Weight Gain 4000: Now in color

[Yoshi]

If you're an old person like me then you probably remember the commercials of people like Sally Struthers asking for donations to help starving people in Africa. So today I was shown something especially delicious:

Africa Faces Growing Obesity Problem.

Mission success? Maybe. I would like to think that too much food is better than too little, but maybe that's just me.

But it's so strange. We're bombarded almost everyday by something that has to do with weight, fatness, obesity, whatever, and how we should do things to change it - usually lose it over in the US and A.

What do you guys think? Is this overweight stuff really the problem we're lead to think it is, or is it not a big deal? When do you think it start becoming a real problem?

[Fluory]

Well, society likes to be all, "lol ur fat" if you're slightly overweight. But we all know society is about as smart and cool as a lawnmower. Be an individual!

There are bad things about being overweight.. but that's usually if you're really overweight. And that's health problems. Like.. cancer, apparantly. But you know, everythingp causes cancer -- put down that cell phone! Basically, that's really the only time I think it's a problem; health problems aren't cool.

However.

I have to say girls these days are sad. So I'm in the swimming unit of PE now.. and I constantly hear things like, "I'm so fat," "I have to lose weight," and things like that when I'm trying to change. The even sadder part about it is these girls look very thin to me -- even emaciated. In fact, this one girl keeps asking me if she looks fat in what she wears. I just find it more than sad they whine and worry about their weight so much. It's also reeeeeeally annoying. What's even more exasperating is getting put down for not being thin- actually, they're both beyond pathetic. Like in French class, there's this super annoying conceited girl who sits next to me who I really wish would just get AIDS- like she probably will in the future- and die or something. Anyway, I always hear stories from her about how ugly someone was because of their weight and.. actually, you probably know the drill.

Go, go death from anorexia/other eating disorder. Why, a friend of mine's sister recently had to go to the hospital and psyche ward because she was/is anorexic or something.

Society = lolstupid. Puts too much emphasis on all the wrong things. It's exceedingly good at brainwashing the chillins, too. Not being one of them means you're insane, and that's not cool. It's quite annoying and bothersome. Why should we all tailor ourselves to the opinion of others? Or strive to be just like everyone else? I wonder if people like being able to say, "I'm just as original and unique as the girl next to me!" There's no pride in being an exact replica of the person in the seat next to you; there's more to be had in knowing who you truly are.

Individualism forever! Aaaand, hooray for fatness, too.

[plebanshiren]

well, I had BMI recently, and I was average weight and all, I have a bit of a belly, but I wouldn't say I'm FAT! Obesity is a real big issue here in the UK, we're one of the highest obesity rates in Europe!
We have all these fat fighters clubs and people like Jamie Oliver trying to get kids to eat more healthier things, and not even let em have the occiasional fizzy drink. It's also not a pleasant sight at the clubs either (fat girl + mini-skirt = D: !!! ) But I'm thankful for not being part of the obese comunnity. And that was a good find Lazo, I was wondering where all our donations were going, now I can finally see where LEVEL UP ! ! And yet they still ask for donations 0o

[Twi]

"OMG YOU'RE 1 KILO OVERWEIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO GET CANCER, AIDS, TURMUR, LUNG DISEASE, RADIATION POISONING AND 7 TYPES OF THE FLU!"

Haha, no. Today's culture strives to get every little ounce of fat out of their body untill their are bloody skeletons, but at least they won't die of being overweight. I can't be dealing with them really, the people who worry about their weight constantly, go on every diet at the same time and whatever. Overweight people could eat a cake factory for all I care, not my problem, not my choice. People just need to be a bit more open minded and these "positive rolemodels" for girls need to be hung, drawn and quatered. You know the ones: they tell girls to stay as thing as possible to become a super star. Eff off and go live in a sewer where there's nothing to eat but crap, please. And those who religiously follow their thinining ways need to stop being a tool and get a life.

[Rackinac]

I rather be overweight than a skeleton. 0-o Be unique people! If you don't look like that supermodel on the TV, be happeh... like me. :3 No, I am not fat, just not an effing tooth pick. People used to call me fat, but then there's the term anorexic jackass. It also makes me sad that girls are all like 'I'm so fat" When they're 80 something pounds. On another note, I hate people who think people that weigh 90 pounds with blonde hair with blue eyes means you're the perfect rolemodel. I have blonde hair with blue eyes and I am definatly not looked up to by most. >> *hates my blonde hair* :< If anything, I'm healthier than all of them. I don't eat meat, I eat veggies and Morning Star tofu(Mmmmmmm...) mainly. Because I'm a vegitarian. Yet I am not skinny because I don't starve myself like others, which in many cases keeps the fat on anyway. Also, some people have learned my weight from an unidentified source and they call me fat. But... I'm almost 6 feet tall and I'm thirteen! Duh my weight is going to be higher since I'm so damn tall that none of the boys are even remotly taller than me... yet. -_-;;

But it doesn't mean people shouldn't care about their weight at all, like when you're 300+ pounds. If you're 100-150, doesn't mean you're fat. The average girl (sorry, don't know guys) should weigh 130-140 to be healthy accually. You just shouldn't diet. Put that damn piece of cake down and eat a friggen vegitable. Get off the couch/chair, and go outside! Don't do all this 'Weight Watchers' crap, just eat when your accually need to freaking eat to survive! Throw away those cookies and try a salad. Say it with me. Sal-ad. Don't like it? Then try some other things that aren't filled with fatty acids. Oh, and please don't wear stuff like two-piece bathing suits and mini skirts if you can't do it, because it just makes you look worse.

Sorry, but the anorexics and the overweight annoy me. /: Not overweight so much though. As said by Pawy, Individualism forever!

[Fluory]

I think excercise would be more helpful in relation to losing weight than a diet-modification. It's definately healthier than laying around in a tanning bed, at any rate.

I've actually maintained staying around 90-105 pounds for several years by eating whatever the hell I want. ..And also by not doing anything.. Metabolism, I guess. But I just don't stress out about my weight, and I havne't died of cancer yet. Once, during PE class, people were jealous about how thin I was based on my weight.

"Uhn, I'm actually a normal weight 'cause I'm 4' 10"."

Remember, young chillins: excercise is good. Being like everyone else is bad. You do not need blonde hair to live. You don't need to tell me to dye my hair blonde to live, either. Don't be afraid to deviate, or you sucksors.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the raw weight of anyone. Being thin or fat doesn't bother me.. Actually, I think chubbiness/fatness and whatnot is very attractive. But anywho, what bothers me is the attitudes towards it. Being fat is not that big of a deal, unless you get fatness induced cancer somehow. Being thin is not the meaning of life, contrary to popular belief.

Being yourself is the meaning of life, dammit.

Lawlhalf-assedtranscendentalism.

[Enrique]

First, I'd like to let y'all know that the following opinion comes from a guy who weighs in at 185 pounds - overweight for a person at my stature at 5' 5½-6".

I don't think it's overly sinful to be overweight, contrary to the popular belief; in fact, I don't really care as long as you maintain proper hygiene, and I know people who are of average weight that don't do that. However, I will go as far as saying that you shouldn't weigh 300+ pounds unless you are going to be an offensive or defensive lineman in football. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I think it is absolutely sick to be anorexic.

I've been overweight for nearly as long as I can remember, and I've been sick enough to miss school only twice in five years. In fact, I don't even hear anything from my peers about being overweight anymore; I assume they've just been used to it as much as they've been used to seeing me in glasses. They've only shown me a perception of an academic leader in my class compared to being 185 pounds in a 5' 5½" body.

So, in short, I don't care what society says anymore. While I've pledged myself not to hit 200 too soon, I care more about my Spanish homework than losing weight.

[Chilaquiles]

I'd just like to add that there is an extent to being overweight that bothers EVERYONE at some point, even people like us. Just try not to reach that extent and most people should accept you.

I don't ever hear chicks whining about their weight anyway, which is weird because I live in California.

[Blitzzoshi]

Last time I checked my BMI, about a few years ago, I was classified as just barely overweight. Though, as I've grown, I've been losing weight, rather slowly, but surely. I've also been getting a little more active lately. When I'm going home in carpool, I usually hop out at this one curb, and walk for about a mile, through the park, my backyard, and then to my garage. Certainly beats having to sit bored in the car for the rest of the time. But you're right, there's nothing really wrong with being overweight, unless it's life-threatening.

Also, this line from the article was of particular interest to me:

"In South Africa and throughout the continent, it is considered rude to refuse food."

To them, it seems that being fat means you have lots of money.

[Brute]

Im supposed to be big. TRIPLE BONUS MULTIPLIER ! ! It runs in my fathers family. I dont mind being big either, because I always worked out during football and powerlifting and all I did was lose almost all of my baby fat and gained alot of muscle. And plus I always enjoyed being a lineman, cuz then almost nobody will want to mess with me on the football field. XD I was the biggest starting offensive lineman for the team. While I weigh 228 pounds standing 6' 2", the line itself averaged 195 pounds. It comes to show that you dont have to be huge to be a lineman, you just gotta have the confidence.

[Lord of the Dance]

I think they should get rid of all the McDonalds' over there until they can get their healthy food fixed up.
I think it's more of a cultural thing to be overweight there, even though it's bad for them- I once saw a TV documentary where people fattened up the fianceès of men for the weddings. It was kind of disturbing, actually...

Hah, I suppose that makes me underweight. It's not like I don't eat anything- I eat practically as much as my siblings put together.

[Teo]

blitzzoshi said:

Also, this line from the article was of particular interest to me:

"In South Africa and throughout the continent, it is considered rude to refuse food."

To them, it seems that being fat means you have lots of money.

Indeed, I'm reading a book on it right now, written by an African writer. Before the Europeans, their big crop was Yams, and if you could afford to feed your family yams, it meant you worked hard and well... had lots of yams! (and money)

yosheechamp said:

I suppose that makes me underweight. It's not like I don't eat anything- I eat practically as much as my siblings put together.

Underweight? You mean you can eat paint, but you can't eat enough to reach average BMI? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?... no just teasing

Anyhow, yeah, I'm reading a book on African culture and studying Imperialism (of Africa), but I haven't read about the 'rude to refuse food' thing though. Guess I still need to read a bit...

Now for my opinion on the actual Topic? Well, I find it not only rediculous there's a picture of a plump african, but also the poster behind it is...well, a commercial, I would have never thought that there would be a commercial advertising Jeans or such in one of the so called "poorest people". Not poorest people to offend anyone, it's just all my text books have pointed to Africa being that way. I always thought Africa as a giant continent full of plains and tribes living in peace with the land (but not each other) with the occasional modern town, or big city. My percepective is getting messed up here... bad. I'm seriously going to need to research.

But yeah, I think these people should have just... well, they say desperation is the mother of invention... I don't see why we had to intervene SO MUCH. People WERE underweight, but... did we had to get the fast food business in there?

And the French are calling America big, wait till I show my dad this -.-

[Yoshiken]

I eat like crazy, and I can never gain any weight. My metabolism is heckuva high.

If someone doesn't accept you for the way you are, then just forget about those individuals and find someone who can respect you. If you try to reduce your weight for someone or something to such a drastic level to where it becomes dangerous, you are simply a fool. I have people come to me and tell me that I need to eat more, because I am so thin.

Obesity has been a problem for a while, and I don't have any doubt that it will stay a problem for many years to come. In the grand scheme of things for many people though, you just have to ask, does it really matter? If people can't be themselves and be happy, then all they deserve from me is pity.

[Lich Yoshi von Kippo]

I guess I have to appreciate the irony of obesity in Africa. The country of South Africa, though, isn't the be-all and end-all of Africa, but it's the most industrially developed nation and therefore the most prone to obesity problems.

If you're overweight, that's fine and please don't feel that this rant is directed at you, but it's a sign to be careful. Unlike cancer and other diseases, obesity is a choice. Obesity is equivalent to gluttony. I'm sorry. That's how it is. Obesity's a big problem here in Australia, too, and I don't think we're as bad as America yet, but we're getting that way. Something like 20% of kids are overweight or obese here, and it's got to the point where the government is legislating or has legislated regulations as to the advertisement of junk food during children's television periods. Even so, since I was a kid, of all companies, McDonald's has been advertising healthy eating and exercise.

Now, I'm just over 6' tall and fairly thin. I watch my weight and I lament the fact that I'm developing a bit of a gut despite regular exercise (i.e. I ride my bicycle to and from work). And perhaps I shouldn't be one to talk as you could consider me one of the people who add to the problem as I man the drive-thru of my local McDonald's two or three times a week. But after being there for over a year, I see the problem first-hand. It's not my job to criticise these people. My job is to sell the stuff to them. They want it, their choice, I respect that.

But when you go through the drive-thru and your seat is pushed all the way back and your stomach touches the steering wheel and you order two Double Quarter Pounders (not to mention fries and a carbonated drink), look in your rear view mirror and watch me shake my head in derision. In fact, I'm rather happy to give it to you. You're too stupid to eat something healthy and to try and do something about your weight, so the sooner you do us all a favour and leave the gene pool, the better.

However, I admit that comes at a bit of a cost to me. We have a national healthcare system and many of our hospitals are run on state government money. Of course, all of that is funded by taxes. So you're not helping the poor state of the over-crowded and under-staffed hospitals; you're just adding to the problem. Well done, stupid. Obesity is just as bad as smoking. It costs you a lot of money and when you get sick it costs the rest of us a lot of money - since your fat arse is on that hospital bed, we have to pay a premium to get into a private hospital where there's actually beds and staff that aren't as over-worked.

And don't get me started on the anorexics, though the solution to them is not hospital but counselling - it's a mental disorder more than anything else.

*takes a deep breath* I think I'm done. I needed that out of my system.

[Teo]

Well I hope no one who's a bit over weight was offended by that outburst, but I guess it's good you got it out.

But what I never understood... is how someone's bone structure can support the extra weight. You can eat and eat, your bones aren't going to get fat. And yet, people have these giant bellies, several times chubbier than the average person. Not just a little bit, but very big with large pants or giant clothes. It just looks akward! You see so many kids with baggy clothes, but clearly don't have chubbiness problems, and then comes this adult, maybe a substitute, who looks like his belly might stretch two or three feet from his rib cage. How the heck is he (or she) walking??

Personally I don't have these problems, but the people who do, I just wonder what's going to happen?

Reminds me of that Super Size Me movie. That was nasty, and I'm wondering if anyone can actually do that? It LOOKED like he was getting unhealthy...