With Michelle Obama becoming the latest concern troll to jump on the “all fat kids will die soon” bandwagon, it seems in the last several years, we have seen an increase in people, who to my knowledge have not truly studied physiology and anatomy, become overnight experts on the lifestyles and eating habits of fat people. Here are a few of the most well-known obesity epidemic town criers:
-MeMe Roth, alleged nutrition counselor who goes into hysterics anytime she sees a person over a size 10 eat a hamburger or ice cream cone.
-Jamie Oliver, British chef who suddenly made it his life’s mission to slim down every fat person on Earth. Was publicly reduced to tears when he attempted to go into “America’s fattest city,” Huntington, West Virginia, and was bluntly told to stop being obsessed with the citizens’ BMI’s.
-Jared the Subway Guy, who ate nothing but Subway, lost a bunch of weight, decided to tackle the childhood obesity epipanic but eventually began to regain the weight he dropped.
-Kimberley Locke, American Idol contestant turned fat counselor.
-The entire British government, specifically Tam Fry, who apparently feels taking away children from their parents, enforcing WLS on anyone who has visual body fat and poking into the doctor’s files of UK citizens will help slim their nation down.
Gillian McKeith (what is it with these crazy Brits?) the MeMe Roth from across the pond, who parlayed her sketchy nutrition education into a hit show, “You Are What You Eat,” doling out insane diet advice to those seeking weight loss help.
-Random trolls on any Internet comment site.
So, why does it seem that everyone wants to advise shame fatties into not being big? Well, here’s a few theories:
1. Constantly saying fat is unhealthy, gross and dirty gets you brownie points from society. Witness the number of people who go out of their way to fight with FA bloggers and introduce fat hate on sites that have nothing to do with fat or weight loss. When you don’t support what’s apparently bad, you are one of society’s “good little angels” with high morals. If you support a fat person’s right to live their life while fat and not dieting, you’re an outcast.
2. They’re accused of actually liking fat people. You know what’s bad? Worshipping Charles Manson. Donating to the KKK. Beating up animals. Believing that fat people are people too is not bad, and it’s okay to be friends with or even date or marry one of us. You’re not promoting obesity if you want to be near us or think we should be able to wear stylish clothes.
3. Hating on fat people gets you $$$. Look at the money spent on and being awarded to various groups who choose to research and/or develop ideas and programs on how to end obesity. The war on fat people is a pardon the pun, a huge cash cow. While firehouses are closing and social programs are being cut to help the poor and mentally disabled, it seems there’s plenty of money to ridicule us into dieting and hating ourselves for the rest of our lives. And more money is thrown your way if target fat kids.
To sum it all up, fat gets you noticed. You could be the world’s biggest idiot and nobody would want to hear what you’re saying, but suddenly say, “Hey, those fat people need to lose weight!” and you’re a genius. You don’t even have to have a high school diploma or a college degree or the intelligence of Einstein. All you need is a healthy dose of scorn.
I think it’s time we ditched these so-called experts and start actually listening to those who really know what’s it like to be fat in this world, and that’s actual fat people. And in closing, I’m including some of what Rebelle over at Big Fat Blog, said about Michelle Obama’s focus on fat, but it can also be for all who share her sentiments:
It bothers me, most of all, that neither she nor any other public figure can for once get it right: Focus on nutrition and health….NOT WEIGHT!