ObesityHelp

"Fat" being just a word is an interesting topic.  For me, when I was heavier, it would hurt if someone called me that.  Of course, it was riddled with judgement and hate too, but when you hear it in that way, it's hard to shake the feelings that come with it.

When my neice was a small child, she stopped me suddenly in the hall and said, "Auntie, you're fat."  I wasn't upset with her, because I knew she was just stating the obvious thing that she saw.  What bothered me more was that she had already learned there was a negative connotation with the word...and worse, most likely from my sister.  I took that moment to calmly explain to her that people come in all shapes and sizes and that everyone is beautiful in their own way.

What's interesting is that I was reading this, I realized that the word fat doesn't hurt as much now, and I often use it as a descriptive term myself when talking about things from "when I was fat."  Now that I'm not, the word doesn't hurt when I use it (or someone else does) to describe the old me.  BUT, I'm still extremely sensitive when I hear it as a descriptor for people who are currently overweight.  It's an immediate, very defensive reaction that I have.

Thank you for putting into words what I couldnt! Thats exactly how I feel - the word fat has always been used to hurt me.  But you know what I have discovered?  We, as a society tend to do this - I will be the first to call my sister a b*tch - but you let somebody else call her one and those are fighting words!!!!  As women - if a man blames us being b*tchy on PMS - we get pissed off!  Its acceptable for us to say the words fat around other overweight people if we are overweight.  Only when it comes from a thinner person its offensive.   Its not considered an offensive remark when another southerner refers to me as a redneck but when people make comments about rednecks I get offended! I think we all need to learn to be more accepting of each other and think before we speak.  

Wow,

That was so insensitve of that Doctor and highly prejudicial.

On a Totally separate note: No wonder you look like a celebrity, You ARE ONE!  Sweeeeet!

I never understand people who look down on WLS like it's "cheating." I can't believe how many times I've been told well you "cheated." Really? Who did I cheat? Death is the only thing I can think of. I also love people who tell me my (neice, daughter, boss, etc.) lost weight but they did it "on their own." I always say, come back in a year and let me know how their maintenance is going.

I don't have a problem with the word "fat" if I'm using it to describe myself. I'd be real careful about using it to describe other people -- "large" is a safer word for me. (Being Fatty Patti was a real hoot when I was 10. )

Being asian and overweight has to be a total nightmare. I'm married to a Japanese-American. My inlaws were more horrified about my weight (250ish) when I met them than me being caucasian.

They don't quite understand the surgery I had -- I think they think I had a ginormous liposuction procedure. I hope when they see me again, they'll be a little more supportive. (They live in Japan now.)

My hapa daughter has the Japanese body type. Her pediatrician said Japanese women have the smallest bodies on the planet. For a long time, daughter was in the 35th percentile for weight and 105th percentile for height (Thank God/Buddha/Flying Spaghetti Monster she didn't get my fat genes!) I still haven't been able to get a growth chart for Japanese babies.

When I visited Japan I only saw one overweight asian person -- and my  husband thinks she was Phillipino.

Interesting post, thanks!