Does someone's weight affect your perception of them?

I never suggested that you should. Oftentimes research is independently funded, if it's government funded, then you're just out of luck, because the government researches all kinds of things that you and other taxpayers--including myself--probably don't care about or have a heavy investment in, but most of the times, it's done independently by scientists and researchers working in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, etc. Therapy bills are payed by the patient/s (the "fat person or people") and psychiatric assistance refers to medications (either covered partially by insurance or payed for by the patient/s--the "fat person or people"). What on Earth made you assume that my suggestion was to hold all taxpaying citizens more financially responsible for one addiction than any of the others? I was just making the point that complaining about fat people and their "fatness" isn't going to solve the epidemic, nor is judging them for their problems. It's no different than judging any other kind of character flaw which could manifest itself in the form of an addiction or self-destructive behavior. It's fine if you don't like fat people, I guess it's your right to have judgmental and shallow views. I'm just encouraging people to look at the big picture and realize that there's more going on there than just fat people stuffing their faces for stereotypical reasons. It's a self destructive vicious cycle, I struggled with my weight a few years back. I know how difficult it is when you're overweight to work to eat normal portions and I can definitely relate to the study which pointed out the brain's insatiable appetite. Sometimes I just couldn't stand how hungry I felt, I just had to remind myself and use every inch of my mind to ignore it. But again, that's like a long-term smoker just giving up cigarettes cold-turkey, it's incredibly difficult. That's why they have patches, electronic cigs, etc. For people who feel like they have to eat more, I guess there are appetite suppressants. That would probably be the equivalent.

 

The problem is where do you draw the line. A certain trend in brain chemistry≠a clinical diagnosis. There are definitely mental and/or physiological conditions that cause people to over eat or drink a lot of fluid (diabetes insipidus). There is even a physiological condition that can cause people to eat clay of all things. Those disorders are NOT what is responsible for the majority of Americans to be overweight or obese. There is not mass clinical addiction affecting the majority of people in America. That is a cop out.

 

Paying for weight loss surgery makes sense because it is cheaper for everyone in the long run. But I do feel like there should be a "fat tax." If your BMI is above a certain level you should pay a surcharge with your taxes that goes into the health care system to offset the damage being caused by your over eating.

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16901250

Consider your argument refuted. It is an addiction, and it is not a cop out to call it what it is.

 

Then I assume you believe there should be a "drunkard tax," a "skinny tax" and a "bulimia tax," etc. That would be consistent at least.

 

I do believe there should be some kind of tax on alcohol at point of sale that goes into a federal health care pool. Bulimia is a rare CLINICAL diagnosis. As I stated before there are very real CLINICAL diagnoses that can cause people to gain weight excessively or eat weird things such as clay. Those can be diagnosed and an exemption from my tax could be easily issued.

As far as a skinny tax is concerned there is no evidence that people that are "under weight" increase medical costs. If you eat a balanced diet and get a reasonable amount of exercise it has been actually demonstrated that organisms can MASSIVELY increase longevity by dramatically decreasing their caloric intake. And on top of living longer animals that were put on these diets were healthier.

Check this news article out. It's from a newspaper not a scientific journal but it is interesting.

Linky.

Pretty crazy, huh? Why would you want to tax THAT?

 

Weight means nothing, size and shape does matter. LOL....

However, hygene is most important.

 

This is all very noble. However, I think you'll find that EVERYONE, on some level, reacts to physical traits. As a species we're designed to. Someone physically attractive to you is going to hold more appeal. You're going to naturally want to get closer to them and will thus treat them differently. There have been an endless amount of studies on this topic. I can remember off-hand a study where men and women's brain activity was measured as they were shown attractive/ugly people. The attractive people all caused higher levels of activity. My point being that it's often not a conscious decision.

 

No way. You're approaching a very dangerous line. The government should have absolutely no input on how people treat their bodies. Insurance companies/air lines etc. should be able to charge them more without a second thought, but the government should stay the hell away.

 

Being overweight doesn't appear to bother too many people or Gov. Chris Christie would be one of the most unpopular people in this country.

When I see an overweight person, I see them as a victim of our hormone-happy beef fattening industry.

 

It made to where even Asian girls in far off lands are growing nice boobs. It's just too bad men are growing them as well.

 

Originally Posted by Jebediah

"It shouldn't be acceptable for ANYONE to be overweight. It's an unnecessary cost to the healthcare system and it's totally avoidable."

It shouldn't be acceptable for anyone to drop out of high school. It's an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers and it's totally avoidable.
It shouldn't be acceptable for anyone to have children with absolutely no ability to support them because it's an unnessary burden on the taxpayers and totally avoidable.
It shouldn't be acceptable for any able-bodied person to refuse to work because it's an unnecessary cost to the taxpayer and it's totally avoidable.
It shouldn't be acceptable for socialists to vote because it's an unnecessary cost to the taxpayers if their candidates get elected and it's totally avoidable.
And, on and on and on.

 

LOL... good one

That gubnor cristy has a woman's name and looks like Chaz Bono before the sex change. Not that that is a problem.

 

LOL, whenever someone says something like "That's all very noble." it is simply mocking one's efforts, and actually saying "You are not noble at all, you are just pretending you are to impress others." So before you continue in that vein, I am not claiming nobility of purpose, simply practicality and social ease.

As far as your position goes, I agree that we are biologically programmed to be attracted to those whom we consider would make good mates, and with whom we could produce the best offspring. But this specific can only apply to people of the opposite gender.

My male friends are all shapes and sizes, and I hardly ever notice their physical shapes. I am sure they view me similarly. And anyway, you only ever see a friend physically when you first meet him or her - a prospective lover is different - and thereafter they are good old Bill, or Sally, or Kumar.

 

If one of them is 5'6" and weighs 300#, and you pretend there is nothing wrong with him, maybe he'd be better off if you were his enemy.

 

There may be nothing wrong with him (other than eating too much and not doing much exercise,) but frankly, I cannot imagine someone that height being that weight. I am 1.76 metres tall and weight about 52 kg (5' 8 1/2" and 114lbs in your language) and while slight, I am not skinny. So to be shorter and weigh three times as much, does not seem possible.

Anyway, I do not consider it my place to comment upon someone else's appearance - people, especially slightly dysmorphic people, have all sorts of sensitivities, upon which I do not wish to tread. You are obviously not troubled by such concerns.

 

As most of you know, I work at McDonalds. We get people from all walks of life through our doors, including many obese people. Now, if a customer comes in, and they have to turn sideways to get through the door, and use a walking stick to help them stay upright, am I really meant to put side my feelings for them? How can I not judge these people? They are hugely fat, they shouldn't even BE in McDonalds, and I hate the fact that I have to serve them half the store, plus dessert. Of course I judge them. They are not fat because of a medical condition. I know only one large lady who does have a medical condition which causes her to gain a lot of fluid - not weight. She looks overweight, but she isn't carrying fat, just buckets of fluid. Her condition also means that she suffers hair loss. I am happy to serve her because I know she didn't choose to make herself fat. But can I say for the majority of my customers? The people who need scooters to get around because they are too fat to walk? The people who waddle in with a walking stick, clinging to the arm of their equally overweight partner? And then serve them their large Big Mac meal with five extra cheeseburgers, and well as large sundaes and muffins?

Sorry, but I will judge those people every time. I will judge them for not having the brains to put down the fork and go on a (*)(*)(*)(*)ed diet.

 

Hater!

 

Actually, that is definitely NOT a possibility; and you, by pretending otherwise, would be supporting the fault in him that expresses itself as such symptoms as overeating and inactivity.

No need to imagine when you can read:

Is it your place to pretend there is nothing wrong with a morbidly obese person? And if so, why?

 

View attachment 12025

PETA billboard.

 

Going vegetarian won't make you skinny. Meat isn't what makes people fat, excessive calories do.

 

I understand.

I thought perhaps by displaying the foto, it would demonstrate one of the different perceptions, associated with being overweight.

 

I do not know any morbidly obese persons, but if I did - yes, good manners would dictate that I did not draw attention to that fact. Such a person would be somewhat aware of his condition (particularly if there are mirrors in his home) and would not need someone to acquaint him with it. I am not medically trained, and I have no experience of that particular problem, so I would not presume to advise him, even were he to ask me what to do. MYOB works pretty well as a social policy for me.

 

That is not the way to deal with fatties. You must scream in their face "Put the (*)(*)(*)(*)ing fork down" over and over again. You will find that they then lose about 20 stone in a few weeks. Works every time,trust me.

 

You're dancing away from the question. Here it is again:

Is it your place to pretend there is nothing wrong with a morbidly obese person? And if so, why?​

Then why would you presume to enable his addictive behavior by pretending there is nothing wrong with it?

But that's nothing like what you're advocating, which is the tacit enabling of addictive behavior.