Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Not Fat.  Poofy.

Makes sense to me. 

GPs and other health professionals should tell people they are fat rather than obese, England’s public health minister says.

Anne Milton told the BBC the term fat was more likely to motivate them into losing weight.

She said it was important people should take “personal responsibility” for their lifestyles.

But health experts said the word could stigmatise those who are overweight.

Ms Milton, who stressed she was speaking in a personal capacity, said: “If I look in the mirror and think I am obese I think I am less worried [than] if I think I am fat.”

(6) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1706 hrs
Culture + Foreign Affairs

  1. I dont’ agree.  Obese sounds like a serious medical condition.  Fat sounds like a clothes size or something.

    Posted by scott on July 28, 2010 at 2238 hrs


  2. A rose by any other name is still a rose!
    If you’re fat you’re fat and that’s that!

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 29, 2010 at 0857 hrs


  3. Whether you’re fat or obese, say no to short pants.

    Posted by Jay4Liberty on July 29, 2010 at 0858 hrs


  4. Scott, I agree, but maybe it’s a difference in the culture between the UK and the US that makes people there think “fat” is more motivating.

    Maybe they need to start using “morbidly obese” instead.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 29, 2010 at 1027 hrs


  5. But these things aren’t interchangeable.  Obese and morbidly obese are actual medical terms that have precise definitions.

    Posted by scott on July 29, 2010 at 1029 hrs


  6. The curve in my lower spine is more pronounced than normal, this causes my pelvis to be more tilted than normal, and that causes my thigh muscles to be shorter than they should be. The shortening of my thigh muscles pulls my hip and knee joints out of alignment, causing pain in my hip and knee joints.

    Keratosis

    Posted by Liver Spots on August 26, 2010 at 0604 hrs


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