<p>Fat studies? More like American studies. Laziness, carelessness, and lack of exercise are NOT the problem. There are lazy and careless people everywhere in the world, but most places don’t have as rampant of a problem as America does. The primary offender here is our culture. Just look at what we eat and how we eat… no further explanation needed. Our culture is the root of the problem. It is the enabler for all the other minor problems that have sprung from it. In poor areas where there’s no supermarket within 50 miles - that one convenient convenience store… what does it sell? Microwave dinners and junk food. No one will be surprised that McDonald’s is more easily accessible everywhere in the country than a supermarket, and our culture is mostly to blame. Just compare the fat countries with the skinny countries. You’ll find that both can have the same socioeconomic population distribution, both have the same lazy people, both love to eat, both have the same amount of people with genetic predispositions to obesity, etc. But then it separates at diet and culture of eating. ****, in an american middle school, you’d easily find served: french fries, chicken tenders, cheeseburgers. then look at school lunch in a primary school in china: <a href=“http://eatingasia.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c509553ef0133edeebb21970b-800wi[/url]”>EatingAsia;
<a href=“http://eatingasia.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c509553ef0134811f9dd5970c-800wi[/url]”>EatingAsia;
I don’t even know what that all is but it looks infinitely healthier.</p>
<p>There we go that’s exactly what we need to do, blame someone else. Its not the fat guys fault for getting fat, its “society’s” fault. </p>
<p>And to the comment earlier about a bunch of fat people ruining it for the few that have a legitimate reason, its like reverse Muslims. There are a few, crazy ass Muslims ruining it for all the normal ones. While with fat people, its the large number of lazy, stupid ones ruining it for the small portion with some kind of medical condition</p>
<p>Obesity is also related to income level. In cases like that, I think it is partially “society’s” fault because in our society, it is more financially difficult to buy real, healthy food than it is to buy cheap, unhealthy food. So for a lot of obese, low-income Americans, I do see society as a problem.</p>
<p>That being said, a lot of people don’t have an excuse - they simply are lazy, don’t eat right, and don’t excercise. These cases frustrate me. A few years back, a girl tried to sue our local Abercrombie because they didn’t hire her, arguing that she was discriminated against because she was (morbidly) obese. Their response was, among other reasons, that they are a clothing store, so they have a right to hire people who will look good in their clothes. I don’t really see an issue in this, to be honest. IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT and are not one of the minority of people with severe health problems, then a healthy diet and fitness are your responsibility and you need to face the consequences of your actions. It may be a societal problem, but it’s also an individual issue.</p>
<p>I could see it being an interesting class - the obesity epidemic - but not an actual concentrated major or field of study.</p>
<p>How about this, at one point does being fat go from the parents fault to the childs fault. I assume that is a fat studies discussion. </p>
<p>… unless they say the answer is never, its always society’s fault</p>
<p>From the interview, it sounded like this was a “Fat Pride” class, not an “Obesity is a Growing Problem” class.</p>
<p>^I’m a little frustrated with the ‘fat pride’ and ‘fat acceptance’ movements. It seems to be telling children that it’s okay and normal to be obese, and it’s not. It’s unhealthy.</p>
<p>And before someone calls me judgmental, I’m also not a fan of anorexic models being held up as the beauty standard. I think someone like Crystal Renn or Alicia Silverstone is a much better role model.</p>
<p>^I agree, both extremes should not be made out to be acceptable.</p>
<p>We’re turning into the people in Wall-E</p>
<p>Google “Fat Acceptance.” Watch the Lifetime channel. That will teach you.</p>
<p>I googled fat acceptance</p>
<p>… i can’t believe there is a National Association for the Advancement of Fat Americans… holy ****</p>
<p>…its actually very sad</p>
<p>
“Demeaning the struggles of the truly oppressed since 1969!”</p>
<p>By making societies and classes that show discrimination of fat people they are highlighting differences and therefore making the problem worse–if you can call it a problem. Societies that advocate equal rights for other people, gays, blacks, even women do it because people are being denied rights. What rights are fat people being denied?
If you say health insurance, what about the countless people denied health insurance on the basis of something that they didn’t do to themselves? Also universal health care makes this less of a debate until it is fully implemented or fully canceled.
If you say hiring, it is about caring for appearance. Would you hire the person who hasn’t shaved in days and smells? Or would you hire the well groomed person even if they are slightly less qualified? You want the person who you most want to represent your company. Also there’s no way to fix this.</p>
<p>I’ll say I am slightly overweight at the moment, but I swing between weights pretty rapidly due to a digestive issue. However, it’s my own fault for being overweight and I’d never want a society that defends it. Part of it is my illness that makes a lot of healthy foods painful for me to eat, and exercising difficult, but a much larger part of it is me being lazy. That doesn’t deserve a society. It wouldn’t even if it was completely the fault of my illness. You want to raise awareness, raise awareness for the illnesses that cause people to be overweight. Make sure they have equal rights as far as hiring and firing due to actual medical reasons.
What’s next? Alcoholic Studies? Smoker’s Studies? Personally my money is on White Studies or Male Studies, but I have little faith in humanity as a whole.</p>
<p>White Males are the Devil!!!</p>
<p>they deserve no scholarship money, no affirmative action, and no special things…</p>
<p>
Hm, not sure what post that is poking fun at. You know, there are minors like Irish Studies, Italian Studies, French Studies, and the like.</p>
<p>People blame “society” for all of their problems and it’s starting to get really old. You have free will, people! If you choose to lead a healthy lifestyle, nothing is stopping you. America is not the fattest country because of the small percentage of people who actually can’t afford to buy non-junk foods or have no access to a grocery store. America is fat because we choose the unhealthy options over the nutritious ones. Key word: choose.</p>
<p>I would rather buy 2 McDoubles for $2 than a $4 salad that either has fattening salad dressing or tastes like grass.</p>
<p>I blame physical education in school. If people choose not to stay in shape, we should make them (in school).</p>
<p>There are a few systemic faults that promote obesity but a lack of physical education isn’t one of them. Coercion doesn’t solve endemic problems and an hour a day of half-hearted effort in PE won’t make a dent against the gallons of fat and sugar kids consume. Access to nutritious food for the urban poor is non existent and this lack of choice is what should be remedied–HOWEVER–the far bigger problem is cultural. There are like 50,000,000+ fat middle class Americans that can afford vegetables, fruits, whole grains, gym memberships, etc. yet choose not to use these things. How you change a culture of laziness and stupidity is the real issue. Excusing this behavior by essentially turning an addiction into a civil rights issue is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Yeah, in your average physical education class kids only spend six minutes actually being active. The rest is taking attendance, being told the rules of whatever you’re doing, talking to your friends, etc.</p>
<p>
“You don’t have to play the sports, but you HAVE TO dress out.”</p>
<p>Yes, I always thought putting on the t-shirt and basketball shorts was the most important part of PE.</p>
<p>And even a full hour of physical activity could only burn off what, two small cookies? A bagel? What you eat throughout the day has much more impact than exercise.
I think snacking in between meals is more of a problem than high calorie fast food meals.</p>