Planet Rugby Forum

https://news.sky.com/story/i-dont-need- ... y-11523168

Today is your day for taking up a seat and a half on the bus, using the full width of the corridor and not giving a fudge about what other folk think.
Go on, treat yourselves to a second scone with your elevenses

#endweightstigma

FFS. Really. Its not healthy you fuks.

#endsmokingstigma

#endanorexiastigma

#end6amdrinkingstigma

#endmatingwithcatsstigma

A few weeks ago it was really really windy and I was up in the local shopping centre. One of those morbidly obese fatties (the 150kg+ types) was walking by the entrance. A strong gust of wind blew and managed to blow her over.

Funniest thing was that she was stuck and couldn't get up She was like an overly-inflated turtle stuck lying on its back flailing wildly to stand up.

Leinsterman wrote:A few weeks ago it was really really windy and I was up in the local shopping centre. One of those morbidly obese fatties (the 150kg+ types) was walking by the entrance. A strong gust of wind blew and managed to blow her over.

Funniest thing was that she was stuck and couldn't get up She was like an overly-inflated turtle stuck lying on its back flailing wildly to stand up.

Jesus what manner of cyclonic gust is needed to upend a whalepig behemoth? Was she a tall fattie?

World Obesity Day

danny_fitz wrote:

World Obesity Day

Putting the WOB in Wobble?

#Propsarepeopletoo

Glad to see the aim of spreading awareness and understanding has been achieved in this thread

A few years ago I was in hospital and there was a head doctor dude trying to explain to a patient who was in for something routine, (who had one of those special over size beds and a hoist over them) that on that particular day they were short staffed and it was too dangerous for the male nurse to deal with them alone, so they couldn't do it till the morning after, and asking if they could stay the night.

Biggest person I have ever seen in real life

The wife was sitting there moaning.

Odd thing to watch.

Walk it off fatties.

What about all those poor people that are large boned?

Thank you! Just had a plate of biscuits to celebrate!

Scrummie wrote:So we can’t promote size 0 models as they’re not acceptable role models but size 20 and above’s grand.

We can’t advertise smoking as it’s the leading cause of cancer but we can sympathise and promote obesity which is the second leading cause of cancer.

Someone somewhere needs to get a grip.

I don't think the aim of this day is to 'promote' obesity.

Smoking is an interesting example as smokers are more-or-less stigmatised which, although it's not something I'm particularly keen on, is arguably a big factor in the number of smokers falling (although there are other factors, eg vaping, smokers dying and the lack of tobacco advertising). So I guess you could argue that stigmatising the obese could have the same effect.

It's fairly clear though that the obese are stigmatised, despite the very odd example of tokenism in 'promoting' size 20 models or whatever. I've always argued that this stigmatisation doesn't seem to be reducing the rate of obesity, so I would question what it achieves.

It seems clear to me that there are certain parallels between smoking and over-eating/under-exercising/being obese. I'm not claiming they're completely analogous, but at a basic level, both are self-evidently bad for health, attractiveness and popularity, yet people still do them. That suggests to me that we are talking about an addictive disorder of some kind.

To raise the example of another addictive disorder that has been discussed at length on this bored, we stigmatise problem drinkers/alcoholics to a certain extent, for quite natural and obvious reasons. But once they have accepted they have a problem, generally they will meet with sympathy and support. Either way, there is widespread recognition of addiction and a need for therapy and support to overcome the addiction. And yet alcoholics (arguably) wreak far greater pain and suffering with their habits than the obese do, for all we may find the latter objectionable.

I'm not really intending to support or argue with anything with this, but reading these threads I always feel that there is a willful refusal to acknowledge any potential complexity or question the reasons why people become obese, what we can do to help them, and what society can do to bring the obesity rate down. The stigmatisation is already there and in my view, it ain't working.

Womack wrote:

Scrummie wrote:So we can’t promote size 0 models as they’re not acceptable role models but size 20 and above’s grand.

We can’t advertise smoking as it’s the leading cause of cancer but we can sympathise and promote obesity which is the second leading cause of cancer.

Someone somewhere needs to get a grip.

I don't think the aim of this day is to 'promote' obesity.

Smoking is an interesting example as smokers are more-or-less stigmatised which, although it's not something I'm particularly keen on, is arguably a big factor in the number of smokers falling (although there are other factors, eg vaping, smokers dying and the lack of tobacco advertising). So I guess you could argue that stigmatising the obese could have the same effect.

It's fairly clear though that the obese are stigmatised, despite the very odd example of tokenism in 'promoting' size 20 models or whatever. I've always argued that this stigmatisation doesn't seem to be reducing the rate of obesity, so I would question what it achieves.

It seems clear to me that there are certain parallels between smoking and over-eating/under-exercising/being obese. I'm not claiming they're completely analogous, but at a basic level, both are self-evidently bad for health, attractiveness and popularity, yet people still do them. That suggests to me that we are talking about an addictive disorder of some kind.

To raise the example of another addictive disorder that has been discussed at length on this bored, we stigmatise problem drinkers/alcoholics to a certain extent, for quite natural and obvious reasons. But once they have accepted they have a problem, generally they will meet with sympathy and support. Either way, there is widespread recognition of addiction and a need for therapy and support to overcome the addiction. And yet alcoholics (arguably) wreak far greater pain and suffering with their habits than the obese do, for all we may find the latter objectionable.

I'm not really intending to support or argue with anything with this, but reading these threads I always feel that there is a willful refusal to acknowledge any potential complexity or question the reasons why people become obese, what we can do to help them, and what society can do to bring the obesity rate down. The stigmatisation is already there and in my view, it ain't working.

As the most stigmatised person on this bored as a result of all the nasty pie jokes, I have to say I agree. I think. I didn't read all of it as the oven just pinged. Dinner time. Guess what is being served?

Womack wrote:

Scrummie wrote:So we can’t promote size 0 models as they’re not acceptable role models but size 20 and above’s grand.

We can’t advertise smoking as it’s the leading cause of cancer but we can sympathise and promote obesity which is the second leading cause of cancer.

Someone somewhere needs to get a grip.

I don't think the aim of this day is to 'promote' obesity.

Smoking is an interesting example as smokers are more-or-less stigmatised which, although it's not something I'm particularly keen on, is arguably a big factor in the number of smokers falling (although there are other factors, eg vaping, smokers dying and the lack of tobacco advertising). So I guess you could argue that stigmatising the obese could have the same effect.

It's fairly clear though that the obese are stigmatised, despite the very odd example of tokenism in 'promoting' size 20 models or whatever. I've always argued that this stigmatisation doesn't seem to be reducing the rate of obesity, so I would question what it achieves.

It seems clear to me that there are certain parallels between smoking and over-eating/under-exercising/being obese. I'm not claiming they're completely analogous, but at a basic level, both are self-evidently bad for health, attractiveness and popularity, yet people still do them. That suggests to me that we are talking about an addictive disorder of some kind.

To raise the example of another addictive disorder that has been discussed at length on this bored, we stigmatise problem drinkers/alcoholics to a certain extent, for quite natural and obvious reasons. But once they have accepted they have a problem, generally they will meet with sympathy and support. Either way, there is widespread recognition of addiction and a need for therapy and support to overcome the addiction. And yet alcoholics (arguably) wreak far greater pain and suffering with their habits than the obese do, for all we may find the latter objectionable.

I'm not really intending to support or argue with anything with this, but reading these threads I always feel that there is a willful refusal to acknowledge any potential complexity or question the reasons why people become obese, what we can do to help them, and what society can do to bring the obesity rate down. The stigmatisation is already there and in my view, it ain't working.

I think describing excessive weight gain as an 'addictive disorder' is incredibly infantilising and shifts blame away from individuals.

For the vast majority of overweight people their predicament is a choice, a choice to drink too much beer/wine, a choice to eat too much processed high calorie low nutritional value food, a choice to do minimal physical activity.

64% of adults in the UK are classed as being overweight, or put another way that’s 29,508,608 people. For a minority of unlucky sods they have conditions, physical or psychological that make weight control exceptionally difficult, what excuse does everyone else have and why should the NHS pick up the tab for those piss poor choices.

danny_fitz wrote:

Womack wrote:

Scrummie wrote:So we can’t promote size 0 models as they’re not acceptable role models but size 20 and above’s grand.

We can’t advertise smoking as it’s the leading cause of cancer but we can sympathise and promote obesity which is the second leading cause of cancer.

Someone somewhere needs to get a grip.

I don't think the aim of this day is to 'promote' obesity.

Smoking is an interesting example as smokers are more-or-less stigmatised which, although it's not something I'm particularly keen on, is arguably a big factor in the number of smokers falling (although there are other factors, eg vaping, smokers dying and the lack of tobacco advertising). So I guess you could argue that stigmatising the obese could have the same effect.

It's fairly clear though that the obese are stigmatised, despite the very odd example of tokenism in 'promoting' size 20 models or whatever. I've always argued that this stigmatisation doesn't seem to be reducing the rate of obesity, so I would question what it achieves.

It seems clear to me that there are certain parallels between smoking and over-eating/under-exercising/being obese. I'm not claiming they're completely analogous, but at a basic level, both are self-evidently bad for health, attractiveness and popularity, yet people still do them. That suggests to me that we are talking about an addictive disorder of some kind.

To raise the example of another addictive disorder that has been discussed at length on this bored, we stigmatise problem drinkers/alcoholics to a certain extent, for quite natural and obvious reasons. But once they have accepted they have a problem, generally they will meet with sympathy and support. Either way, there is widespread recognition of addiction and a need for therapy and support to overcome the addiction. And yet alcoholics (arguably) wreak far greater pain and suffering with their habits than the obese do, for all we may find the latter objectionable.

I'm not really intending to support or argue with anything with this, but reading these threads I always feel that there is a willful refusal to acknowledge any potential complexity or question the reasons why people become obese, what we can do to help them, and what society can do to bring the obesity rate down. The stigmatisation is already there and in my view, it ain't working.

I think describing excessive weight gain as an 'addictive disorder' is incredibly infantilising and shifts blame away from individuals.

For the vast majority of overweight people their predicament is a choice, a choice to drink too much beer/wine, a choice to eat too much processed high calorie low nutritional value food, a choice to do minimal physical activity.

64% of adults in the UK are classed as being overweight, or put another way that’s 29,508,608 people. For a minority of unlucky sods they have conditions, physical or psychological that make weight control exceptionally difficult, what excuse does everyone else have and why should the NHS pick up the tab for those piss poor choices.

Danny, I see and to a certain extent agree with your point
However, where doesthe line get drawn by the nhs to refuse treatment. A rugby injury is self inflicted. You chose to get in the car/bike, leave the house, clean out your guttering etc

And womack, didn't realise you were stigmatising me last week

"On another occasion, I was asked by HR if I would agree to have a clause put in my contract to say that if I had sickness that was directly related to my weight my employer would not necessarily pay me sick leave... that was shocking... shocking."

Why is that shocking? Is they supposed to pretend you're not fat? Is they supposed to pretend it's healthy? Would you rather they just didn't hire you because your weight is too much of a liability?

What it was alcoholism or smoking or something else? Would it be shocking then?

Mog The Almighty wrote:

"On another occasion, I was asked by HR if I would agree to have a clause put in my contract to say that if I had sickness that was directly related to my weight my employer would not necessarily pay me sick leave... that was shocking... shocking."

Why is that shocking? Is they supposed to pretend you're not fat? Is they supposed to pretend it's healthy? Would you rather they just didn't hire you because your weight is too much of a liability?

What it was alcoholism or smoking or something else? Would it be shocking then?

Yes it shocking, as a rugby board would people here who play be happy to sign a waiver that said if you get injured playing we wont pay you sick leave as after all its clearly a lifestyle choice

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

5'7", 67kg, 30" waist.

Do I get to call the obese selfish, lazy pigs now?

P.S. shouldn't it be world anti-obesity day???

Witchfinder General wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

"On another occasion, I was asked by HR if I would agree to have a clause put in my contract to say that if I had sickness that was directly related to my weight my employer would not necessarily pay me sick leave... that was shocking... shocking."

Why is that shocking? Is they supposed to pretend you're not fat? Is they supposed to pretend it's healthy? Would you rather they just didn't hire you because your weight is too much of a liability?

What it was alcoholism or smoking or something else? Would it be shocking then?

Yes it shocking, as a rugby board would people here who play be happy to sign a waiver that said if you get injured playing we wont pay you sick leave as after all its clearly a lifestyle choice

There's a difference between lifestyle choices that, in the round, are beneficial for your health and wellbeing and ones that just aren't, though. There are all sorts of subsidiary benefits from sport/exercise like the camaraderie of a team, sense of purpose etc.

sockwithaticket wrote:

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

5'7", 67kg, 30" waist.

Do I get to call the obese selfish, lazy pigs now?

5'5", 82kg, 30-32" waist depending on make

I'm an unusual shape

Witchfinder General wrote:

Mog The Almighty wrote:

"On another occasion, I was asked by HR if I would agree to have a clause put in my contract to say that if I had sickness that was directly related to my weight my employer would not necessarily pay me sick leave... that was shocking... shocking."

Why is that shocking? Is they supposed to pretend you're not fat? Is they supposed to pretend it's healthy? Would you rather they just didn't hire you because your weight is too much of a liability?

What it was alcoholism or smoking or something else? Would it be shocking then?

Yes it shocking, as a rugby board would people here who play be happy to sign a waiver that said if you get injured playing we wont pay you sick leave as after all its clearly a lifestyle choice

Rugby doesn't make you sick.

Getting injured playing sport is a different thing. On average, a sports person is probably less of a sickness liability than an unhealthy person, even with injuries factored in.

happyhooker wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

5'7", 67kg, 30" waist.

Do I get to call the obese selfish, lazy pigs now?

5'5", 82kg, 32" waist

I'm an unusual shape

182cm (annoyingly damn close to, but not quite 6'0 even), 93kg, 34" waist (that's my jeans-size anyway)

Looks like I'm the fattest so far. But I'm down from 104kg and 38" jeans this time last year.

Mog The Almighty wrote:

"On another occasion, I was asked by HR if I would agree to have a clause put in my contract to say that if I had sickness that was directly related to my weight my employer would not necessarily pay me sick leave... that was shocking... shocking."

Why is that shocking? Is they supposed to pretend you're not fat? Is they supposed to pretend it's healthy? Would you rather they just didn't hire you because your weight is too much of a liability?

What it was alcoholism or smoking or something else? Would it be shocking then?

What is sick pay? Haven't had that cover in fifteen years

174cm, 94kg (that may have changed), 36inch waist.

I'm the winning fatty so far I believe! I don't look my weight though, the health assistant (signing up for a new doctors surgery) guessed my weight at about 80kg. I'm going to blame my womanly hips and arse.

ukjim wrote:

sockwithaticket wrote:

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

5'7", 67kg, 30" waist.

Do I get to call the obese selfish, lazy pigs now?

ffs man stick to one measurement system.

also are you some sort of anorexic hobbit?

Pffft, idiosyncratic use of measurement systems is about as UK as queuing and roast dinners, a tradition I will proudly continue.

Slim, athletic gentleman of below average stature is my preferred nomenclature, but I suppose yours works too.

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

You cheeky scamp!

5' 11"

82kg

To address some of Womack's points. There is a line to tread between making sure we don't condone or make obesity (even overweight) acceptable - and there are insidious movements, typically fronted by she-whales, actively promoting this - but also not being cruel or abusive. If nothing else, that is unlikely to achieve the desired outcome of those targeted becoming healthier, slimming down and being less of a public health burden/risk.

danny_fitz is also right that a lot of hand-wringing surrounding the rates of overweight and obese people neglects their own agency and grossly overstates the proportions afflicted by difficult to compensate for genetic conditions or factors.

187cm 120kg 40" waist

Obvious fatty but working on getting in better shape.

Funnuly enough the only time I ever get stimatised is the rugby pitch when I get called a fat c**t by the opposition.

Scrummie wrote:So we can’t promote size 0 models as they’re not acceptable role models but size 20 and above’s grand.

We can’t advertise smoking as it’s the leading cause of cancer but we can sympathise and promote obesity which is the second leading cause of cancer.

Someone somewhere needs to get a grip.

Or perhaps lessen their grip on the bag of chips.

6'5", 81kg, 32" waist

Was up at 97kg at my heaviest a decade or so ago (none of it was muscle). Walked it all off in the end with a daily 6 mile round trip to work. Was up at 90kg a couple of years ago when I was messing around with some weight training, but that fell by the wayside when my son was born.

My mother and sister are obese, so it is in the family and am conscious I have to be pretty vigilant with it. In truth though I find it much easier to stay on top of my weight these days. My diet is much better than it was in my twenties, I drink far less and exercise more. I guess the motivation is definitely there to not die of anything purely because I didn't take basic care of myself physically.

5'10" 90kg 34inch waist

Down from 95kg a few months ago though I hit the gym for the first time in two months yesterday so that probably all muscle I've lost

Womack wrote:To raise the example of another addictive disorder that has been discussed at length on this bored, we stigmatise problem drinkers/alcoholics to a certain extent, for quite natural and obvious reasons. But once they have accepted they have a problem, generally they will meet with sympathy and support. Either way, there is widespread recognition of addiction and a need for therapy and support to overcome the addiction. And yet alcoholics (arguably) wreak far greater pain and suffering with their habits than the obese do, for all we may find the latter objectionable.

This is my issue with "fat acceptance". There's no recognising that there's a problem that needs to be solved. It's the opposite, where the obese people are sticking their heads in the sand and pretending that it's all OK.
I feel that if someone is obese but taking steps (see what I did there) to lose some weight, the same sympathy and support would generally be there.

184 cm, 82 kg.

Was about 93 kg at my heaviest a few years ago, but at similar strength levels and not as lean. Was about 86kg earlier this year but leaned up a fair bit.
I've actually decided to try and put on a few kgs again.

At last, a bragging competition I can win

If it was only "willpower" then it almost wouldn't exist as a problem. It's all more complex than that.

If we can't call it addiction when it's uncontrolled eating, despite their claims to the contrary, then why can we call uncontrolled gambling, drinking, opiate use addiction? Of course obesity is unhealthy, as is smoking, type 2 diabetes, and we still care for them, albeit muttering under our breaths about 'self inflicted'. After all, quadriplegics from rugby accidents and car crashes knew the risks when they engaged in the scrum, or turned on the ignition, but we don't laugh at them for being paralysed, saying 'serves them right'. Of course I'm making an unfair comparison, but the laudable compassion shown on the 'quitting the bottle' thread seems to be lacking on some posts here.

ukjim wrote:

danny_fitz wrote:

ukjim wrote:everyone on this thread post accurate height weight waist measurements please.

You cheeky scamp!

5' 11"

82kg

one missing there danny

Opps

32" waist