Obesity Discrimination

Apr 05, 2012

Being a bariatric program coordinator, one of my duties is to make sure that I am educating hospital staff as to the needs of the bariatric patient - both surgical patient and non-surgical patient.  A part of that training is bariatric sensitivity.  Unfortunately, we are all painfully aware of the sterotypical behavior and discrimination obese people sometimes experience.  Recently, there was a huge outcry after a doctor posted his "Fat Humor" in a national medical publication.

Yesterday it was brought to my attention that there is an ad being run by an airline suggesting that they will ensure that you can sit next to a thin person on their flights for a $10 fee.  The ad uses overweight people in order to sell their point - and the looks on the actors faces when confronted with sitting next to a heavier person is very telling.  Keep in mind, neither of the people they use as heavy would likely qualify for bariatric surgery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sIzngoAUoNM

I am disturbed by this and would love to see tons of people contact them and have this ad pulled due to its lack of sensitivity.  Thoughts?

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