Anorexia Vs Morbid Obesity

[Rockrose]

Watching a programme anorexic ladies I am struck by how these ladies are treated with sympathy and caring and how there is help out there for them. But when it comes to obesity you are told to eat less and move more and are treated with complete derision.

[sunny-dave]

Quite so JtH - I think the disingenuity of a couple of recent posters is breathtaking ...

[naomi24]

sunny-dave, the OP has consistently denied her previous username. Who's disingenuous?

Jackthehat, thanks for clearing that up.

[Rockrose]

Yes because it’s none of your business who I was previously, do ytask all the other returning users who they are especially the couple on this thread?

[naomi24]

Rockrose, I've never asked you who you were. I believed others when they outed you - and when you (and others) denied it, I believed you and them. Actually, I really couldn't give a hoot who you are or who you were but jackthehat has cleared up the confusion created by spath's post at least.

[anneasquith]

A perfectly good thread, interesting and debatable, ruined by abers who take every opportunity to verbally bash each other. Keep your spats for chatterbank.

[rowanwitch]

I don't care who was who, I do care about the effects of the things people post.
I just want the self righteous amongst you to think how your posts might sound to someone who already feels embarrassed and depressed about their weight. Many know it's bad choices but still make them. No I don't think it is an addiction but making those choices is a learned response, conditioning if you like. I am obese, with friends of all shapes and sizes. I go to the gym, I walk miles, I mostly eat sensibly now but it has taken years to get to this point. I can't join a slimming club as previously the competitive nature of the weigh ins resulted in a reversion to dangerous weight loss methods from my past. It has taken the loss of my husband and a realisation I had to be in better shape for my future to break that conditioning. And once in a while after a long walk with a friend I will have cake with my coffee, it's where it should be a genuine treat to be enjoyed with good company. Last example was nearly two months ago.
As for the fat families buying carp in farm foods other similar stores are available maybe the intervention is teaching them to cook as well as health education. One young mum looked at my trolley and said she wouldn't know what to do with the stuff in my trolley. I suggested she popped next door to the works and bought a really simple cookery book. One she could try with the children. Her words after were so sad. I only have a frying pan and trays for the oven

[murraymints]

I agree with rowan regarding the need for education about healthy eating...meal planning and shopping.... for both obese and anorexics... also for the need to do some kind of exercise from an early age..even just walking a mile a day..which is now compulsory in some schools up here... it can be fun with friends or in walking groups etc.. well done to you Rowan...xx

[naomi24]

I don’t understand the claim for a “need for education”. From eating to drinking to exercise, there’s no shortage of information and advice in the public domain. Teaching people to cook is a good idea, but with the market inundated with ready-made food I guess some people wouldn’t bother anyway. Far easier to buy a pizza and shove it in the oven.

[rowanwitch]

When gran can't cook, mum can't cook, it's unlikely the kids will. They are not going to watch tv programmes that might help. Change is difficult . Maybe laziness is learned too in the same way. My family worked but did very little other exercise so it was hard to see myself as someone who did.

[ummmm]

Of course people need educating.

[murraymints]

not even sure if food and nutrition is in schools these days..was compulsory up to 3rd year for me..also my mum and granny were great cooks and bakers..I spent hours in the kitchen watching and helping.... exercise was a compulsory requirement daily at school too and it crossed over into extra curricular clubs...had to stop club running because of knee injuries..but continued playing golf/badminton into adulthood...nowadays gardening gives me enough as it is quite strenuous stuff I do...

[Rockrose]

I do believe its an addiction to rubbish food.
I am a trained chef was brought up on food - didn't taste shop bought bread till I was 16 and didn't have a takeaway until I was 20!
But once I tasted that amazing food there was no going back.
Saying that - I have had an unhealthy relationship with food since I was in my teens - having stopped eating everything apart from a breadroll and a cheese triangle and dropping to a very low weight.

[emmie]

now that i am well over 60 with serious health and mental health issues, i find it very difficult to exercise, as my osteo arthritis doesn't allow me to go far.
my mental health has started to kick in again, after what seemed like a time without too many difficulties.
i am overweight and wished i wasn't, and it's not through junk food either. It could be the meds i am on, just don;t know. But i feel sorry for those who can't cook even a little bit. And feel for those anorexics some of whom i met in a mental heath hospital.
both are illnesses, some are understood but as often or not one is told to exercise more and eat less if morbidly obese which in my case doesn't pan out as i don't over indulge.

[Rockrose]

Again you mention exercise - I was so active up to the time I moved to London, and I represented my school and college at several sports, so again I put it down to addiction.

[naomi24]

ummmm, yes, people need educating but you can't educate people who don't want to be educated. There is a plethora of information freely available and often freely ignored.

[ummmm]

Naomi - you can be educated but still over eat.