Why do fat people never take responsibility for being fat and blame genes/others?

[Rendia]

Why unhealthy? Because of tenuous correlations? Science tries to deal in absolutes but I don't think the weight/health correlation exists in anything more than relative effects. As in, underweight for your particular weight, or overweight for your particular weight, which can vary based on metabolism, gut flora, hormonal changes, etc.

And this is true. I am just saying in general. Just as I am 5'11" and weigh 200 lbs. I am just a bit overweight for myself. If you look at the BMI I should be something like 167 lbs, which is ludicrous, at least for me. I have a large frame and more than average muscle, but not "cut".

[mercutiouk]

Never? Sweeping generalizations ahoy!

I'm overweight and take full responsibility due to years of a sedentary lifestyle and over-consumption of soda.

But they're not entirely wrong. Genetics and other factors do play a pretty big part in weight gain. Even running the heat during winter and the air during summer causes our hypothalamus to not have to work nearly as hard to regulate our body temperature, which is a pretty substantial contribution to our basal metabolic rate.

The studies are there to find. The same conclusion has been reached by multiple sources. First and foremost, despite what the media makes it out to be, it's not just an American problem. ALL first-world countries with the same modern conveniences and factory-food as America has shown dramatic increases in the obesity rates across the whole population, and studies indicate that we, as a whole, are putting on weight much more quickly than the average daily lifestyle and caloric intake suggests we should, so other things outside of just over eating and lack of exercise are contributing.

This being said, genetics DO NOT make a person MORBIDLY OBESE. If you're so fat that you can't walk, and you don't have some kind of freak metal condition which causes humongous tumor growths, you have no one to blame for yourself. Genetics and other outlying factors simply make it easier to put the wait on and harder to take it off. There are also the psychological factors. Some people can become addicted to food. And yes, while addiction is almost always the addicted person's fault, once that addiction clicks, it becomes considerably harder to break those bad habits.

I've been working at it for 2 years now, and have lost about 30 pounds total. Every day my coworker that's as thin as a toothpick and does nothing but lounge around outside of work comes in each morning with McDonalds breakfast and leaves to get more fastfood for lunch. And these are not small meals by any means. And he's always sipping on soda and usually makes two trips to the vending machines per day to grab a bag of chips.

And here I am, eating no more than 1600-1800 calories a day and try to get at least 20-30 minutes of physical activity in a day, and I'm still pretty hefty. Of course, people tell me all the time I look nowhere near as heavy as my weight indicates, but I also have a large frame and I lift weights, which might account for a LITTLE bit of it, but with all this effort, I should definitely have lost more than 30 pounds so far in the last year or so.

But hey, at least I AM making progress. Slowly, but surely.

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

At the end of the day, though, personal accountability should be a part of everyone's life. Not just for certain things, but for everything.

To be honest, if you are lifting and things seem to be going well/your feeling better, forget the scales. Muscle weighs about twice as much as fat, when it gets to a point where you can see the definition coming but the scales are telling you you're still heavy, forget the scales. Keep at it and it'll all work out

Anyone who bothers to do decently hard training for 3-4 hours a week and doesn't loose weight has my sincerest sympathy, for most people that's all it takes though (split over 3ish sessions tho - the hormone changes that occur when you train help immensely).

I'm 205lbs at 5'8" which is definitely overweight. (though I can squat 200lbs, bench 150, pulldown 165 so I've got a slightly tubby strongman look going on) 2 gym sessions a week and it starts coming off, 3 and it's noticable, 4 and it's flying off. There's really nothing else to it. Train more/harder and you loose weight.

As far as the "putting on more weight than we should according to lifestyle and intake" well, firstly I think it's fair to say we probably do over-consume a bit and don't get as much exercise as we should but the other thing is the amount of empty calories in stuff. Get used to eating a LOT more fibre with all meals and things get better quite quickly.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

I don't think it's very fair to limit this to just "fat" people.

It's rare that somebody takes responsibility for something.

It's just people protecting their egos.

[Raptor With a Saber]

need to change your title to why do some.

[Uennie]

as i said before its not just one person though..
how about the fat people who sue mcdonalds for making them fat.
or how about the british family who doesnt work because they are too fat and blame it on genetics and they want more money from the government.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...ot-enough.html

One group does not everyone make :\ ....

[Vulcanasm]

And this is true. I am just saying in general. Just as I am 5'11" and weigh 200 lbs. I am just a bit overweight for myself. If you look at the BMI I should be something like 167 lbs, which is ludicrous, at least for me. I have a large frame and more than average muscle, but not "cut".

BMI is, at best, a slight correlation. It's only accurate for men who work out lightly (or, not at all), and women with size A or smaller breasts. If you want an accurate measure of whether you're overweight, the only good option is a water displacement body fat test.

Example: I'm 6'3 and trying to regain 15 lbs of muscle mass. Yet according to BMI, if I weighed 210 I'd be fat. That's horseshit. I had a 36" waist and a 46" chest at 210, because I lifted for muscle gain; e.g. my set weight on a bench press was 305 lbs. Yet 6'3 and 210 has a BMI of 26.

[endersblade]

Some people like playing the blame game and don't take responsibility. Also I'm at 250lbs myself down from 285 last year but I've been staying at this weight for a bit and I don't blame anyone other then myself haha and I also am happy with the weight as I can still do good with weights and hold my own in cardio plus my healthy weight is 200-210 so I'm fine where I am But you're always going to get people who complain about things in their control like for example someone bitching about their boss that they're lazy or something when in fact they are not.

I'm at 6'2, 255, mostly chub lol. I hate it. But I KNOW it's my fault I'm like this, for sure I don't blame anyone but myself. I'm going to stop here though lol, I have an extremely strong opinion on the OP's subject (whole-heartedly agree with him), and I feel I may get a little out of hand if I voice my opinion.

[Maxilian]

Well i think is kind of simple... because they have to sacrifice something to get what they want... is just like skinny guys, we all want to be strong and atletic but we don't do any sacrifice to get what we want...

[endersblade]

BMI is ludicrous. It's only accurate for men who work out lightly (or, not at all). If you want an accurate measure of whether you're overweight, the only good option is a water displacement body fat test.

Example: I'm 6'3 and trying to regain 15 lbs of muscle mass. Yet according to BMI, if I weighed 210 I'd be fat. That's horseshit. I had a 36" waist and a 46" chest at 210, because I lifted for muscle gain; my set weight on a bench press was 305 lbs. Yet 6'3 and 210 has a BMI something like 28. Don't think so. If some angry 150 lb. kid spoke to me in person the way people speak in this thread, (a) they'd look retarded, and (b) I'd have tied them into a pretzel knot.

Yeah, I got kicked out of the Navy thanks to the stupid fucking BMI crap. I could pass the PRT perfectly fine, but I'd fail the weight. At 6'2 I'm supposed to be 210; I'd be a goddamn beanpole at that weight. I too am pretty strong, though after being out for 5 years now I'm getting pretty flabby lol. I think the BMI was probably accurate...oh, maybe 100+ years ago, when people were, in general, smaller. People my and your size were definitely not the norm, that's for sure.

[Rendia]

BMI is ludicrous. It's only accurate for men who work out lightly (or, not at all). If you want an accurate measure of whether you're overweight, the only good option is a water displacement body fat test.

Example: I'm 6'3 and trying to regain 15 lbs of muscle mass. Yet according to BMI, if I weighed 210 I'd be fat. That's horseshit. I had a 36" waist and a 46" chest at 210, because I lifted for muscle gain; my set weight on a bench press was 305 lbs. Yet 6'3 and 210 has a BMI something like 28. Don't think so. If some angry 150 lb. kid spoke to me in person the way people speak in this thread, (a) they'd look retarded, and (b) I'd have tied them into a pretzel knot.

Yes, I know the BMI is wrong. I have already stated it. Dunno if you are agreeing or arguing.

One of the things that gets me is why so many people tie healthy in with a magical number on a scale. If you feel you look good, and your doctor thinks you are healthy, why care what a little device says with its useless numbers?

[Collegeguy]

[/video]


watch this, some of the things he covers sort of relate to your topic

While I do agree that people have different bodies and different metabolism, I don't agree at all with his largest point, and I don't have any sympathy for what he's trying to say in that point with self control. I can force myself not to eat and have done so all the time just because I was busy doing something else, or I just didn't have time to eat. It's not impressive. It's not hard.


When I listen to it again very carefully it sounds like he is explaining an addiction even though he never uses the word. Then he says that no one else understands this addiction unless they are an addict to that specific addiction themselves. No, I have a pretty good understanding of addiction since I have been an addict of many things in my life. I also don't have any pity for addictions whether they be greatly destructive or mildly destructive. There is nothing wrong with addiction being destructive to themselves and they leave it at that, but if they start to complain because of the negative criticism of their addiction....please.

I am ok with people being addicts, but I don't feel sympathy for one that hates and complains about their predicament but refuses to do anything. I also don't think they should complain when their societal outlook on their addiction is negative. That is just plain stupid. I don't have pity for someone who is an alcoholic thinks the world should feel sorry for them. I don't have pity for someone who is addicted to food but get's upset about fat jokes. I am fine with obese people, but I think they should stop pretending they are special in this regard.

[Xl House lX]

So i know this fat person and she is really fat
So fat to the point she cant walk without having pains in her knee.

But when people ask her to lose weight she says she cant lose weight and shes fat because its in her genes.


When i heard that i was just thinking.
"oh its your genes making you fat is it? it's not the 2 bacon and egg sandwiches and 3 hashbrowns and sausages you had for breakfast, or the whole pizza, garlic bread and 10 chicken wings and 2litre coke you had for dinner?


seriously people need to own up to their actions.
If i wanted to be fat i could, i could eat anything i want and get fat but i choose not to.
Eating is like a luxury, especially eating food that taste good.
So sometimes people need to sacrafice some food to lose weight..

Do you know a fat person who blames others or genes for their weight?
Or are you a fat person who blames others?

Lol. There are a few cases where genes and medical problems that prevent some people from losing weight, or gain weight substantially. But it is quite rare.

I'll go ahead and tell you that your title pisses me off, because your making a generalization about a large group of people, no pun intended. I myself am obese, and I take ALL responsibility for it, even though things like my parents and grandparents never forced healthy diets or active lifestyles, I still take all the blame because of my own ignorance. I have more than payed the price for it too.

A young life with no girlfriends, barely any friends, anti-socialism, difficulty in every day tasks, low self confidence, the list could go on and on if I allocated the time.

But for the love of God, please do not make generalizations about groups of people, I've seen it way too many times on these forums and its annoying as shit.

[Kujako]

BMI is ludicrous. It's only accurate for men who work out lightly (or, not at all).

No, it's just flat out inaccurate. It was never intended to measure any level of health and was very specific to the time (1800s) and place (Belgian) where it was devised as a tool to define the "normal man". It was never intended to measure how over or under weight you are since all it does is look at height and weight. Muscle weights more then fat, so by the BMI system we should stop working out so we lose weight. Or we could just lengthen our legs with surgery (could also just cut a leg off to lower your weight).


All these women weigh the same (150lbs). Their height has little to do with their health and if they are "over weight".

By BMI standards with the modern height ratios most people we think of as "hunks" or "babes" are over weight to obese.

[artemishunter1]

Go around shaming fat people and see where that gets you. See if you can make it to double digits before you get your teeth knocked out for being an asshole.

Fat people do not bother me. People that do not mind their own business and think they know what is best for everyone else do.

Fat people should bother you as we all pay the price. Schools have to buy fatter chairs because our children are obese (that costs money). Airplanes will need to make and replace sits given the trend, the cost will pass on to you. Then there is also bus, escalators in the subways as people are getting to big to climb stairs, bathrooms in the schools have to change to accomodate the fat students. Ultimately society as a whole pays the price because we can not let people lie in their own graves because of us being civilized nation.

[Micke]

I can eat whatever I want and how much I want, sitt still a lot with no exercise, and never gain weight.

Some people have it easier or harder controlling their weight, and for some fat people losing weight can be on the difficulty scale of climbing mount everest, so dont hate if they give up, it would be quite common at that point.

[artemishunter1]

Why unhealthy? Because of tenuous correlations? Science tries to deal in absolutes but I don't think the weight/health correlation exists in anything more than relative effects. As in, underweight for your particular weight, or overweight for your particular weight, which can vary based on metabolism, gut flora, hormonal changes, etc.

we are fatter than before. Those things you listed existed before as well. The thing that changed is that we became sedantary.

[Lemons]

There was a kid at my high school. He wasn't huge, but he definitely was fat. The sad thing is that this kid did not eat fatty foods (I never saw him with a soda or candy bar), and he exercised a lot (he did gym class and was on the Basketball team, easily 2+ hours of exercise every week day), and he was still fat. The guy was just built that way. So for some people I believe genes do play a major role.

Now I'm not advocating that fat people just say "It's my genes!" and just give up on a healthy lifestyle, but you can't generalize and say that everyone who is fat is there purely out of laziness. Also, being fat doesn't make someone a bad person. There are plenty of heavier people out there that contribute more to society in a day than you do in a year.

[schwarzkopf]

Or are you a fat person who blames others?

I'm a fat person who blames no-one, including myself. I know exactly what I have to do to lose weight, and it involves more money than I have got.

[leggomydairy]

there are some people who have been overweight since they were children and have a hard time pushing it off
I fall in that category. I was born heavy, I grew big, and I'm about 230 lbs. I've tried to curb my diet and exercise. I lost three pounds after two months. So I stopped trying and haven't gained any more weight since.

[Deleted]

195cm and 105kg (or 6'5" and 230lb) here, I'm only a bit overweight, but I still see myself as fat as deragatory as that term might seem. (Note: I'm from Czech Republic, I don't know how fat do people in USA get (I usually don't believe in stereotypes), but amongst the people I know, I'm probably the fattest).

People usually know that they're fat, you don't have to call them on that. And please don't. Don't call other people fat in their face. I'm really self-conscious about this, I usually wear a shirt or a shirt and a t-shirt underneath, to cover it, so I look normal, but if I wore only a t-shirt, I'd look like a beached whale (exaggerating a bit here, but stil...) It goes to a point that I usually don't let girls take off my shirt in bed (I'm lucky enough to look muscular in a shirt ^^). I know it sounds stupid, but most of us are really self-conscious, even if it seems like we don't care.

But yeah, you're right. These things are usually not genetical. Maybe one fat person out of thousand has glandular problems, but most of us are just too lazy to visit a gym on a regular basis (including me). I'm pretty sure that if I worked out at least once a week, I'd look much better, but... Too much of a bother, I'm fine with it :-D (Yeah, my only argument is "I'm fine with it", that's how pathetic I am :-D)