I really appreciate these intelligent postings – so far people are really on their A-thinking game today. I agree with Fatima – I think people from other countries wonder what is Americans’ problem? As some have stated it really is a multitude of factors. The stress, sitting at your desk has really been shown to increase your size hence you need to move but if you do then you’re a social butterfly (yes I have been told this!), etc. I am considered obese also but if I am out “sick” then I really stayed at home to catch that early morning gym class I’ve been wanting to and spend the rest of the day running errands and catching up on Judge Judy. My cholesterol is the same if not better than my more “fit” siblings, thank God. I believe some people literally eat themselves to death but pinpointing a group and making them all out to be the company “deadweights” and drains on resources will lead to a very slippery slope. What if your employer finds out your a swinger or a “dancer” (i.e. naked dance floor technician)? Are those people going to be charged more for their risky behavior? No – because those things can easily stay hidden and being “fat” is obvious. There are skinny people with cholesterol levels over 200 – 300 and they too would be “high-risk”. Are they going to be targets too?
People can make fun of overweight / obese people but everyone has skeletons medical or otherwise that some people would consider risky so don’t think you too can come under the miscroscope of your employer. If there is anyway they can weed out certain people then obesity is just one thing they can do.
Anyway there was one morning show where this syndicated talk show host offered almost $20K to his body guard to lose almost 100 pounds and he reached the goal.
Excellent comments, all of you. Thoughtful and well said.
Blondie has a good poing about thin people who are sickly. How much do they cost employers? Or has anyone ever bothered to check?
I think obesity is singled out because we can see it, it’s obvious… therefore easy. If someone is a smoker, drug addict, or heavy drinker, those things are easier to conceal.
As far as employers seeking “treatments” for their obese employees, hold your horses. There have been studies on how some diets and types of dieting are actually quite hard on one’s health. To change one’s weight is to change one’s lifestyle completely.
I’m definitely in the “more to love” category and having grown up in the Kate Moss era, I was bombarded with messages from the media and society about how I was supposed to hate myself for being bigger than average. My response was to crash diet, take pills, starve, compuslively exercise for weeks then crash from being malnourished. Think that did much for my health?
Enough with the madness! I don’t have to hate myself or the way I look. I’ve grown to love the fact that I have a Rubenesque shape.
These days, I eat smart and take it easy on the refined carbs, sugar, and saturated fats. I walk a couple miles a night 3 to 4 nights a week. I get good sleep, I don’t smoke, I drink a lot of water and y’know what? I’m still big. But I feel super. I rarely miss work and I visit my doctor maybe 2 or 3 times in a year.
Tell me how I’m costing my employer so bloody much money… Yet, just because someone can LOOK at me and see I’m big, I’m going to get lumped into the “unhealthy” category? Not fair. Not by any means, especially when there’s a size 6 next to me who smokes like a steam engine and calls in sick every other week.
Dear employer, mind your own business. If you think health care costs too much, don’t look at me. I didn’t set the price…
An earlier post mentioned this as a perfect opportunity for people to take responsibility for themselves, and I think we’ve seen that. KLS says she’s moving more, eating right, larger than society says is normal, but is healthy. There was another poster that noted they gained weight because they eat from the vending machine. Sounds like we know where our issues are.
And the issue really is – who is costing more? It’s the people who call in sick and the people who constantly go to the doctor. While obesity, like smoking and drinking, can be a predicator of future health problems employers do need to look at who is actually costing them money and deal with that. If employers hold employees to their attendance and productivity policies they won’t have to worry if they’re a 30″ waist or a 40″ waist.
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I really appreciate these intelligent postings – so far people are really on their A-thinking game today. I agree with Fatima – I think people from other countries wonder what is Americans’ problem? As some have stated it really is a multitude of factors. The stress, sitting at your desk has really been shown to increase your size hence you need to move but if you do then you’re a social butterfly (yes I have been told this!), etc. I am considered obese also but if I am out “sick” then I really stayed at home to catch that early morning gym class I’ve been wanting to and spend the rest of the day running errands and catching up on Judge Judy. My cholesterol is the same if not better than my more “fit” siblings, thank God. I believe some people literally eat themselves to death but pinpointing a group and making them all out to be the company “deadweights” and drains on resources will lead to a very slippery slope. What if your employer finds out your a swinger or a “dancer” (i.e. naked dance floor technician)? Are those people going to be charged more for their risky behavior? No – because those things can easily stay hidden and being “fat” is obvious. There are skinny people with cholesterol levels over 200 – 300 and they too would be “high-risk”. Are they going to be targets too?
People can make fun of overweight / obese people but everyone has skeletons medical or otherwise that some people would consider risky so don’t think you too can come under the miscroscope of your employer. If there is anyway they can weed out certain people then obesity is just one thing they can do.
Anyway there was one morning show where this syndicated talk show host offered almost $20K to his body guard to lose almost 100 pounds and he reached the goal.
Now that’s what I call incentive!
Excellent comments, all of you. Thoughtful and well said.
Blondie has a good poing about thin people who are sickly. How much do they cost employers? Or has anyone ever bothered to check?
I think obesity is singled out because we can see it, it’s obvious… therefore easy. If someone is a smoker, drug addict, or heavy drinker, those things are easier to conceal.
As far as employers seeking “treatments” for their obese employees, hold your horses. There have been studies on how some diets and types of dieting are actually quite hard on one’s health. To change one’s weight is to change one’s lifestyle completely.
I’m definitely in the “more to love” category and having grown up in the Kate Moss era, I was bombarded with messages from the media and society about how I was supposed to hate myself for being bigger than average. My response was to crash diet, take pills, starve, compuslively exercise for weeks then crash from being malnourished. Think that did much for my health?
Enough with the madness! I don’t have to hate myself or the way I look. I’ve grown to love the fact that I have a Rubenesque shape.
These days, I eat smart and take it easy on the refined carbs, sugar, and saturated fats. I walk a couple miles a night 3 to 4 nights a week. I get good sleep, I don’t smoke, I drink a lot of water and y’know what? I’m still big. But I feel super. I rarely miss work and I visit my doctor maybe 2 or 3 times in a year.
Tell me how I’m costing my employer so bloody much money… Yet, just because someone can LOOK at me and see I’m big, I’m going to get lumped into the “unhealthy” category? Not fair. Not by any means, especially when there’s a size 6 next to me who smokes like a steam engine and calls in sick every other week.
Dear employer, mind your own business. If you think health care costs too much, don’t look at me. I didn’t set the price…
If you make exercise a priority in your life, good things will happen. Stop blaming others.
Joey and Frankie,
Are you two brothers? You sound like it. Twin idiots.
If you cant fit in your cubical your to fat!
Slim Shady,
Do us all a favor and use correct English and spellcheck. It really works! Try it.
Looks like we have triplets!
Slim; you need to gain some brain cells. Nice grammar.
An earlier post mentioned this as a perfect opportunity for people to take responsibility for themselves, and I think we’ve seen that. KLS says she’s moving more, eating right, larger than society says is normal, but is healthy. There was another poster that noted they gained weight because they eat from the vending machine. Sounds like we know where our issues are.
And the issue really is – who is costing more? It’s the people who call in sick and the people who constantly go to the doctor. While obesity, like smoking and drinking, can be a predicator of future health problems employers do need to look at who is actually costing them money and deal with that. If employers hold employees to their attendance and productivity policies they won’t have to worry if they’re a 30″ waist or a 40″ waist.
AT least slim is not FAT!!!