Are we too polite in our terms for being overweight?

[R1Geezer]

Do you agree with the minister?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10789553
Now as someone who can put on half a stone smelling a bacon sandwich, I'm not suggesting we got out and verbally abuse fat people but I do think that we are too twee and nice with our terminology and I think the blunt term "fat" may well motivate.

[AB Editor]

So not from the Greek for "I wash myself with a rag on a stick" then?

[Ankou]

some of them fatties have to don't they, on account of not being able to reach parts not seen since 1983 ?

not talking from personal experience nor nuffink, just .. er speculating.

[rov1200]

Fat children at school are called Fatso which sticks in their mind to later in life. To insult them as an adult would give them psychological hangups.

[Ankou]

rov, when i was at school the black kids also got called names. at least the fatties can do something about themselves to stop people being offensive to them about being fat. black people needed a change in social culture.

[mosesg]

How about just using the term overweight, or come up with a better medical tem after all we don't call anorexics skinny. Fat people get a lot of abuse but anorexics get sympathy, but they choose to be skinny but is classed as a psychological illness, so why can't being overwieght be a psychological illness.

[Ankou]

because anorexia is a mental condition, whereas obesity is more often lifestyle choices/reactionary.

[AB Editor]

I don't think anyone is talking about those with psychological illnesses - I think we accept they just need treatment.

We're talking about a kebab on the way home (dinner number 2 with half your daily calorie count in it) or the odd gorging on half-frozen cheesecake after a bad day at work.

Spare Ed

[Ankou]

jeeps ed, i've just had 12 mars bars and you have to go and make me hungry again.

[murraymints]

my dad says he is underheight not overweight !

[eyethenkyew]

What chance is there of plain speaking when the public health minister in the report is herself paranoid about being referred to as "fat", but less so if called "obese"?

No wonder the wishy washy hand wringing mob rules in our country. So there's nowt wrong with being like the back end of a bus, even if it threatens your health, just don't either admit it or let anyone tell it to your face in clear, unambiguous language.

Wallow in ignorance and self denial instead. Just so long as your feelings aren't hurt. So remember that when you're having your next heart attack.

[woofgang]

oh so now we can go around judging people can we spare ed?...I refer you to my post earlier...can we now say junkie, lush, irresponsible idiot, pox ridden, mindless contributor to the global population explosion, feckless reproducer?

or shall we just judge the fat people?

[sandyRoe]

'Stout' has a nice old fashioned ring to it.

[joko]

but woofgang, those words are slang insults...so of course they should not be used

fat is just a word...it is how you choose to take it if said to you that is the issue...the word itself holds no insult, and infact is probably a more correct term that any of the others as fat is just the name of the substance fat is made from...

flowering your words changes nothing.

[Goodsoulette]

Fat instead of obese, surely fat is a softer gentler term. I think a few more gastric bands etc on the nhs would be cheaper in the long run.

I think telling everyone they are fat just because they are, when they already know exactly what they look like is only going to get them eating a bit more.

I've had weight problems my whole life, but no one has ever mentioned it to my face.

[woofgang]

joko the tenor of the article is that saying "Obese" is too kind to fat people and being harsher with them might be more motivating....what i am suggesting is that if it works for fat people then lets use the same strategy on other groups of the population.

[joko]

yes but the word fat is not an insult or slang...the ones you listed were...so its not really the same

[woofgang]

no but the intention is

[starone]

I'm an f a t t y, I'm an f a t t y, I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm an f a t t y. And what's more, I don't really care very much, only inasmuch as it is not healthy. I did my BMI and it is 29 which means I am overweight. When I sit on the side of the bed after my shower, looking in the mirror I remind myself of those fat buddhas, which sends me into hysterical laughing. After this posting I shall start my next diet. I don't know how long I shall last because I like food.

[ttfn]

Star - you have made me smile, thank you :o)

[mike11111]

'Stout' has a nice old fashioned ring to it.
Is that what caught your eye, Ena?