Call 'fat' what it is, says minister August 2010

[Paul Murphy]

Call 'fat' what it is, says minister

 

 

Reuters August 1, 2010 3:04 AM

 

 

Calling people fat rather than obese would be more likely to motivate them to lose weight, says Britain's public health minister.

Doctors and health workers are too worried about using the term "fat," Anne Milton said, but doing so could help encourage people to take responsibility
for their lifestyles.

"If I look in the mirror and think I am obese I think I am less worried [than] if I think I am fat," Milton, a former nurse, told the BBC. "At the end of the day, you cannot do it
for them. People have to have the information."

The U.K. has one of the highest obesity rates in Europe,. In 2008, almost a quarter of adults and 14 per cent of children were classified obese, according
to the Department of Health.

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[Paul Murphy]

Obese people are not the enemy.

[Rick Dorey]

Although I agree with your statement that the people are not the enemy, the article itself is just a game of words. Terms like fat, overweight, obese and even morbidly obese is not the point. I appreciate the point of view that it is not about blame, calling people lazy or unwilling, and all the various other types of labels is not going to help some how shame them into a solution.

On the other hand ignoring personal choices and responsibility for each individual's current state of health isn't going to solve it either. What is needed is teaching people how to make small, easily doable steps to improve their health. As they get healthier, choices become easier and habits can change. They can't be guilt tripped into change, but they can be taught and motivated, into change.

The facts don't lie, obesity kills. It can take 10-15 years off of someones life. Governments won't give an individual the ability to change unless they teach them how to figure it out for themselves. Lifestyle change and choices will help people to overcome the challenge of obesity. It is a solvable problem for most people.

[Leslie Robin Kassal]

If this UK Health Minister only realized the self-hatred obese/fat people have! THAT is one of the places to start, that is where to look, that is how to help people. Help people rise from their own self-hatred!