We badly need legislation to protect overweight and obese individuals from unfair treatment and bias.
 

Will we need a new legion of lawyers or will the current plethora suffice?  

If you are fat than you should laugh at your weight i do. I weigh 340. Society will always look at fat people as being lazy and undisciplined. School age kids will always poke fun at the fat kid. That's just the way it go's. The schools can have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to making fun of fat kids but as soon as the teacher ain't around the fat kid will get teased. Kids are mean. The real problem is why is the kid fat.

The body isn't infinitely malleable, but if you want to lose weight, it's pretty easy.  The problem is that people don't know how to cook so they eat poorly, then the sit at a desk all day and on a couch all night.  I understand their are emotional issues and identity issues, but the last thing we need is people saying that you can't control your weight.

All this to say I don't care how heavy you are, but why not start fitness and cooking classes rather than weight acceptance?

Be forewarned Gube, if you laugh at your fat, you may have to sue yourself in the future and it will cost you two lawyer's fees.

This Puhl character sounds like another one of those who think that everything can be cured with legislation or a government social program. How about taking just a little bit of responsibility for one's actions?

director of research and anti-stigma initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.

"anti-stigma initiatives"? Now I've heard everything. When these obese people drop dead at a young age, who will the lawyer (the standard bald-headed guy with a pony tail and round wire-rimmed glasses) sue? Hostess? Yum brands?
 

We can't discriminate against people due to their race, religion, sexual weirdness, gender, age, and now someone wants to add their weight to that list? If we are ever prohibited from discriminating against STUPID people, who will we have left?

Hey I'm fat and i happen to be one of those as-holes that poke fun at people that are different. If people would stop being so damn serous all the time and lighten up this world would be a better place.It is to the point that no mater what you say someone will find it offensive. Parents today teach their children to get offended and i think that's BS

well I know that I am bias toward people who are obese. It is something I always have to work on. Even though I have friends who are obese, I would never saying anything about it. But I do think things which I have to remind myself are not good thoughts.

I dread having a obese person sit next to my on the T, plane, theater, concert. But I dont tell fat jokes nor do I laugh at people who are overweight.

You’re so fat that your butt has its own zip code!

You’re so fat that when you step on the scale, you think you’re gonna be watching 90210.

You’re so fat that when you step on the scale, it says, "One at a time, please!"

You’re so fat that your pant size is "equator."

You’re so fat that when God said, "Let there be light," he had to tell you to move your fat ass first.

------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

As of January 1 of last year, a law when into effect in California which required all fat people to be jolly. Gube knows this, has cooperated, and he doesn't seem to mind.

Many fat guys are cool. Picture a fat dude with a goatee and wraparound shades, wearing a tent-sized Hawaiian shirt and playing the bass (thoom thoom thoom). Guys like this are - and always have been - total chick magnets, but are usually happily married to little slim cute women who absolutely adore them.

My opinion:

Men have no excuse  to be obese. US woman have an excuse. It's called baby fat. Listen up women when your baby is 20 years old you can't use that excuse any longer.

my old lady is so fat that when she sits around the house, She sits aroouunnd the house.

Timec thanks for your opinion. And a little ''BABY FAT'' on a woman is hot. Its all about the curves.  

A look at the overall issue of obesity and society's attitudes toward it must first begin with some fact based logical deductions concerning the systematic cause and effects of the disorder.

First off, it’s not so clear that obesity, as Puhl says, is not basically an issue of personal willpower or lack of self discipline.

Surely, the disorder is indeed more psychologically complex, but based on the simple physical premise that obesity, barring some rare systemic disorder, is clearly and undeniably the symptomatic result of overeating.

Therefore, the disorder and its symptoms are preventable by proper management of one's caloric intake - with or without treatment of its underlying psychological cause(s).

And therefore, the failure to regulate one's diet is at best a poor health choice or at worst a psychological inability to control compulsion as evidenced by the very obvious excess flesh on the victim's body.

Either way, it doesn't’t send a good message, particularly to say, a prospective employer.

At best, an extremely obese body sends a sad message, especially when the volume of excess body flesh and fat exceeds the point at which morbidity is indicated.

Translated in the mind of the observer, the message basically can be construed to say many things, none of which are laudable.

The obese person's message might be generally construed to say something like "I am weak and can't or won’t control my eating compulsion to the extent of dire consequences.”

No matter how you slice it, extreme obesity certainly does not indicate either good physical or psychological health or good judgment.

There just isn't a good message sent by extreme obesity.

An empathetic observer might reactively feel "It's too bad you want to kill yourself, but I just don't want to see it" while another might be puzzled that one would choose to eat one's self to the point of causing a plethora of related health issues or even their own death.

Another might scornfully view the morbidly obese person as an addict with the same basic weakness as any other substance abuser and wonder why they’re not taking better care of their personal business.

Is it discriminatory to have these thoughts?

Is it discrimination for a prospective employer, for example, to be leery of hiring an obese person displaying evidence of poor judgment or compulsive addiction?

Is it discriminatory for a prospective employer to pass over a slim job applicant who comes to an interview with a sign hanging from his neck saying "I am an out of control {insert substance} addict" for another who wears a sign saying “I have good judgment?”

Is it bias to prefer physically fit good health over obesity”

Is it stigmatic to refer to a fat person as fat? (Warning, don't try this at home)

At the end of the day, many may view the tragedy of obesity in a relatively sympathetic light knowing that they also could be afflicted – you know, with a 'There but for the grace of god, go I' kind of thinking.

Some think that obese people ought to be doing something about their problem whether it’s in the gym or in a shrink’s chair.

Some believe large folks don’t deserve handicapped placards just because they can’t walk the distance from the regular spaces.

But the underlying fact remains that, barring a systemic cause, extreme obesity is undeniably a self inflicted disease for which there is little sympathy from the often unforgiving and perhaps justifiably biased healthier segment of society.

And it seems irresponsible to suggest legislation in any way propagating the flawed concept that it’s okay to weigh 500 pounds and need the chubby chair at the Olive Garden.

"Warning, don't try this at home?"

What does that mean?

Oh, oh.

Guess who's checking the blog. (squirm, squirm)

Honey, my admonition was only referring to use of the term "fat" or any other reference to weights and measures when even casually conversing with one's wife lest she misconstrue it as even possibly remotely connected with her.

THIS HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!

I love you. (grovel, grovel) You are slim and beautiful. I meant to tell you just this morning how sexy you looked in your pretty powder blue robe with the kittens all over. Wow!  And those shoes you were wearing.... aren't they the ones we got at the outlet store when we were at the beach? Man, you really looked good in that bikini.........

Okay.  You can stay.  :)

I knew it didn't have anything to do with me; I just couldn't resist. 

I was just reading this morning's talk about oil... now I'll see what else is going on.....

Saberhagen,

Thank you for your well thought out response. You bring up a lot of good points.

But to play devil's advocate, do you consider it discrimination for an employer not to hire someone who has/had AIDS, lung cancer or emphysema because those conditions can also be "self-inflicted" and therefore show a lack of good judgment?

Weigheddown asks: "Do you consider it discrimination for an employer not to hire someone who has/had AIDS, lung cancer or emphysema because those conditions can also be "self-inflicted" and therefore show a lack of good judgment?"

An interesting and highly debatable question.

Please allow me to initially respond with another.

But first let's briefly address the semantics.

Discriminate thinking or action is not inherently wrong unless it is unfairly biased against another.

The counter question asks if it is unfair discrimination for a medical insurer to deny coverage to an applicant with a previous history of life threatening diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, lung or heart disease or any other potentially costly maladies as is routine in the real world of healthcare?

The obvious answer is that the insurer's economic logic behind the denial might more accurately be described as fiscally and financially discriminate although not necessarily unfairly so.

Understandably, the courts are not ruling discrimination against medical insurers and demanding they accept huge financial burdens of applicants with costly pre-existing medical conditions.

On the other hand, it might be considered unfair discrimination for a prospective employer to pass over a job applicant with the same or other debilitating diseases.

However, the reality is, a prospective employer fearing charges of unfair discrimination would not likely reveal all the thinking behind a decision to pass over a job applicant whose judgment or performance capability was privately deemed suspect for any of a vast number of possible subjective reasons.

All an employer need do is tell the applicant "sorry, we chose someone else for the position" without revealing all that was privately considered in the final decision.

While we're on the this controversial subject, let's pose some other employer related questions.

Would it be unfairly discriminate to pass over a job applicant with visible "gangster" tattoos, or multiple piercings and such or whose appearance is otherwise objectionable?

How about a job applicant who is unkempt, unwashed or otherwise exhibits overt signs of other objectionable or inappropriate personal hygienic habits?

Should an employer be expected to hire convicted felons?

Pedophiles?

We could go on ad infinitum, but the point is clear that there are many visual stimuli and other subjective issues determining a job applicant's success or failure.

The bottom line is that prospective employees are generally expected to conform to socially accepted modes of dress, behavior and other subjective criteria as well as possess the technical and educational qualifications necessary to be considered for employment.

So to answer the question; as unfortunate as it may be, obesity might indeed be a deciding factor in an employer's decision to pass over a job applicant just as dress, hygiene and other subjective factors are privately considered.

Please note that what I personally think or feel about the issue is unimportant, it is what employers might feel that is pertinent.

But whether a job applicant is rejected for obesity or halitosis, those reasons will not be in the letter saying "thank you for your interest, but....."

I know I have a biases against people that are over weight and acknowledge it. As I have interviewed people for different positions here at the company I work for, I dont allow that to come into deciding yes or no on the candidate. It all has to be can the person do that job! Appearance does play a role, but for me it is are the clothes clean and neat and appropriate, if not then probably would not make it past the 1st screening.

I did have a young candidate who reveal to much personal information unrequested during the interview once. I had to stop them and tell them that was way to much information (health) and that they should not bring that up into the interview process.

I know I have a biases against people that are over weight and acknowledge it.

This is an extremely interesting comment coming from someone of your particular proclivities and background.

Whilst I appreciate it for its candor, don't you think it just the slightest bit hypocritcal for you to harbor such feelings and OTOH  expect people to not judge you for your behaviors?

It just sturck me as funny. Especially from someone who has lashed out at others as bigots. FWIW I am truly interested in your response to this and not just attacking you.

A cold like virus may transmit obesity according to some controversial research results. If  an overweight virus is verified, then we have an entirely different set of legal and health treatment issues here.

How can you protect your child from catching an obesity virus? Wear a face mask around obese people?

I said it is a bias that I have, never have I done anything to deny a person who is obese their right to work, live, credit, marry, etc. Being bias and being a bigot are two very different think. Would I rent to a person who was obese, yes!

Now wait a minute.

You are now saying you have to manifest actual outward tangible monetarily measurable disenfranchisement to others to exhibit bigotry?

And just your disgust with their physical presence or outward appearance is not a form of bigotry?

Do you realize what you are saying?

As long as you don't outwardly discriminate against someone through tangible means, you can hate them for their countenance and you are then OK and not a "bigot"?

Wow!

Chico your going off the deep end. I never said I hate people who are obese, I said I have a bias against them. the first step for any growth in anyone is to recognize thier own short comings. It is an issue I deal w/.

and last comment to you on the subject since your just looking to start an arguement rather than true dialog.

right sf

just looking for an argument

you judge people by their outward appearance and you cannot reconcile that with your supposed liberal magnanimous self  you want others to believe.

IOW you suffer the same form of natural discrimination (bigotry to some) you despise in others as they regard you and your lifestyle. If you truly wanted honest  dialog you would need to at least admit to that.

saberhagen, your responses are well thought out and inclusive of many issues involved with obesity.  Thinking about the employer aspect, I work for a non-profit healthcare organization, and my sister is a registered dietitian for a local hospital.  We are both of normal weight (although when I was younger I was more than 100 pounds overweight), so we can represent our healthy eating, active living messages to our patients.  However, what about the RD's or nurses or WIC counselors that are overweight themselves while they are cautioning patients to moderate their weight gain (during pregnancy for instance) or to lose weight to relive blood pressure or blood sugar issues?  Should healthcare employers take care in hiring employees that are of normal weight?  Would be interested in hearing any responses.