Wednesday, July 28, 2010

You are not obese, you are simply big boned...

... mind you, we reckon you are crazy...

This is unbelievable. "Obese' is the correct clinical / medical term used to diagnose someone whose body weight is at a level tha is likely to endanger their health. There is a distinct difference between 'overweight', 'fat', and 'obese'. If people are 'obese' there is no point in putting both themselves and others at risk by denying this. I find it irresponsible the person whose job it is to oversee the well-being of a nation should make such a pronouncement. It shows a level of ignorance and a failure to provide proper management of the 'epidemic'. Equally, Professor Steve Field of the Royal College of GP's shows similar irresponsibility.

Both should be focusing on the producers of food and the advertising behind it to re-educate people. Part of this is to NOT step gently (lightly?) around the obvious. The typical Brit is eating too much of the wrong things and, as a result, have gone through the three stages mentioned above. A large percentage of people ARE fat. It is clear that many are obese too. Stating otherwise is bad advice.

If you are sitting in front of someone who is 30 stone (420 lbs or 190kg) and saying "Mr. Johnson, you are looking a little chubby today" because you do not want to offend someone is ill considered and irresponsible. If the person should be half this weight normally and demonstrates clear evidence of obesity then tell them that. Do not give them an excuse to add to their avoidance mentality.

A quote from the first article:

"Previous research has shown that many people enjoy having a label or a name to describe their symptoms. With diagnosis comes relief and it can also be a form of therapy in itself."

"Hoy, lardy person. You are obese." Clearly this is something that the one article indicates an obese person will relish in...

Good grief.

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