The UK Independent reports on an interesting “discovery”:
…the immune system can be triggered into action at the sight of obesity because it doesn’t like the look of what it sees, and associates it with infection.
The authors of the research (abstract here) believe that “obesity serves as a cue for pathogen infection”.Apparently – when someone sees an obese person – an evolved behavioral immune system triggers a sense of avoidance and disgust.
The researchers used various tests including word associations.
…people who agreed with comments such as “it really bothers me when people sneeze without covering their mouths” were more likely to agree with statement such as “if I were an employer looking to hire, I might avoid hiring a fat person”. The greater the fear of disease, the stronger the negative feeling about obesity.
Personally I feel somewhat skeptical. I believe that prejudice is a learned behavior.
What do you think?
I’m fat and I hate being fat
I’ve just left school, but I wouldn’t got for a year as I got called over for being fat, I’d walk into the school I’d get hit called horrible names, I’d get stinking look I wasn’t huge huge I was about a size 18 yes I no its bad to be that size at that age but it won’t shift I was skinny through primary but when I went to comprehensive school the bullying started and the weight piled on I’d think of ending my life to get away from the name calling get hit in school for being fat, I am shy and I stood up for my self one day and I got beaten up for actually sticking up for my self, I’d get called smelly because I was fat but I made sure I smelt nice I’d use half a tin of charlie and then I shove loads of perfume on I’d bath every night but yet I still got called smelly, I’m still fat now still get called names yeah I’m 16 and a size 18-20 but I’m changing not for the bullies but for my self:)! Anyone who gets called fat stick you’re middle finger up and keep you’re head held high and be proud of who you are not what other people want you to be!
No one has any right to treat obese people like unwanted one….. yes i agree that their are people who are fat by choice and they cant help it out. but they just count a small fractions of total population …… but their are large proportion of it where people are obese because of genetic build up or . any diseases….but altogether we cant treat obese people as they are of no use. this is totally wrong..we should really change the mindset of the ones who think like this
I live in the UK I’m 18 and I’ve struggled with my weight for a while often yo-yoing from size 8 – a size 10 nearly a twelve :O, my mums obese but pretends to be on a diet you know these ones where you can eat whatever along as half your plate is vegetables,when I see her eat it repulses me I’ve made myself be sick and I’ve cut into my own leg at a restaurants because I HATE seeing and hearing her eat. Thing is I can’t say anything too her because my late father would ask her to not smack her lips and she says “you acting like you dad” and is just a complete cow.
Obesity is evidence of a chosen life style…it isn’t who a person is. To say that a person would rather be obese then “vain, mean, judgemental” is to assume that those of us who prioritise our bodies, health, relationships and self-respect all possess these qualities, and that the obese do not.
I often have negative remarks, dirty looks ect thrown my way by the obese because I chose to be fit, each day, with each choice ..this after have being injured catastrophically in a car accident 9 years ago.
I too feel that the health care system is over burdened by those who ask “What can technology do for my neglected body while I do nothing” .
My mother was obese, and died at 61 from this chosen lifestyle..for those that believe you can be obese and be the best parent you can be, I say other wise. I lived it growing up and know that cost to an individual and family.
We’re tired of the “elephant” in the room – not being able to call out the obese on their unhealthy life styles as they raise children to be as fat and unhappy with their appearance as they are.
Be responsible – we are a society – we are all connected – do your part.
lolita, I’d rather go to bed every night with Humbert Humbert than your smelly, repulsive tub of lard husband. Keep him indoors, please.
By the way, fat people are the main reason why healthcare in the US is so expensive. Everyone suffers. Have a good insurance plan through work? Most of the bloated premium that comes out of your check before you get it would be cash in your bank account if not for all the selfish gluttons under your group plan. The fat hurt the healthy everyday–so sorry to hurt your feelings.
Wow,I could not have expressed A more sensical argument myself! Bravo,and keep on keeping on!
Well. All of u guys that make fun of obese people not all stink let me tell u my hubby is 300pounds he is very handsome guy he is very clean and always showers all the time im chubby my self and i dont smell so all of u guys are ass holes and jerks
In my opinion I think fat people just don’t really want to lose weight ( but I do not count medicine that make people fat, that is just not their fault ). My uncle was 125 pounds overweight, and in 2 years he lost 70 pounds, with just eating well, and exercising daily. Althought, now, he all got it back because of lazyness.
I am myself 95 pounds…5f1.
I LOVE food, I love to eat, but the thing is…. i love to eat things like salads, fruits, veggies… And I do not eat 2 bowls. One of the many things japanese people are so thin is that also…they eat and STOP when they are not HUNGRY anymore. you don’t HAVE to eat until your belly hurts and your full.
Also try eating small portions, and if you need a night snack eat an apple ! not a chocolate cake !
Also I have to say in my experience that fat people do smell bad, but they don’t know it, since its their own smell…
Yeah, I know what you mean but the problem here is that skinny people have way more confidence not to take fat people’s jokes seriously. For example, last summer I was down at the shore and I went to local McDonald’s cause I didn’t have a lot of money that day. Well, I go inside and these 3 very big African-American girls say really really loud :” Look at this ugly-a** B****! Hahaha! She has no t***!” And went on and on about my body. I didn’t pay any attention to them and it didn’t bother me at all cause I know I look good. Unfortunately I know they were just jealous and spiteful. The point is if they felt better about themselves by putting me down than it’s Ok. When I see a big person I never stare and wouldn’t even think about saying something ignorant about them (or even think something bad).
Oh, and I have this one friend who is African-American and he’s very overweight but when we go out, man, he dances better than any skinny person I know. He’s lots of fun and makes fun of himself all the time, I don’t see how anyone could be mean to him
This story is obviously fabricated. If that was the truth these 3 girls would go straight to jail and the “meanie” would get lots of money from them. That’s the same as drug someone up or put a rape pill in someone’s drink. Besides, what was she doing at work in a belly shirt? I think you are just dreaming about sweet revange.
How can both of you be so ignorant?
Very much agree!
I just want to add: I would be a friend with an overweight person, I would hire an overweight person, I wouldn’t mind working with one at all. Would I date one? Maybe if he was just a little overwight, not too much
I’m skinny but I never think nothing bad about big people. Like nothing at all… Well, sometimes I feel sad when I see a really really overweight teenager cause it must be hard to be in school and other teenagers probably make fun of him/her… I just wish parents would be in control of that. When I was young my mom never let me drink soda and never got any fast food for dinner. If I was too picky about my food she would always tell me to get out of the table. I think it’s different for everyone to maintain a great figure otherwise evryone would be skinny! I didn’t think that something like that even existed, that people wouldn’t like someone for being overweight. I never heard anyone say that. I think it’s ridiculous!
GLUTONNY + GREEDINESS + SELF CENTERED = OBESITY
It is not fair to discriminate against “fat” people if not lazy people. I know women who are a size two, who can eat a whole pizza, a cake, a horse, a pig and a cow and never gain a pound.
Also some of the most miserable people on earth.
Just because they have cute figures, doesnt mean a person isnt a slob. Eventually their habits of eating junk, drinking and not excersicing will catch up to them
I would totally want to work with a quialified big person over a bitchy, lazy person who thinks they should be praised for having a nice body.
yes i agree i was in motor vehichle accident had a t8 fracture crushed vertebras
couldnt walk i was in pain all i did was eat to comfort myself,all wrong food,,after 23 months i started to walk again but i was also 262 pounds i gained 72 pounds ,,,,i said no i must do something i just started walking went to weight watchers ate very healthy not starving and i did it so i know what you mean about lazy fatsos that dont care,,,,,i was in alot of pain but i lost 70 pounds because i wasnt giving up,,,,,i felt fat unatractive and didnt like me anymore ,,,,,so all you fat asses out there you are fat cuase you want to be
My obesity started when I got Depo Provera shots. I gained at least 20 pounds every 3 months, then I was put on Seroquel and Lithium, and my weight shot way up there. I finally was weaned off of those pills, but it left me with a low thyroid level, and I am working really hard to lose this weight. I have lost about 30 lbs so far, and now I have hit a plateau for the last week. So, as you can see, weight gain CAN happen when you take certain medicines, not overeating. By the way, several doctors have confirmed this fact. If I knew that these medicines would make me fat and ugly, I never would have taken any of them.
You rock, Lynette!
I don’t hate fat people, I hate nobody. However, I find it pathetic when the people that CAN change the way they are, and complain about it all the time, yet don’t do it. The ones that say, “I hate being fat, hand me that cookie.” It takes willpower to lose weight. I lost 30 pounds. But what I did was not make excuses and just did it. There is no secret to losing weight, no miracle, or shortcut, just hard work. Now, there are some people that literally can NOT lose weight due to medical illnesses. But the ones that can…. just dont’ want to, and want people to feel bad for them. I was depressed when I was overweight, so I changed that. I got in shape and now I’m more happy than ever! It takes hard work, no excuses, unless you have a medical imbalance or something. I don’t hate fat people, but sometimes I find it unattractive because it’s a way of demonstrating their lifestyle, FOR THE MOST PART, lazy. This is a generalization and doesn’t apply to everybody.
It’s appalling how so many of you treat overweight or obese people. I’m not trying to justify their lifestyle descisions, but just because they choose to live that way doesn’t give all of you the right to treat them like trash. They have feelings too, and there is still a large population of people who are overweight or obese due to genetics and disease. What about smokers and people who drink? They don’t live perfect and healthy lives just like all of you pretend that you have. They just don’t have to carry fat around all day for the world to see, but they are no better than overweight and obese people.
Discriminating against them is just as bad as discriminating against people on the basis of race, you can’t justify your narrow-mindedness by saying that fat people have brought it onto themselves. They shouldn’t have to live miserable lives just because people like you dissaprove of their lifestyle. Society should be working to help people like them acheive better health, rather than mocking and insulting them. You don’t have to like the way they look but the things that have been said on this forum are not justifiable by any means.
Would you treat anyone this poorly in a real life situation? There are kids reading things like this on the internet, but I don’t think any of you would call an obese or overweight child disgusting or smelly in person. So many people are going to be hurt by the things that you have said, and even though I myself am not overweight, I can still empathize with people who are, and I encourage anyone who is offended by this to speak up so that eventually the world can become a more accepting place.
Do your homework.
People who are fat due to thyroid and/or genetic
problems are a very very small portion of the
population.
Tired of people blaming obesity on this. It’s
called lazy fat America. And it’s here to stay.
I choose to be fat because I can’t stand thin people. They are so wrapped up in themselves. This thread has just proved to me why I would rather be fat for the rest of my life, but still have compassion for other people and I realize that I have weaknesses just like any other person in this world. The problem with skinny people is, that they think they are perfect and can’t see that maybe fat or obese people have weaknesses more visable than what thin people might have. Judgement day will come and those who can judge the way they do, well you’ll be judged with that same judgement that you judge others. Good Luck!
You’re post just proved your argument wrong.
racist much? thanks for sharing!