Obesity - how the fat guy beside you is killing you, your family, and everything you love!

Mar 13 2008

Obesity - how the fat guy beside you is killing you, your family, and everything you love!

Published by Steve N. Lee at 2:43 pm under consumerism

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Warning - this is deeply offensive. If you aren’t offended, there’s something seriously wrong with you!

Four years ago I was 220lbs. I’m tall so I carried it well. But I felt bad. I felt porky. I had a big blubbery bulge hanging off me where my stomach used to be. Hot or what!?

I hated it. So I took responsibility for my own life and lost 28lbs. Sacrificing many of my favourite foods was brutal but I did it. Today, I’m 194lbs. And so much happier.

Last year scientists discovered a ‘fat’ gene. What’s that mean? To some degree, it’s not how much you eat that makes you fat, but genetics.

Talk about gutted. Why did I bother!? It’s not my fault! Gimme pies and chocolate. NOW!

Of all the things the government covers-up why wasn’t this discovery a prime candidate? Why? Because it’s increasingly becoming our culture to pass the buck, to deny responsibility for our own actions. Result? Now everyone has a ‘legitimate’ reason for it not being their fault if they’re fat.

After decades of being told they had to be skinny, women are now being told it’s okay to be fat. And many are heeding that with a vengeance. Everywhere I go, I see women who are so proud of being fat that they wear figure-hugging clothes with flab splurging out - like sausages that have burst their skins.

But hey, maybe I’m being cruel. Maybe they really are proud of their size. But then, like most men, I’m proud of my penis. Should I swagger around my local mall, flail my manhood about so everyone can marvel at its splendor?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect every woman to be a size 0. But likewise I don’t expect so many people to look like sumo wrestlers partying at pie eating contest.

Think I’m going too far? Being offensive? Suspect you’re ‘chunky’ so don’t know how to take this?

Nearly two billion people are overweight, most simply because they don’t have the will-power to stop stuffing their faces with chocolate, pizzas, burgers…
Over two billion other people have to survive on less than $2 a day so go to bed hungry every single night of their lives.

THAT is offensive!

But there’s more…

Not only are these people stuffing themselves so full that they feel physically uncomfortable afterwards while millions die of starvation in the Third World, but in doing so they are killing you, me, and everything we care about!

How?

Take burgers. Where do they come from? From cattle reared in places like Brazil. And what’s Brazil famous for? The Amazon. Yep, farmers are decimating rainforests to rear cattle to feed fat westerners, so increasing global warming, sea levels, the number of diseases to spread to areas hitherto hostile to them…

And that’s just the start!If some guy weighs twice as much as you do, do you think cars, planes, trains need the same amount of fuel to carry him or does it take more?

And if he eats double what you do, do you think producing all that extra food wastes more resources? More cattle feed, pesticides, fertilizer? More shipping, man-hours, machinery? All resources the planet can scant afford. All wasted to sate someone’s greed.

But don’t worry, the taxes the government collects will protect us. Right?

The economic cost of obesity in the U.S. was $117 billion in 2000.

$117,000,000,000… That’s an awful lot of pies!

But hey, this is just me ranting. Nothing to really worry about, huh?

Obesity causes chronic diseases, including:
- type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- hypertension
- strokes
- cancer
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, obesity accounts for 300,000 premature deaths in the U.S. every year.

That’s more deaths than through alcohol, car crashes, and gun crime combined! (And all the developed nations share similarly terrifying statistics.)

But God forbid you should ask the fatty next to you to stop cramming that pastry into his mouth and consider this problem, maybe even take responsibility for his actions! Hey, that’d be infringing upon his human rights!

So, we’re doomed. I mean, we don’t wanna infringe someone’s rights, right?

Not even to protect society from unnecessary medical costs (costs that could go towards curing cancer).

Not even to protect the icecaps from melting and species from going extinct.

Not even to protect the individual from damaging his own health.

No, rights are just too damn important.

But…

Want to know the real kicker here?

Do you? Really? You won’t like it!

We’re all obese!

You. Me. Every man, woman, and child on the planet. We all want more. But whereas Oliver Twist’s “Please, sir, I want some more.” was a plea born of hunger, we aren’t polite, we aren’t starving, we just grab!

Every westerner consumes as many resources as 32 Kenyans.

32! But you’ll be pleased to hear that developing nations are catching us up!

Whether your fat splurges from your clothes or from the dash of your Beamer, it still splurges. Every one of us has a greed that is eating the planet alive.

So, you want another slice of pie? Or you got some thinking to do?

So go. See. Feel. Live.
Steve

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35 Responses to “Obesity - how the fat guy beside you is killing you, your family, and everything you love!”

# Debbie Ramseyon 13 Mar 2008 at 4:21 pm

I’m impressed, Steve. My husband is a PhD in kinesiology (exercise physiology) and is an owner of a medical clinic here in Norcross, GA called Verto (www.vertoinc.com) . What do they specialize in? You guessed it … overweight individuals and the chronic problems they have developed due to their over-indulgences. You wouldn’t believe how many people don’t think that they eat any more than what they consider to be “normal”. One of the many excuses heard on a daily basis is “I just don’t know why I gained so much weight. I eat the same amount as any normal sized person.” Yeah, right!

But I like the fact that you spelled out the other things this mind-set has established. The deforestation of our planet is one of the things that greatly concerns me. We cannot continue to destroy ecosystems and not expect to see some sort of repercussions from it. To think otherwise is living with your head in the sand. Sadly, I fear we are not smart enough to see what is happening … and all because of the “More, Sir” mentality. Hopefully, the money grubbers will get a clue before it’s too late and we doom our planet to destruction at our own hand.
Debbie Ramsey
# Brendaon 14 Mar 2008 at 8:56 am

Hi Steve
Well being fat is awful. When I was young until I reached oh around 49 yrs old I started to bloom. When I was younger I stayed at 120 I’m 5′6″. Then well it happened, I spread and spread.
Now just between you and me LOL I got up to 270. Yep 270.
I ate from depression, I was sad I ate, I was mad I ate, I ate to eat. I didn’t want the will power to loose, I was miserable and I loved my sugar.
Well that was then this is now. I went to the Dr. Just for a reg. I had a blood test and I got a call few days later I was in beginning stages of type 2 diebetes. I got scared because my friend only has one kidney left to diebetes and needed a kidney transplant. She was lucky she did get one.
So I was so scared I immediately got the will power. I lost 54 lbs. So far and still loosing. I go back to the Dr. The end of the month.
I know what it is like to be looked at, to be knocked down, like my husband told me once you don’t take a pig to a pig roast. That ritacule didn’t help me, I got so upset and hurt I ate more.
Well reality set in. I’m afraid of diebetes and now I’m on the right track.
I can relate to people doing what they do. It has to come from them, being cut down doesn’t cut it.
Well so far I am very happy for myself, I don’t care if other people are happy for me Steve I’m happy for myself, I’m happy I got scared, I’m happy in myself.
So was I upset with this, no not really I just know what it is to be cut down and I know it doesn’t matter, it has to come from inside of yourself to loose the weight.
Well that is it. This is my story of obesity.

Ps I knew what I ate and I knew it was way way to much, but I didn’t care. I was to depressed and it was my only friend in all the world. Hey after all my animals still loved me.
Brenda P
# Steve N. Leeon 14 Mar 2008 at 10:32 am

Good for you, Brenda, that you took control of your life and are managing to turn things about. Diabetes is a serious illness so I hope you avoid it. It’s a pity you didn’t get the support needed to change your lifestyle before having such a scare, though. It takes a lot of courage and determination to turn your life around, so you should be proud of your accomplishments so far.

The issue isn’t just about some people eating less, though, but about all of us consuming less. If we don’t, it won’t just be us that develops a chronic illness but the entire planet and everything on it.

Deb, nice of you to drop by again. Yes, it’s the ‘More, Sir’ brigade that seems set to doom us all. I wouldn’t mind but half of what they buy to ‘enrich’ their lives is quickly discarded with as little thought and care as the whim on which it was bought.

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Steve
# Hans Lakon 14 Mar 2008 at 1:25 pm

Hi Steve!
Great story! The balance between the people who eat nothing and the people who eat way to much should be corrected by new taxes!
Fat people kill this world….
Hans
# Michaelon 14 Mar 2008 at 3:59 pm

Hello Steve,

I think there are several forces at work here in obesity.

It’s not always about a person eating too much.

One is the gene; some families are larger genetically than others. There’s also the depression/mental health factor as Brenda brought out.

When it comes to people who are “killing” this world there are also many people responsible for that and it isn’t just overweight people.

Let’s think about how we would want to be approached with this problem if we were overweight and act accordingly. I have helped people in the past stay active through walking programs at rec centers, churches and other places. I have found that people work harder and gain more results through positive interaction versus criticism. They are encouraged to continue their progress versus frustrated or hurt at the negative criticism that they receive because of their size.
# informed personon 14 Mar 2008 at 7:08 pm

This is pure bull crap. It’s another version of the same old tale told to us when we were children. “You’d better not leave that food on your plate. There are starving kids in Africa….” Except, this time, it’s turned around. i do not eat an excessive amount of food. But, the money i’d spend on an expensive weight loss program, would only take away from my ability to help others. Get a life. Then, spend your time at a soup kitchen, instead of trying to tell me that my 30 extra pounds (due to not being able to always afford the healthiest food) is killing people.
# scoutmuson 15 Mar 2008 at 2:49 am

Hi Steve,
congrats on your weightloss, I lost 25 kilos myself and I love my new sexy body( weighing 63 kilos now, after 4 kids and being over 40!) but I still think its not that easy!
For people to stop stuffing themselves, maybe there should be less temptations - get rid of all those restaurants serving only fried , fat food - don´t produce so much chips and candy and raise the prize of that kind of food - but still, its the peoples own choice what and how to eat and live - and we have to respect that choice whatever!!!!
But now - I am going to stuff myself with some breakfast!
Have a nice day!
# Steve N. Leeon 15 Mar 2008 at 4:05 am

Hi,

There seems to be some confusion over what I’m talking about here. Firstly, I’m fully aware that some weight problems are due to medical conditions. I’m also aware that some weight loss programs are costly.

However, I’m not only talking about the overweight but about consumerism - how much we all ‘eat’. Plus, I’m generalizing.

That said, the vast majority of overweight people are only overweight for one reason – they can’t say, ‘No.’. Yes, there are other people killing the planet, but this week I’m discussing obesity. Next week it could be car owners and fuel consumption.

In fact, that makes a good analogy. Some of these arguments are like someone defending driving an SUV that only gets 10mpg by saying that they aren’t responsible for how its engine works so everyone else has to put up with the pollution it belches. Sorry, but you chose that car. You could’ve chosen a smaller one. This is all about choice. Choices define us.

It’s strange that the only negative comments I’ve received, here and elsewhere, are from overweight people who have accepted their predicament and given up on doing anything about it – precisely the problem I’m highlighting.

People have to accept responsibility for their own lives because if they don’t, it isn’t only their health that will suffer terribly but that of each and every one of us in a knock-on effect from the resources wasted on greed.

Personally, I love junk food and eat little else. I keep my weight under control not by eating ‘expensive’ healthy food but by eating proportions that my body needs instead of proportions that my greed demands.

Scoutmus – good on you for getting back that sexy body! Proof it can be done if you just have the will to do it. (25kilos is 55lbs!)

Finally… bull crap? Two billion people existing on only $2 a day is bull crap? I’ll let readers make their own minds up about that one! (Please, no suggestions that that entry should be attributed to ‘Misinformed Person’.)

Thanks for the comments. All of them. Keep them coming.
Steve
# Brendaon 15 Mar 2008 at 8:25 am

Hi Steve
Some of the comments i understand some I don’t.
First I guess i was REALLY LUCKY My parents didn’t make me eat everything on my plate,my mother knew I would start gaging.I as a kid till my 40’s ate very little.I ate little threw the day instead of a huge lunch/dinner.
I feel for the people in all countries not just africa.But when one does over eat due to whatever reason they are doing it,let me tell you Africa does not enter your brain,the only thing that entered my brain was having that sugar,that is ALLLLLL I CARED ABOUT.
I went before to the gyms,the weight watche’s of the world but if one is not ready yep may as well save your money.
I sure hope as a fat person I didn’t help kill the world.
There needs to be more studies on what they call FAT PEOPLE.Yes i’m still over weight.I have 60 more lbs to loose but i’m still trying FOR ME NOT FOR THE WORLD.I really feel hurt with that statement.
What about the FAT CHILDREN of the world.I watch tv,I see these FAT PEOPLE in the beautiful cities of Africa,with all the sky scrapers.Well where are those RICH FAT PEOPLE to help with feeding the hungry.
Maybe ask them to all get together and help feed there people that they are neglecting.
My views of killing the world is not fat people but these gas hoggers,smoke stacks,polution in gen.
BUT PLEASE DON’T SAY FAT PEOPLE ARE KILLING THE WORLD.
All size people have to help in other ways to save this planet that man has worked on in destroying.
As far as getting rid of fried foods in restaurants,less made chips,candy,well guess what that won;t happen at least not here in the states.It’s a business and they make lots of money.It’s not there fault they get fat,not ALL people get fat on that stuff,my husband and his family my relatives are all good examples of that,they are all skinny and up there in age.They eat that stuff ll the time,i don’t anymore.
So with that I close.
Brenda
# Caroleon 15 Mar 2008 at 9:27 am

This is what happens when a society is brainwashed (by advertising) into equating food with fun, instead of sustenance. From the time children are old enough to watch television, and continuing throughout their lives, they are inundated with “cute” commercials showing happy people eating unnecessary, over-processed food.

The world’s richest countries have managed to create populations of “conspicuous consumers.” We replace perfectly good possessions to upgrade; buy clothing we don’t need; and eat food even when full, hoping to mimic the distorted images of happiness we have had drummed into our subconscious.

What’s worse? We do it on credit because we actually can’t afford these items — let alone, don’t need them. And when the credit has been used up, and the cards are blocked, depression follows. The answer to that? See a doctor, who will give you an unjustifiably overpriced pill, so you can become even further mentally diminished.

~~Carole
# Ruthieon 15 Mar 2008 at 10:22 am

Many very obese people do not eat nearly as much or as often as their slimmer friends. I know that few people believe this but it is true of me and at least 5 other people that I know. That was the part that bothered me, and it has far less to do with you than a lifetime of baggage. People of all ages feel justified in yelling terrible things at fat people walking down the street…it’s as if they are righteously pointing out that we have failed to meet society’s standards.
As I said, I am a big believer in personal responsibility; but it doesn’t mean I don’t practice it just because I am very fluffy in the behind. I know that there are people as described…but not all fat people gorge themselves and waste things. It just has been the belief of most people that this is true.
A doctor even told a dear friend of mine who refused bariatric surgery that he would not see her anymore because at her weight, she was already dead!!
I am not offended, but felt I had to present the other side of the coin.
# DianeMarieon 15 Mar 2008 at 11:50 am

I read your blog and I have to say I agree with it..When my husband passed away 16 months ago, at first I could not eat a thing..But when depression set in I gained 20lbs..But I finally got a handle on it and realized the health issues in my family that I did not want…So, I took control, and lost the weight..I have to say at that time in my life “food was my drug of choice” if that makes sense?
# Barryon 15 Mar 2008 at 12:01 pm

Thanks to Steve Lee for starting this meaningful, provocative, discussion about obesity, and kudos to you for your courageous self-discipline in forcing yourself to lose excess weight. I am somewhat overweight myself. It seems to me that excessive craving for sweets and other fattening foods, as well as other kinds of unhealthy addictions, may have something to do with feeling emotionally “starved” of the sweetness of true love, and escaping from related feelings of inner emptiness, tension, anxiety, and other negative feelings. Rather than blaming oneself or others for putting on excessive weight, I believe that it would be more productive to understand how to feed oneself the true sweetness of life by expressing unselfish love and caring to others, because, paradoxically, the heart’s greatest hunger is to give, rather than to receive, the essential goodness of life, because we can experience an enduring and substantial sense of inner fullness only by giving generously of ourselves, by expressing unselfish caring to others, whereas selfishly trying to fill ourselves, or gratify ourselves, only magnifies an illusory, presumptive, sense of inner emptiness and deficiency, as the source of insatiable cravings. Although courageous self-discipline in terms of restraining unhealthy appetites certainly helps one develop greater strength of character and self-respect, I believe that it is also important to express an attitude of non-judgmental compassion and empathic understanding of oneself and others, as the “charity that begins at home, where the heart is”.
# ingridon 15 Mar 2008 at 2:23 pm

Hi,

The other day I was at Mac. Donalds with friends. I just had a drink, because I´m vegan. On the other table there was sitting a woman with her son from about 14 years old I guess. Both had an impressive overweight. Both wer eating 3 hamburgers with chips, icecream and applepie. I was thinking of all this people who are starving from hunger in other places and these thoughts made it for me impossible to stay there. Don´t they ever think about others who are in need instead of ther greed? Spending money in things they throw away the very next day? With all the food you find in the garbage can you can feed a whole nation. When are people going to use there brains? I´m sorry, but for me looking at people like that is just disgusting.
# Steve N Leeon 16 Mar 2008 at 4:52 am

Hi,

There are some wonderful comments here. Some truly inspirational.

After reading through these someone sent me a message, part of which I’m sure they won’t mind if I share with you:

“… you did start a controversary here, but that to me is how we learn what others feel and think.”

In a nutshell, that is precisely why I wrote what I did in the way that I did.
Through learning comes understanding.
And through understanding comes change.

Thanks to all of you for making this such a thought-provoking post. I’ll endeavour to make future ones just as interesting.
Steve
# Steve N Leeon 16 Mar 2008 at 4:56 am

Hi,

I’ve received a number of messages from people who are having problems leaving comments - the software won’t accept their email address and reloads the page for no apparent reason.

I am deeply sorry for this. I can imagine your frustration.

If you’d like to use the contact form on the About page to send me your comment, I’ll happily post it for you, whether it be positive or negative.

If you wouldn’t mind, could you also tell me:

What opperating system you use (windows XP, MAC, etc)?
What browser you use (IE7, Firefox, etc)?
Do you use broadband or dialup?
The end part of your email address (@yahoo.com, @hotmail.com, etc)?

This may help me track down this intermittent fault so you don’t have problems in the future.

Thanks,
Steve
# Alfon 16 Mar 2008 at 5:22 am

I’d like to thank the author for saying things many people are afraid to say. I watched a very sad documentary a while ago about a morbidly obese man who was put in a hospital eventually to try and save him. He was literally eating himself to death. On his deathbed his wife smuggled him in junk food and he literally ‘begged’ her to get him a hamburger. He had his wish and died a few days later. That burger was more important to him than his life!!
People focus on food instead of on living. They have nothing meaningful in their lives and food is the only thing which brings them pleasure. What kind of a life is that?
There are also many addictive ingredients being put into processed foods. MSG being one and in dairy there is a natural drug similar to morphine. Meat is pumped full of drugs.
Food literally is like a drug to some people. The trouble is they are not only hurting themselves. It does affect all of us. The western diet is killing our planet with its pollution, habitat loss, culling of wildlife ‘pests’ and dessimating the Amazon.
Like a drug addict tho you cannot see it until you get out and look from the outside.
# Brendaon 16 Mar 2008 at 7:53 am

HI STEVE
Well I have read the postings here,some I agree some I don’t.I guess for me the ones I don’t agree with are the negative ones.People should not judge until one walks in the other shoes,no one knows what that person is feeling,no one knows what that person has been threw in his/her’s life time.I’m speaking about adults not the kids.
I know for me I always felt alone since I was 16.Why I don’t know.I have to numerous dr’s. to help with that,but they could only guess.
I also watch that show about really obese people.500 lbs and up.
I find it so sad that these people are so huge.Yes they do eat alot and for what reason actually no one know’s.I feel they haveren’t opened up there heart to tell what they think/feel.I feel so bad for them.
Food for me is a addiction,why i don’t know because it never used to be.I just didn’t wake up one day and say gee I think I’ll make food my addiction.If I ate to much I use to start gaging,now I could eat throw up and eat again.I surely didn’t ask for this.I don’t know why I changed.
I know I had trama in my life,I had cruel men in my life where I became so depressed I would not come out of my bedroom.My parents at that time didn’t understand the signs of depression.
I could go on and on about my life,some people use to tell me to write a book about my life for it was shocking how I withstood it all.
Now with new medicine which I am so very thankful for it gave me my life back,I have my own dog care business now for 6 yrs.
I have my days for sure,yes I still want all that great tasting sugar,but I keep going forward with my diebetes diet.
I still fight the depression,I still fight food addiction but I have no one to blame but myself.
So please don’t down overweight people until you ask yourself ,gee I wonder what happened in that person life that brought it to this level of eating.No one wants to destroy the world,no one wants to hurt anyone else.
It’s really interesting to read what people think,I do know there is a stigma towards depression,why I don’t know after all the brain is a organ,it does get sick like anyother organ in your body.No one cuts down kidney or liver ailments.
Now i know there are people out there that discrimiate towards over weight people.
I find it sad but what can I do to change that?probably nothing.The person has to be able to look past the weight,look and wonder if that person has a life that was not good.
God bless you all.
Brenda
# Brennan Kingslandon 17 Mar 2008 at 9:48 am

Dear Steve,
Thank you for initiating this dialogue. I am very concerned with the problems of obesity, especially in children. My husband wrote a book about reforming our schools and devoted an entire chapter to childhood obesity, our school cafeterias and vending machines. It is tragic that so many are seriously ill from malnutrition (MAL meaning bad, as in overeating or undereating). It is even more tragic that so many of our children are starting to eat their way to death at even earlier ages than their parents started.

I really resonated with DianeMarie’s comment about “drug of choice”. Too often, food is the ‘feel good’ pill we use to cope.

Everything you say about obesity could also be applied to smoking, which many people use to stay slim. The medical costs, and the second-hand smoke of nicotine addicts is costing our society just as much as obesity is. The biggest difference I see is that “stuffed sausage” women in overly-tight clothes are ridiculed and slim smokers are not.

Bottom line, whichever method of self-gratification we employ, we all seem impervious to any damages we cause to ourselves and others.
# Caroleon 17 Mar 2008 at 1:38 pm

Well, I had a different take on our pre-occupation with consumption — one that goes far beyond overeating.

While it is true that people living in “advantaged” countries do tend to use food as a drug of sorts (and sometimes that is evidenced by obesity), that type of behavior also carries over to using material objects in much the same way.

We have become a generation of “disposers.” Imagine what happens to all of those possessions which are “one use only” or are still usable, but discarded simply to be replaced by the “latest model.” They contribute to landfills and toxic waste.
# Michaelon 17 Mar 2008 at 1:56 pm

It would appear that weightoss and obesity means different things to different people. For some diet and exercise means hard work with little results and food that is tasteless and bland.

It takes a human body a certain amount of time to get into whatever shape it’s in. In a way it’s like a bank account.

If you invest in your bank account it will give you good returns in the future when you need it most.

If you always withdraw funds from it and never make any deposits, eventually your balance will read zero.

People need to be taught that a good diet, exercise and healthy foods are positive investments into our bodies.

At the same time, I think it would help if unhealthy foods are taxed just like cigarettes are. I think one of the main problems is that unhealthy foods are too accessible and cheap.

Healthy eating takes planning; if you want a healthy chicken soup with a nice healthy salad you need to plan your menu towards such and not by what’s convenient in a unhealthy way.
# Martinon 17 Mar 2008 at 6:37 pm

Steve,

Thanks for kicking off an excellent conversation..!

I’d like to pick up on a wider issue: although you’re talking about being overweight here, actually the message of excess and waste in all areas of life is one we need to address.

For example:

* the concept of owning a stretch limo in Hong Kong
* air-conditioning the streets or out door areas (I kid you not - it still happens although it’s not as bad as it was some years ago)
* people sitting in cars with the engines running (for anything up to 20 minutes at a time) while waiting for someone/something

The list could go on forever, but you’ve already raised a lot in your post.

In many (if not most) cases this kind of excess is driven by vanity or the desire to create an image of wealth or importance. (Vanity).

What a complete lack of consideration for others and our environment!

I once saw something that I really applauded: an empty soft drink paper cup was thrown out of the window of a car that was waiting at a traffic light. A passer-by picked it up and threw it straight back in through the window just as the car was driving off.

It was a young girl too - probably in her mid teens.

She, to me, is a complete hero.

Cheers,

Martin.
# Debbie Ramseyon 17 Mar 2008 at 6:59 pm

Martin just made me think of something that happened here in Georgia in the recent past (and I may have already mentioned this to you, Steve) but this is the epitome of waste. As you probably know, the SE is in a severe dought. Our main source of water, Lake Lanier, was at one point this past winter, more than 17 feet below normal pool and we were given less than 200 days of available water. Can you imagine being told that you just might run out of water … that you will turn on the spigot and nothing will come out?

I digress. One afternoon, while driving home from work, my husband witnessed a man pressure washing the outside of a bank building. Now, I don’t know about you, but I think conservation falls upon everyone. Things like the automatic sprikler systems that keep the landscape looking pleasing, need to be shut off until the danger has passed. To me, having water for hospitals, fire departments and of course, to drink, are much more important than green grass in front of an office building. But that’s just me.
deb
# Mukion 17 Mar 2008 at 8:51 pm

Well, I’ve been overweight all of my childhood and I feel like I’ve lost the most precious time of my life. I’m at a decent weight now considering my height and all. For a number of times, when I was working out trying to lose weight, I was feeling extremely thankful that I am overweight. I was thankful that I am being forced to force myself to go an extra mile that skinny ppl are not required to take. By having to work out to lose weight, I believe I’ve developed more discipline, will power and other useful qualities that I wouldn’t've developed if I hadn’t had a problem with obesity. Thanks to wonderful friends, family and other factors I think I’ve grown up to be an emotionally healthy person, which makes me feel comfortable with myself regardless of my weight. Just about 2 years ago, I was 20 lbs heavier than I am now, but I was quite care free and happy, kind of like the women that Steve wrote about, except that I didn’t wear ridiculous clothes. However, after the 20 lbs, I’m realizing that my happiness was a bit of an obliviousness, if there is such a word.
I’d agree to some extent that obese ppl affect the world as a whole in a negative way, but I have a problem pointing fingers at them and condemning them. Like Micheal has commented above, it’s better to approach overweight ppl in a positive way and help them to keep a positive outlook during the weightloss process.

Muki (Munkhjin)
Denver, CO
# Steve N. Leeon 18 Mar 2008 at 4:07 am

Hi everyone,

I’m glad to see that the conversation is finally getting past the initial part of the post - fat people eating too much - and moving into the territory of the latter, and by far the most important, part - consumerism destroying the planet and taking responisibility for your own life to stop that.

I was never pointing the finger only at fat people and blaming only them for all the world’s woes as some readers seemed to believe - on the contrary, I was point the finger at all of us!

We are all to blame as we all consume. Some consume more than others, of course, which will ultimately be bad for them, and most certainly bad for the rest of us, but no one is an innocent here - we are all guilty to some degree, whether it’s through over-eating, that new car we really didn’t need, or that closet full of clothes that keeps getting more and more crowded. (Consumerism will be the topic of a future post all to itself.)

For those of you who might have read my book, you’ll know I like to lead readers in one direction, make them think I’m talking about one thing, that they know where things are heading, and them yank them in totally different direction. It makes it far more interesting for me to write and, from the positive feedback I’m getting, it makes it far more satisfying and entertaining for the reader, too (lucky, huh!). It is much harder to pull that off in an 800 word blog post than in a 100,000 word book, but it makes it far more interesting - I hope for you as much as for me!

I don’t want this blog to be just ‘another’ blog, where readers are spoonfed sugary items that make them feel good - there’re millions of those around. Though I will cover good news, as I did last week, here I want to present issues that matter, and give them an angle to get people talking, as has been the case with this post. The only way things will ever change is through dialogue.

So, let’s keep going, my friends. And if you know anyone who might like to join the conversation, then drag them along - send them a link or use the ‘Email to a Friend’ option at the beginning/end of the post.

Thanks for all your contributions. I look forward to chatting with you more in the future.
Steve
P.S. Yes, it will take tremendous strength of will to change things, as Munkhjin, Michael, DianeMarie, and others have pointed out. With regards to myself and weightloss, for example, I didn’t join a program or anything, I simply decided I wanted to be slimmer and did what was needed. That simple. And barring a medical condition, it really is ‘that simple’, too. I could easily have given up and gorged myself on curries and ice cream, convinced myself and others that I’d tried my best but just couldn’t do it. But I didn’t. I took control of my own life and took action to achieve what I truly wanted. People must learn that only through discipline will they ever achieve their goals.
# Daniel Boddingtonon 18 Mar 2008 at 4:30 am

Its good to see someone finally looking at the whole picture.

I think all my feelings with regards to obesity itself are pretty much covered by the article and responses. However what confuses me is how people are so worried about telling obese people that a burnden on health resources and it would be against their rights to be made to eat less, yet smokers are still singled out and scapegoated (in the UK at least) and told that they cant smoke here, there anywhere, they have to pay extortionate taxes on cigarettes and no-one thinks twice about telling a smoker whats ‘best’ for them.
Why aren’t we putting the same extortionate taxes on excessively fatty foods? Why is it against peoples rights to tell someone their eating habits are damaging society but ok to harrass smokers to no end?

And for the record, I am neither obese nor a smoker, just so you know that i’m unbiased-ish :)
# Steve N. Leeon 18 Mar 2008 at 4:33 am

Daniel,

I think Hans has told me that the Dutch may be introducing a tax on junk food. If I can track him down to expand, I will.

Steve
# Hans Lakon 18 Mar 2008 at 12:31 pm

What does your dreambody look like?

Do you need a special fat tax like the dutch government is discussing right now? To stop you from eating too much junkfood?
Or do you just need the right motivation to loose weight!
We think that outdoorsteppers are the best fat burners!
One hour on the outdoorsteppers are like 3 hours on your bike!

My nephew had 120 KG last summer! He has 68KG now he is a totally new person!Many people dont recognize him when they see him. He lost more than 50 KG in less than 8 months..without any diet but he loves to ride the steppers ! Diets are useless you must change your eating habits!

The secret of loosing much weight and getting in shape is to find the balance between what you eat and what you burn in your workout.
Eat less and better and move your body! Make sure that you enjoy your new sport ride your bike, start walking enjoy the outdoors!

My Friend Nature Fitness Guru Uli Pramann has sold millions of books about how to loose weight by running or with nordic walking.
Sport is much better than the best diet.. If you want a fast result you
can have a very cheap diet for the first week! Everybody can loose weigth with the magic cabbage soup and it tasts great if you make it hot and spicy! You can eat as much soup as you like! Sounds great does not it!
You dont need expensive food to loose weight…
http://www.successful-diet-cabbage-soup.com/

You loose at least 5-7 Kg in the first week but its just a kick off!

You dont need expensive herbalife products to loose weight and shape your body! Eat more vegetables and move your body!
The 3 G Stepper is the fitnessmonster that will burn all your fat!
# JustPissedOff.comon 19 Mar 2008 at 6:09 am

Obesity is more than just stuffing your fat face

It is always great to see people speak their mind and tell the truth. Through my travels down the super highway a post on obesity piqued my curiosity. With a catchy title like “Obesity How the Fat Guy Beside You is Killing You, Your Family and …
# Nicola francison 20 Mar 2008 at 6:05 am

Here in the U.K obesity certainly isn’t encouraged or excuses made for obese people eating one too many pies.! As a child we were encouraged to eat all on our plate. But we didn’t eat super-sized portions and didn’t eat chips/crisps and chocolate in between.
Whilst I appreciate there is a genetic gene for anything these days It’s still possible to remain healthy.
If your calorie intake far exceeds your ability to burn calories off then you will slowly but surely put weight on.
I have been fortunate to have had an active life, Even if it was walking to a friends house 1 mile away. And on the way home! I ate chocolate and crisps…
Balance in life is what it’s all about don’t you think..
# Karenon 23 Mar 2008 at 3:55 pm

It’s true, it’s so true; I don’t know what can be done! I have been compulsively eating for the past couple of weeks. When I meditate, I see the cause. Then I buy the food anyway. This is a very current trend for me. It is selfish. I’m using up my own resources, I’m contributing to society’s consumerism. I’m aging my organs by making them work so much harder. It’s terrible! Now, a fat tax… that’s interesting. I think Oprah and her audience would stand against it. :) For me, I think I’m about to start consuming large bunches of celery.

I do think it makes a difference what the attitudes are surrounding a person. In the US, it’s very easy to get taken away by eating many large meals plus snacking, if the mood hits. I suspect it may be easier in Europe to at least at some point, if hit with this compulsion, hit a wall sooner. I mean, if there’s a lot of discouragement. In the US, people have been getting bigger. Then they want it to be ok for others because the larger size can be normal. So fighting the compulsion to eat (or overly consume in some other way), is like fighting a societal current.

Someone told me about an experience he had living in Southern California here in the States. He said that his keeping some sort of vehicle — somebody told him that it had become unfashionable; like it was embarrassing for him that he didn’t realize that. The point was that automobiles had to be changed to more trendy ones in more trendy colors every couple of years. The fact that he was keeping his longer was, apparently, just not done. That would be a difficult tide-of-encouragement-to-consume to keep up with. I’m certain that not everyone is like that there, and this was about five years ago (world situation’s tightened), but the fact that such consumerism exists is kind of scary.
# Kim Wrighton 31 Mar 2008 at 4:35 am

My husband and I have been married for 38 years. He is obese, weighting more than 300 lbs. Years ago I talked with him the potential effects of his weight on his health. We discussed diabetes, he continued to overeat and now has diabetes. I warned him about high blood pressure. He now suffers from hypertension. I have talked with him over and over about the consequences of his constant eating. He has had cancer, and has now developed a blocked artery. I have pleaded and begged. I provide healthy meals at home, but he still eats non-stop, and often goes out for food. He has children and grandchildren who need their grandpa, how can he be so selfish? His doctor has told him that if he doesn’t stop overeating, he is going to die.

I am so angry. This has gone on for years. How can people be so selfish. I am sick to death of hearing how obese people are hurt by the comments of those who are not. My husband is dying and his entire family is suffering from the pain of his selfishness. Don’t even tell me that he just can’t help it. He is the one who bends his elbow, opens his mouth and puts the food in! Everyone of us could be overindulgent in a multitude of areas. That is what self discipline is all about. Life is not just about taking care of “Me” and satisfying “My” desires. There are other people who are deeply effected by the choices that we make.
# Steve N. Leeon 31 Mar 2008 at 12:29 pm

After reading Kim’s heartrending tale, I can’t really see anything else to say on the subject of over-consumption.

But please, don’t lose sight of the fact that we are all obese in our own unqiue little ways. We all demand more and more and more without any care for what it’s doing to us, to others, or the world in which we live.

Thanks for sharing that with us, Kim. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that I hope you and your husband manage find a solution to this situation before it’s too late.

Steve
# Samantha Overyon 08 Apr 2008 at 5:00 pm

Thank Steve. lionsledbysheep indeed. Oh to have to suffer the excesses of the western world where no restraint is necessary and gluttony is glorious!So much junk food, everywhere you look. Too much choice is wonderful but is also a big problem. There are so many people with no choice as they have no food at all. What is sad is that many people don’t have the basic skills to understand nutrition and just eat utter junk that is detrimental to their health because it is convenient.
In Australia this disgusting fast food society is becoming more ingrained and people pay for the convenience but a frozen meal zapped in the microwave or oven is healthier and about the same cost and containing vegetables and nutrition. Also if you shop weekly or fortnightly you are using less fuel and less packaging. While 2 billion people,one third of the world’s population,go hungry, America alone throws out enough food each day to feed at least half of them. THAT is offensive. I have noticed the price of fruit and vegetables getting dearer but that is no excuse for the sloth and laziness of going to McDonald’s everyday instead of having nutritious food. With all the media coverage it is easy to access information about things you don’t know much about,so there really is no excuse for being morbidly obese or letting your children become obese if there is no medical reason. Obesity is as much child abuse as not feeding them enough.We can all be a bit healthier with a bit more effort.
# Samantha Overyon 08 Apr 2008 at 5:20 pm

I am sorry to hear your story Kim. Overindulgence is a choice. Another aspect of obesity is the drain on medical resources. I personally believe if people, smoke, drink, overeat or continue to exacerbate their own medical conditions then unless they can afford the medical expenses themselves through their medical fund or personally then they should be denied medical treatment or operations until they are prepared to take the doctor’s advice and not abuse the medical help they receive.
There are people, CHILDREN on the waiting lists through no fault of their own and why should they die waiting for help when another person has had treatment or an operation and continues with their previous lifestyle, slapping the doctor in the face by their actions and wasting precious resources. Imagine if someone treated your hard work in this manner?!
Why should little children die waiting when those who have received treatment don’t appreciate it and abuse the privilege?
I understand how difficult habits or addictions are and the huge effort it takes to overcome these obstacles. I smoked for 19 years but this is my 11th year smoke free. Why did I pollute my body all that time? Very sad but we all need to make the effort to help ourselves. If we aren’t prepared to help ourselves why should anyone else help us,especially doctors whose time and services are very precious and in high demand and should be used for those who appreciate it and will be helped and not wasted on those who will abuse the privlege.