I just thought I would share some of the information that I’ve come to learn as truth over the past year…most of which actually conflicts with popular media, but DOESN’T conflict with the studies that the media uses to “support” their obesity scare claims. I am already one to distrust media, but after learning the truth about this issue I cannot keep quiet anymore. Maybe nobody is reading this and it goes out in to the big open void…but maybe someone will read this and it will change their life. You don’t have to live in constant distrust of your body, and you CAN be happy and healthy NOW.

Unfortunately I don’t have all of the sources for each point (I’m organized, but, seriously, not THAT organized, I write recreationally on a blog — I don’t write reference and research material for a living), but I will include a brief references section at the bottom of this post where you can find more information if you are so inclined. In fact, if anything on here proves to be interesting, I wholeheartedly recommend that you check out everything I list at the end of this post.

20 Truths about Fat People

1. Studies show Overweight and Obese people on the BMI scale are healthier, live longer with or without a disease, and recover from illness better.
2. Studies show that Underweight individuals on the BMI scale have more health problems and don’t live as long as Obese individuals. Not to say that being underweight is morally wrong or should be shamed in any way whatsoever, it just goes to show how the “obesity epidemic” is flat out of steam.
3. In otherwords, the BMI scale is pretty much bunk, and not a worthwhile indicator of an individuals health, fat or thin.
4. There is no evidence to suggest that Obesity is life-threatening… in fact, we all have a 100% guaranteed mortality rate, fat or thin.
5. There is no data to suggest that fat causes type 2 diabetes, as much as there is evidence to suggest that type 2 diabetes causes weight gain. However, connection is not causation and there are a host of other factors at play… especially considering that thin people can also have type 2 diabetes.
6. The more a person diets, the higher their weight climbs…and we all have known for years that yo-yo dieting is hazardous to your health. Interestingly enough, many weight loss programs out now warn people about losing weight too quickly, and the dangers of quick weight loss are usually short-term and decrease your muscle mass instead of decreasing fat, which ultimately leads you to gain MORE weight, because muscle burns more calories than fat does.
7. Fat people can eat the same foods as a thin person, and still gain weight.
8. Thin people can eat “worse” foods than fat people, and not gain weight, while fat people can eat foods generally ascribed to as “nutritious” and either maintain or gain weight.
9. If you think that fat people are fat for the sole reason of eating too much food, and can easily reverse their weight by eating less and exercising more, then you might be surprised to learn there are no studies that support that belief, it is a myth. There are many factors at play ranging from genetics, to past dieting experiences, and of course, the entire state of food in this country. Case in point: processed foods may be part to blame for the excess weight in this country… yes, some people may eat this food frequently and still be “normal weight” — but fat people may be genetically disposed to hold on to this food in fat.
10. History shows that fatter people have faired better in survival than thin.
11. Despite the increase in obesity (which, by the way, has leveled off since 1999-2003 in women, men and children), there has been an increase in longevity, a decrease in heart disease and other diseases. Many of the life threatening diseases are happening much later in life, and in general America is much healthier than in the past despite all of the alarmist media proclamations and fear-mongering.
12. Studies show that overweight and obese senior citizens live longer than thin ones.
13. Gastric by-pass does not increase one’s lifespan. A frighteningly large portion of people who have weight loss surgery die within 5 years. There are also many ugly risks that many doctors gloss over. Most patients admit that the surgery has not increased the quality of their life, and have many health problems just due to the surgery. Personally, the only instances in where this surgery seems valid are in high risk situations where people cannot literately function due to their weight, i.e. a 600lb man who is confined to a bed, and is looking at dying in 6-9 months without any action. Weight loss surgery surely is a last resort in that situation. But for a teenager that is 60lbs “overweight” … a gross exaggeration, a perversion…I would never allow my son or daughter to go through that.
14. Weight loss in and of itself has not been proven to provide any lasting value to those suffering from hypertension, type 2 diabetes or other diseases, whereas a change toward a more healthful diet and moderate exercise (without intention to lose weight) has shown to be the actual solution, regardless to the amount of weight lost and maintained.
15. Many “health problems” patients have are due to the fact that doctors have prejudice against fat patients and don’t know how to treat them: they use the wrong blood pressure cuff, they don’t prescribe the right dosage needed, and in general act like fat patients are a burden. They also tend to blame everything on weight without checking things they might normally check on a thin person experiencing the same symptoms. Because of this, many things go undiagnosed creating more problems for fat people. Because of our culture, many fat people do not know how to advocate for themselves, and just plain avoid medical care even when it’s desperately needed.
16. Fat people are not a drain on society because they require more healthcare costs. Fat people are actually, in general, healthier than regular or underweight people. Shocking, I know. That’s not to say underweight or normal people are NOT healthy … many are. But thin people can also suffer from “expensive” diseases and cancer, so it’s hardly just the fat people.
17. Many fat people are discriminated against when interviewing for a job, at school, work, and any social situation. Even well meaning family members and friends can say hurtful things and discriminate against fat people without realizing it. Many fat people find it hard to get ahead, be taken seriously, or speak up to defend themselves and other fat people.
18. Fat people are often viewed as less attractive by mainstream media. Teenagers are self-conscious as it is, let alone telling them they are too fat and won’t be able to attract a member of the opposite sex, even though many people can and will be attracted to fat people. Sometimes, in certain environments, even if someone is attracted to a fat person they will not pursue them in fear of being teased or made fun of by their peers. Yes, some people will inevitably be attracted to thin people, there’s nothing wrong with that at all…but since such a large population of the world is fat, it’s unrealistic to assume that nobody finds fat people attractive, or even that fat people are sexual.
19. Fat people can and do have perfectly normal pregnancies and babies. Complications are sometimes invented unwittingly by doctors who are discriminating against their fat patients. True complications that happen for fat people are also happening to thin people, and the numbers are near identical, with fat people only having SLIGHTLY higher risk. That risk difference is significantly decreased in individuals who support a healthy, balanced diet and moderate exercise (fat or thin).
20. EVERYONE, fat or thin, can benefit from a healthy, balanced diet and moderate exercise, regardless to weight change or maintenance.

The end result: There is no morality on food, i.e. eating food does not make you bad, good, righteous or unrighteous. Any food can be part if a balanced, healthy diet that NOURISHES your body. Everyone can benefit from moderate activity and exercise. Being fat does not mean you are lazy, or impose any kind of moral hazard on the fat person or those around them. Being fat, does not mean unhealthy, and that assumption is incorrect and unethical.

References

If you read the following in earnst, you will learn what I wrote above and more. Pinky promise.

• Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight (Book)
• Big Big Love, Revised: A Sex and Relationships Guide for People of Size (and Those Who Love Them) (Book)
• Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman (Book)
• Plus Size Pregnancy (Website)
• Well-Rounded Mama (Blog)
• The Fat Nutritionist (Blog)