reason.com — The government seems to have made tremendous strides in its War on Fat. In 2004 researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said “poor diet and physical inactivity” were killing 400,000 Americans a year, a number that was widely presented as an estimate of “obesity-related deaths.”
Dec 3, 2006 View in Crawl 4
jerimDec 4, 2006
I said I was heavy. What did you "assume" that meant. I may have endured ridicule in the past. Doesn't mean that I do so now. I know several large people. You may not be one of them, but there are several people here who are the types of people who make them feel bad. I have seen some truly horrible behavior in my time. Why don't you go make fun of a fat person until they cry? Go ahead, if that is what makes you feel like a man. I have had to deal with the ugly side of it. Perhaps seeing the harm you cause another human being will change your mind and mature you a bit.
Closed AccountDec 4, 2006
Maybe we need to install treadmills at fast food order lanes...5 minutes on the treadmill before they give you a big mac.
devindotcomDec 5, 2006
That's a good rule of thumb, evo.
matts0344Dec 5, 2006
I'm pretty fat, I woulden't say its entirely my fault, even though I was a pretty active kid I ate like an IDIOT and I was too young to care and I wish now that my parents stopped me because once you are a fat kid, and have lived like that for 10 years+ its sooo hard to lose weight. I feel like I'm going to be fat forever.I've been trying, running 6 times a week, eating less, I don't know if I'm losing weight because I haven't been keeping track but I definitely feel better physically.
lexomaticDec 5, 2006
Ok, time for my fat tax idea to be rolled out. Government just adds a levy onto your annual tax bill which can be removed by providing a verifiable certificate from a qualified medical professional stating that you are not socially fat. Exemptions can be given due to medical conditions etcMoney raised from the levy would go towards supporting the medical system. Here in Australia, that would be straight into Medicare (Oz's free medical system). I do not have a problem with overweight people. I do have a problem with obese people stressing out the free medical system with weight-related medical problems simply because they do not have the willpower to properly regulate their diet. There's nothing like motivating the masses with an avoidable tax. And the flow-on effect is that the demand for healthier food in our supermarkets and take-a-ways will force food providers to rethink how they process, flavour and store food stuffs. Vote 'Yes' - Fat Tax. Your body will love you for it.
wolfdvDec 5, 2006
Interesting Idea . . I like this . . or a fitness tax rebate if you can show that you are socially fit and healthy. A fat lifestyle is a choice mostly, like smoking or alcoholism. Some people are more prone to if (genetics/environment), although mostly it comes down to choice in the end.I used to be overweight (was in an accident, and was unable to exercise, plus I was depressed and ate to compensate). However I soon changed that (with gym / diet / motivation to be back to my better hotter self) . . lost nearly 85 pounds in fat. Was around 165, Got up to 235lbs, now back to 160lbs, extremely fit. Also went from a 36 waist back to a 30. Life is back, and its great. Life is much worse as a fat person, don't deny it. They should be ridiculed, and looked at as sub-human, hopefully it can also motivate them to achieve perfection as a fit and healthy individual.
vguardDec 8, 2006
The "War on Fat" is just like every other "war" to advance some social cause. We'll end up with more of whatever it is that we're supposed to be fighting. Somebody must have found a new way to profit from persecuting fat people.
jerimDec 9, 2006
@devindotcomAre you completely retarded or just an iditot? All I ever said was that I was heavy. I never said that it wasn't my fault. I immediately was called a lazy ass and told not to accept the hand I was dealt. I was treated as though I were preaching that it wasn't my fault. All I ever said is that people shouldn't be harrassed for their weight. If you don't believe in that, then f**k your sorry ass. For all I know you are a pimple faced dumbass working down at McDonald's. There, I can be just as biggotted as you. Please, for the love of God, learn to read and practice reading comprehension. If someone simply says "don't hate" you can't pretend they said other things, such as "it's not my fault." I never said that. But I guess everyone was too busy to actually read what I wrote. You won't get through a life by jumping to conclusions and then taking action on those conclusions.
gnuix2004Dec 11, 2006
@gandhi2Actually YOU DON'T! Look at Canada, I don't see them enforcing ANY of those other ridiculous claims, yet they are a welfare state with universal health care. That is the problem with arguing on a slippery slope, it is a fallacious argument.
Closed AccountDec 20, 2006
to Lexomatic:You're an idiot, first it's called discrimination jackass, second by what system do you plan on using to find out who is fat? The BMI has been proven to be s**t. Do you also plan on setting up stations which citizens would be forced by the government to go to to get weighed, fascism here we come thanks to assh**es like you!
heine3001Mar 3, 2007
its a song quote
parkinsonsAug 10, 2007
"Is that more of a mental/metabolic problem or just people being 'lazy'?"Being lazy is a mental problem...
parkinsonsAug 10, 2007
We are not judging you on your body, we are judging you on your behavior. Being fat is just the effect that your unhealthy behavior has on your body. People should treat anorexic, and bulimic people the same way as compulsive eaters.