NBC: Fat-shaming may curb obesity, bioethicist says

[China]

Fat-shaming may curb obesity, bioethicist says

Unhappy with the slow pace of public health efforts to curb America’s stubborn obesity epidemic, a prominent bioethicist is proposing a new push for what he says is an “edgier strategy” to promote weight loss: ginning up social stigma.

Daniel Callahan, a senior research scholar and president emeritus of The Hastings Center, put out a new paper this week calling for a renewed emphasis on social pressure against heavy people -- what some may call fat-shaming -- including public posters that would pose questions like this:

“If you are overweight or obese, are you pleased with the way that you look?”


Obligatory image of fat person from behind (so as to protect their identity - don't want to fat-shame them, or do you?)

Callahan outlined a strategy that applauds efforts to boost education, promote public health awareness of obesity and curb marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

But, he added, those plans could do with a dose of shame if there’s any hope of repairing a nation where more than a third of adults and 17 percent of kids are obese.

“Safe and slow incrementalism that strives never to stigmatize obesity has not and cannot do the necessary work,” wrote Callahan in a Hastings Center Report from the nonprofit bioethics think tank.

Weight-acceptance advocates and doctors who treat obesity reacted swiftly to the plan proposed by Callahan, a trim 82-year-old.

“For him to argue that we need more stigma, I don’t know what world he’s living in,” said Deb Burgard, a California psychologist specializing in eating disorders and a member of the advisory board for the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance.

“He must not have any contact with actual free-range fat people,” she added.

Click on the link for the full article

[SkinsHokieFan]

Lets start poking fat people with a stick as they walk by


(I kid, I kid....sort of)

[#98QBKiller]

I've been doing this to fat people for years

[Hersh]

Aside from being a terrible idea that would probably increase the suicide rate in this country, would someone please tell me what is an "actual free-range fat person?"

[Tulane Skins Fan]

Aside from being a terrible idea that would probably increase the suicide rate in this country, would someone please tell me what is an "actual free-range fat person?"

Spoken like a true fatty.

[Hersh]

Spoken like a true fatty.

You think that by saying that, that makes me someone who's fat?

[Tulane Skins Fan]

You think that by saying that, that makes me someone who's fat?

Just a little joke... fatty.

[Hersh]

Just a little joke... fatty.

I'm sensitive about my weight, thank you. No, not really.

What I really dislike though is really skinny people that eat like crap and never put on weight. It's just not fair.

[Jumbo]

Just a little joke... fatty.

You sound fat. You're not fooling anyone.


(and stop breaking rule 11, TSF <above>, you can get a week off for that )

---------- Post added January-24th-2013 at 09:54 AM ----------

WTF is a BIOETHICIST?

~Bang

In this case, an idiot who will find his best audience on internet forums.

[Renegade7]

How about "mind your own damn business"? We could also ask food producers to stop making cheap, easily accessible food so terribly unhealthy for us as well. Does it really have to be damn near poison to taste good???

[Elessar78]

Aside from being a terrible idea that would probably increase the suicide rate in this country, ...?"

Isn't that just another way to reduce obesity?

[Corcaigh]

Isn't that just another way to reduce obesity?

Plus it saves on the horrendous end-of-life healthcare costs for society that we all have to bear.

It's practically a civic duty.

[Jumbo]

Plus it saves on the horrendous end-of-life healthcare costs for society that we all have to bear.

It's practically a civic duty.

I get mistaken for this caring and helpful guy because of much of the work I do in my profession, but I have suggested many times to various congressmen that we initiate a serious Mandatory Retroactive Abortion program that I would happily lead. I get a lot of interest but it always breaks down over who would qualify for services.

---------- Post added January-24th-2013 at 10:15 AM ----------

I started tracking what I eat with an app and I've altered my eating to a small degree. What it's really made me aware of is how much of what I eat and what foods sabotage an otherwise healthy diet. You can eat well for 99% of the day, but one treat blows it all up- by that I mean you're 500-1000 calories over your daily "budget".

My point is that helping people become more aware of how much they are consuming is a key. Pointing out fat-ness is hardly productive IMO. As the business adage states: you improve what you measure.

Tracking intake (and some apps are a great addition to the old-school methods) is a well-researched tool that has assisted a great many with significant weight loss and maintenance.

[Corcaigh]

I get mistaken for this caring and helpful guy because of much of the work I do in my profession, but I have suggested many times to various congressmen that we initiate a serious Mandatory Retroactive Abortion program that I would happily lead. I get a lot of interest but it always breaks down over who would qualify for services.

I strongly believe that surviving family members of long term smokers deserve a medal of honor commemorating the early demise of their loved one. With thanks from a grateful nation.

[Elessar78]

I get mistaken for this caring and helpful guy because of much of the work I do in my profession, but I have suggested many times to various congressmen that we initiate a serious Mandatory Retroactive Abortion program that I would happily lead. I get a lot of interest but it always breaks down over who would qualify for services..

Isn't it the mothers choice?