they give some away to friends and family.

 

 

When I read of "food deserts" locally, they are referring to inner city areas without decent grocery stores in the neighborhood. No fresh produce, no frozen, and they certainly can't keep chickens.

 

Also, poor households may not have reliable refrigeration, either due to power shut offs or living in motel rooms, etc.

[123321]

When I read of "food deserts" locally, they are referring to inner city areas without decent grocery stores in the neighborhood. No fresh produce, no frozen, and they certainly can't keep chickens.

 

Also, poor households may not have reliable refrigeration, either due to power shut offs or living in motel rooms, etc.

 

I'm gonna have to call bullsh*t on this one. What percentage of the US population live in a place where they can't find frozen peas within a 5 mile walk or 20 minute drive?

[fawnlawn]

I saw a documentary that talked about food insecurity in parts of America. It described why eating healthy can be difficult for poorer people, hence the increase in obesity for those particular people. Certain towns are "food deserts" meaning there is limited access to healthy food, especially fresh vegetables and fruit. The people living there wanted to eat well but couldn't. In order to get fresh vegetables, they would have to drive over to another town, which is difficult for someone who is working 2-3 jobs to feed their family and may not have time to do so, OR may not have a car OR if they have one, cannot afford the gas needed to make a trip out of town.

 

 

I believe it was called A Place at the Table.

 

Your comment is most relateable, so I'll build from this. There are definitely areas like this in California, but I don't think obesity is solely because of money struggle/limited access. In a few of the parts I've seen (for ex. the place I live) there are other factors, primarily culture. A lot of greasy food and meats are consumed, on top of fast food and processed foods when fresh food can't be afforded.

 

I like enigma32's idea. Those who live in areas where the town or area allows chickens, that's something people should think about and they don't. Though I do know many "city" areas have ordinances where you can be fined for having them.

 

-

 

I came here to say, though, that I have NO clue why people would want to be "fat" as depicted in the OP. I can see curvy, or weighing like 10lbs more than one should for your height, or it being 100% uncontrollable because of health factors. I see embracing one's beauty while overweight or obese and trying to lose weight/become healthier. I don't see being okay with being overweight or obese and saying "it's okay because I'm healthy." I see so many people do that - people who look like the girls from the OP - and it's like ...why... I really just do not get it.

[123321]

Your comment is most relateable, so I'll build from this. There are definitely areas like this in California, but I don't think obesity is solely because of money struggle/limited access.

 

Where in California can one not EITHER walk to a store with a freezer section OR grow a few things and raise a couple chickens? City and ZIp code, please.

[cherycenicole]

Oh my dear friend...how to even begin to respond to this. *deep breath*

Weight is such a complicated topic and issue. I don't think anyone on this planet truly believes that "FAT" is healthy, not even people who are overweight, despite their ability to love themselves and have a good attitude. That being said, it also isn't healthy shaming these people. If it isn't your thing, then shut your mouth and walk on.

 

You don't know why they are overweight. The assumption is that all overweight people are overweight for two reasons--they must overeat and indulge in fast food and sweets, and they are lazy. Now, I’m sure the fat shamers will chime in on this because they obviously know everything about nutrition, genetics, psychology, etc.--experts in every field that impacts weight…I’m sure. While people may be overweight due to a poor diet, they are starting to find that laziness is linked to the food people are eating, which further compounds the issue. Unfortunately, a lot of this has to do with little to no knowledge of how food affects our bodies and the composition of processed foods vs. foods that occur in nature. People are only starting to realize that diet soda is just as bad as regular soda and that “fat free” and “low fat” foods are also just as bad. There is also a misconception that eating healthy is more expensive, which is not correct. When you eat garbage food consistently, it’s just like consuming cigarettes or drugs—you can become addicted. So the challenge is to eliminate those foods from your lifestyle and to eat healthier because even when you’re trying really hard, you could pass by something unhealthy at the grocery store or a restaurant and suddenly find yourself wanting to go eat that food, despite not even really being hungry. Food education is key and it has to start from a young age.

 

The good news is that there has been a “food revolution” that has gained attention and people who care and aren’t just a**holes shaming people without caring about who they are or how it makes them feel (I wonder how you fat shammers would feel if you were the last straw that caused someone to take their own life—probably wouldn’t care because that is how much of a douche you are) are working to help on all levels from food education to pressing the government to have the same type of food restrictions that other countries do. The progress is slow, but is happening. If you care so much about the topic then be part of the solution instead of the problem.

 

In our home, we don’t give our children processed foods, we rarely go out to eat, we have only milk or water in our fridge, and fill our fridge with fresh meats and produce. That being said, it doesn’t mean that when we pass by a colorful box in the store that has a bunny on it or some other character, my child doesn’t ask for it. That is also a challenge which is why we shop at smaller stores that carry a very small amount of processed foods and are mostly dedicated to fresh foods and tend to avoid the isles that have those foods altogether. But then you go to pick out some yogurt and next to plain yogurt not riddled with sugar and other crap, there is a colorful box of Gogurts covered with recognizable characters and my child immediately wants it. Marketing is evil and targets young children because companies know how to make lifetime consumers of their products. I have seen children who are VERY active and involved in all sorts of sports that continue to be overweight despite their level of activity or the fact that their calories are measured out. In those cases, the children had a diet that was high in processed foods, which tells me (and the medical community) that calories are not the only factor.

 

How many of you fat shammers know what Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is? Do you know they have done studies on poor women with PCOS who couldn’t even afford to buy food—women who were literally starving and were still overweight? Do you know that women with PCOS can eat a very healthy and natural diet and STILL be overweight? For some, weight is as simple as calories in and calories out. For others, it is not so simple.

 

Do I think being a size 22 is healthy? No. I don’t think that at all. If this woman was on the cover of Health Magazine, then I would understand the issue here but that is not the case. Her being on the cover of a magazine is not promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. No matter whom you are, no woman is going to say “I wish I looked like her and am going to do everything in my power to achieve that”. I didn’t read the article so I may be incorrect in what I’m about to say, but I don’t think the article is telling men or people that THAT is who you SHOULD/HAVE to be attracted to. Yes—even an overweight person can be beautiful—maybe they are not beautiful to YOU, but they may be to someone else.

 

I think a lot of people here have made some great points, one being that if it does not affect you, why do you care? If you truly care about people and their health, then do something to help others. Do it out of love and caring for people and who they are and what they feel, not by tearing down their self-esteem. I read a post from a girl who lost weight and said that even at a size 10 that she still hated the way she looked. THAT is the reason there is a push to accept people for who they are, like this size 22 woman. It isn’t about telling people it is healthy to look like that, but that our world shouldn’t be centered around what a person looks like. Fat shamming and putting it out there that the only way to be beautiful is to look like the supermodels that you feel are deserving of being on the cover of a magazine is extremely damaging to the psyche. It is why people who have been torn down by others because of their looks continue to hate themselves even when reaching a healthy weight.

 

There is a difference between showing genuine care for an issue and wanting to help and being hurtful.

Edited June 2, 2015 by cherycenicole

[fawnlawn]

Where in California can one not EITHER walk to a store with a freezer section OR grow a few things and raise a couple chickens? City and ZIp code, please.

 

Well, if I give you my city/zip code that puts me at risk of losing anonymity so I cannot do that but in my city we are not allowed to plant things in the front - if we do it in the back, it must be hidden from view of someone in the front - BUT don't you know California is in a drought? Lawn watering is only allowed twice a week, water usage has been restricted. I personally can not get anything to grow in my yard under these restrictions, so I'm just saying some people should be given the benefit of the doubt basically. By some I mean a very small group, by the way. Not hundreds or thousands.

 

We totally have a freezer section but healthy frozen foods are just as expensive as the fresh stuff. Personally I don't mind, and just bought a bunch of vegetables and such, but I know other people that don't have the money.

[serial muse]

I'm gonna have to call bullsh*t on this one. What percentage of the US population live in a place where they can't find frozen peas within a 5 mile walk or 20 minute drive?

 

USDA to the rescue:

Agricultural Marketing Service - Creating Access to Healthy, Affordable Food

 

Food Desert Research Atlas, so you can see where they are county by county: USDA ERS - Food Access Research Atlas

 

Now you know.

[123321]

Where in California can one not EITHER walk to a store with a freezer section OR grow a few things and raise a couple chickens? City and ZIp code, please.

 

USDA to the rescue:

Agricultural Marketing Service - Creating Access to Healthy, Affordable Food

 

Food Desert Research Atlas, so you can see where they are county by county: USDA ERS - Food Access Research Atlas

 

Now you know.

 

The definition they use is 1 (one) mile. So if someone is too goddamn lazy to walk more than a mile to buy frozen (oh wait, they don't seem to be counting frozen produce?) produce they live in a food desert.

 

ROFL

[xxoo]

The definition they use is 1 (one) mile. So if someone is too goddamn lazy to walk more than a mile to buy frozen (oh wait, they don't seem to be counting frozen produce?) produce they live in a food desert.

 

ROFL

 

There but for the grace of god I go.

[123321]

There but for the grace of god I go.

 

Yeah, if not for god (?) you could have been right. I guess.

 

Virtually no one in America lives in a place where they can't get healthy food, despite what the frantic flailing of a first lady desperately trying to do something useful say to the contrary.

 

Frozen and canned produce are widely available, even in the rare places where fresh produce might be over a mile away.

[cherycenicole]

The definition they use is 1 (one) mile. So if someone is too goddamn lazy to walk more than a mile to buy frozen (oh wait, they don't seem to be counting frozen produce?) produce they live in a food desert.

 

ROFL

 

You expect people to spend two and a half hours of travel time to get a bag of frozen peas (based on the average 15 min per mile roundtrip)? That seems pretty unreasonable. I assume said person would probably want to buy more than a day's worth of food rather than walk for two and a half hours several times a week to get their food, so they would likely need something to carry it all in. Watermelon is found in our house fairly often...not exactly an item I'd want to carry for over an hour. Additionally, if this person has a family, that increases the amount of food they need to buy. Not to mention the time spent traveling and shopping--you're looking at a good 3 hours out of someone's day to purchase food. Maybe that is the kind of time you have, but not everyone lives your life.

 

It is easy for you to judge people who might not even be able to afford the computer you sit behind. Thankfully, you and I don't seem to have this problem of not having access to healthy foods.

[SummerDreams]

I don't understand what is the point to prove whether one can or can't find healthy food close to their place. Are we searching for a cause to shame fat people some more? Maybe it's just their choice to be overweight or obese, maybe they don't like diets, maybe they have health issues that make it hard to lose weight, maybe they just don't care for their health, so many maybes. What do we care exactly?

[123321]

You expect people to spend two and a half hours of travel time to get a bag of frozen peas (based on the average 15 min per mile roundtrip)? That seems pretty unreasonable.

 

Assuming they can't take a bus part way or have other ways around is unreasonable too. Some people no doubt have this situation. They are a tiny minuscule minority and do not contribute much to the fattening of America.

 

Consider someone who lives 2 miles from a grocery store, and feeds a family of 3. The walk should take them about 30 minutes each way, and it will be good for their health, so it's not really lost time so much as enforced lifestyle improvement.

 

Once they get there they can fill their mil-surplus satchel (the same one I use!) with a minimum of 4 days worth of food, and walk back. The whole ordeal should take about 2 hours and as a bonus build up some muscle and burn a few calories.

 

That is 4 person hours a week, to buy food for a family of 3, assuming no transportation at all is available. This is probably unrealistic; most urban places have a bus service, and rural people have access to transportation as a matter of necessity.

[writergal]

Oh my dear friend...how to even begin to respond to this. *deep breath*

Weight is such a complicated topic and issue. I don't think anyone on this planet truly believes that "FAT" is healthy, not even people who are overweight, despite their ability to love themselves and have a good attitude. That being said, it also isn't healthy shaming these people. If it isn't your thing, then shut your mouth and walk on.

 

You don't know why they are overweight. The assumption is that all overweight people are overweight for two reasons--they must overeat and indulge in fast food and sweets, and they are lazy. Now, I’m sure the fat shamers will chime in on this because they obviously know everything about nutrition, genetics, psychology, etc.--experts in every field that impacts weight…I’m sure. While people may be overweight due to a poor diet, they are starting to find that laziness is linked to the food people are eating, which further compounds the issue. Unfortunately, a lot of this has to do with little to no knowledge of how food affects our bodies and the composition of processed foods vs. foods that occur in nature. People are only starting to realize that diet soda is just as bad as regular soda and that “fat free” and “low fat” foods are also just as bad. There is also a misconception that eating healthy is more expensive, which is not correct. When you eat garbage food consistently, it’s just like consuming cigarettes or drugs—you can become addicted. So the challenge is to eliminate those foods from your lifestyle and to eat healthier because even when you’re trying really hard, you could pass by something unhealthy at the grocery store or a restaurant and suddenly find yourself wanting to go eat that food, despite not even really being hungry. Food education is key and it has to start from a young age.

 

The good news is that there has been a “food revolution” that has gained attention and people who care and aren’t just a**holes shaming people without caring about who they are or how it makes them feel (I wonder how you fat shammers would feel if you were the last straw that caused someone to take their own life—probably wouldn’t care because that is how much of a douche you are) are working to help on all levels from food education to pressing the government to have the same type of food restrictions that other countries do. The progress is slow, but is happening. If you care so much about the topic then be part of the solution instead of the problem.

 

In our home, we don’t give our children processed foods, we rarely go out to eat, we have only milk or water in our fridge, and fill our fridge with fresh meats and produce. That being said, it doesn’t mean that when we pass by a colorful box in the store that has a bunny on it or some other character, my child doesn’t ask for it. That is also a challenge which is why we shop at smaller stores that carry a very small amount of processed foods and are mostly dedicated to fresh foods and tend to avoid the isles that have those foods altogether. But then you go to pick out some yogurt and next to plain yogurt not riddled with sugar and other crap, there is a colorful box of Gogurts covered with recognizable characters and my child immediately wants it. Marketing is evil and targets young children because companies know how to make lifetime consumers of their products. I have seen children who are VERY active and involved in all sorts of sports that continue to be overweight despite their level of activity or the fact that their calories are measured out. In those cases, the children had a diet that was high in processed foods, which tells me (and the medical community) that calories are not the only factor.

 

How many of you fat shammers know what Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is? Do you know they have done studies on poor women with PCOS who couldn’t even afford to buy food—women who were literally starving and were still overweight? Do you know that women with PCOS can eat a very healthy and natural diet and STILL be overweight? For some, weight is as simple as calories in and calories out. For others, it is not so simple.

 

Do I think being a size 22 is healthy? No. I don’t think that at all. If this woman was on the cover of Health Magazine, then I would understand the issue here but that is not the case. Her being on the cover of a magazine is not promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. No matter whom you are, no woman is going to say “I wish I looked like her and am going to do everything in my power to achieve that”. I didn’t read the article so I may be incorrect in what I’m about to say, but I don’t think the article is telling men or people that THAT is who you SHOULD/HAVE to be attracted to. Yes—even an overweight person can be beautiful—maybe they are not beautiful to YOU, but they may be to someone else.

 

I think a lot of people here have made some great points, one being that if it does not affect you, why do you care? If you truly care about people and their health, then do something to help others. Do it out of love and caring for people and who they are and what they feel, not by tearing down their self-esteem. I read a post from a girl who lost weight and said that even at a size 10 that she still hated the way she looked. THAT is the reason there is a push to accept people for who they are, like this size 22 woman. It isn’t about telling people it is healthy to look like that, but that our world shouldn’t be centered around what a person looks like. Fat shamming and putting it out there that the only way to be beautiful is to look like the supermodels that you feel are deserving of being on the cover of a magazine is extremely damaging to the psyche. It is why people who have been torn down by others because of their looks continue to hate themselves even when reaching a healthy weight.

 

There is a difference between showing genuine care for an issue and wanting to help and being hurtful.

 

I'm giving your post +1 million likes.

[serial muse]

The definition they use is 1 (one) mile. So if someone is too goddamn lazy to walk more than a mile to buy frozen (oh wait, they don't seem to be counting frozen produce?) produce they live in a food desert.

 

ROFL

 

How surprising that you went straight to a conservative blog to tell you what to think.

 

So, let's see. Perhaps we've got an overweight person who wants to eat more healthfully. But s/he has very little income, possibly kids, is possibly a single parent and/or working long hours and doesn't have a whole lot of time to take a long walk, but still has to walk a mile (minimum) and back to the grocery store carrying all the groceries back, and in no way do we consider this an impediment to healthy eating. And that's in urban areas, of course. In rural areas it's 10 miles.

 

It is so weird to me because here is Michelle Obama promoting an idea you AGREE WITH but you still have to make it political. She's trying to get people to eat healthier and improve access to healthy food. I'm seriously trying to figure out the problem here. Coming up empty except that people can't allow themselves to see any positives in the Obamas. Curious, that.

 

And it's hilarious that this blogger guy of yours decided to visit a food desert...by car. Unclear on the concept. ROFL.

 

Anyway, yes, frozen food counts, because they were looking at the distribution of supermarkets. You are parroting a conservative talking point that doesn't make much sense. Clearly the point people are pretending to make is that this atlas doesn't account for corner convenience stores - except how many of those keep frozen peas and other veggies in the freezer? More like ice cream and mac n cheese. You must be joking.

Edited June 2, 2015 by serial muse

[123321]

How surprising that you went straight to a conservative blog to tell you what to think.

 

Are you poisoning the well due to lack of rebuttal, or habit?

 

 

 

So, let's see. Perhaps we've got an overweight person who wants to eat more healthfully. But s/he has very little income, possibly kids, is possibly a single parent and/or working long hours and doesn't have a whole lot of time to take a long walk, but still has to walk a mile (minimum) and back to the grocery store carrying all the groceries back, and in no way do we consider this an impediment to healthy eating. And that's in urban areas, of course. In rural areas it's 10 miles.

 

She manages to live somehow. I walk that much to the office and it's EASY. IT's also good for you.

 

The argument someone is trying to make is a multi-parter:

 

(1) She has access to processed foods but not 'healthy foods'. Who can find a place that sells frozen corn-dogs and does NOT sell canned tomatoes and frozen corn? Seriously? The food desert people get around this somehow, and by limiting the radius to 1 mile for most areas. By that standard I'm in a food desert, or very damn near. Guess what? For a $9 delivery fee (for me, I'm outside the primary delivery radius and get a surcharge) Von's will deliver groceries (even for a month), as will many other services. They will even bring them in and place them in your kitchen.

 

(2) That she can't travel any other way than on foot. This is absurd for the majority of people. People in the rurals need to have transportation and almost always have access to it, even the most poor. People in urban centers have some degree of public transit.

 

(3) That people in her rare situation are a large enough proportion of the population of America to skew the obesity statistics by any significant amount. I'm sure someone, somewhere, can't find frozen corn or canned tomatoes. I'm equally certain that IF they got fat (or not) they are sufficiently rare that they won't budge the statistical needle by any noticeable amount.

 

 

Anyway, yes, frozen food counts, because they were looking at the distribution of supermarkets.

 

So a high to middle income subdivision 1.2 miles from a huge supermarket is a food desert? Pardon me while I continue to think this is horsesh*t.

 

I have to ask; have you EVER been anywhere in America where you couldn't buy fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables? Ever? Because I've been lots of places in America, and I've never been more than a 30 minute walk from a supermarket anywhere people walk, and if you're in a place that rural, Burpee's sells seeds. Through the mail.