Are we afraid of the “F” word?

[Lisa Newton]

It’s not what you think.

It’s FAT.

People’s perception of what constitutes fat is changing. A recent survey that covered a 20 year time period found that Americans are less likely to find overweight people less attractive. The percentages have dramatically dropped from 55% to 24%.

Is it because more of us are overweight, hence our need for acceptance has become greater?

Have we become more tolerant?

Or have we as people, as adults, as a nation, given up on ourselves, accepting the reality that the majority of us are overweight and we are trying to come to terms with this fact?

Are you overweight? Are your pants getting too tight? Is that blouse starting to gape at the buttons? Are you beginning to sport a muffin top?

Why are we afraid to admit we’re fat? Is it because once we admit it, we’ll actually have to do something about it?

Let’s discuss……………

[Amy]

This is such a touchy subject...it seems like we all have similar feelings. I work in diabetes education, and most of my patients are overweight or obese. Weight loss is an important aspect of diabetes management so it can't be ignored, but it's hard to tip toe around this issue. One tool that I just started using is a BMI chart that lists height along the left side and weight across the top, so you can just see where the two intersect and figure out BMI without doing calculations. What I like about this is that it shows you which category you fall into: Healthy weight (BMI < 25, Overweight = 25-29, obese = 30-39 and severely obese = 40+.

I have been discreetly handing this chart to my patients so they can see where they fall in the categories. It's interesting that many people don't consider themselves overweight yet they are based on BMI. I don't intend to insult anyone or discourage them but rather show how making small weight loss goals can help move them into the lower categories. I think the 'F' word should not be used to describe a person, but if someone's health is compromised due to excess weight, health professionals should let them know. It's as if a Dr checks someone's blood pressure and it is dangerously high yet he doesn't let the patient know. I try to phrase things positively and say things like, "Ok, well here is your weight now, but look where you'd be if you lost just 10 lbs. I really think you'd feel better and see improvements with small changes."

[Andrew Scott]

ha ha :-) I remember when I moved over to live in Texas for one year. Now all my life I have been regarded as obese, because I am :-( sniff, sniff But while I was in TX I was told that I was not obese, not even overweight, but "average", well after that I never wanted to leave! ha ha :)

[Slim]

I am afraid of the "F" word. I don't want to be the "F" word anymore. Hence, is why I am a covert member in isolation. I have been the "F" word all my life and if I am to live to the ripe old age of 102 years, I need to do something my "F" word now!

[Joe S]

I totally agree with this. We have skewed what is acceptable for ourselves. It is the same reason why I go to the grocery store and theres 20 of those motorized grocery buggies cruising around. 10 years ago you didn't see that many people using those motarized carts. I understand that they are there for disabled people. Have more people become disabled or have people just gotten blown out fat in the last 10 years?

[Chris Kolba's Fit to Live]

I think it goes with the typical mentality of society that it always someone or something elses fault. Fewer and fewer people want to take responsibility and buckle down their diets and exercise routine. I hear it almost every day. On the flip side corporate america and the food industry and technology (people moving less) are not helping either. Also the vast amount of info on nutrition and supplements is overwhelming and often times misleading. Good Topic.
Chris

[Doris Herrmann]

I think the word itself has so many negative emotions tied up in it we're afraid to use it. Having never had a huge weight problem I don't feel adversely negative towards the word itself, but my friends who are overweight, or who have been overweight hate it. I avoid the word like the plague around them.

I am glad that we don't see someone as overweight as unattractive. I think we need to get away from the physical looks aspect of weight and focus on the health. Once we remove the pressure of "how you look" maybe we can focus on the importance of nutrition as fuel for our bodies.

Interesting discussion, thanks for starting it.

Doris
Fit Fab & Forty