Obesity and Oppression August 2010

[Paul Murphy]

Paul Murphy

2010-08-30

Obesity and Oppression

The media continues to oppress the obese, which only fuels the notion of blaming through lifestyle. Lifestyle is the
quintessential blaming tool used by the media; It leads to mixed
messages, and takes accountability away from the food industry. It
also, bypasses any notion of responsibility by the food industry.
T.V, radio and print are saturated with oppressive messages against
the obese person. The obese person is battered at every turn by the
media. For example, the 10 month old Chinese Baby, currently in the
news, is being labelled as the Michelin Baby ”
www.obesitythunderbay.ning.com,”is a web site that hopes to address
this issue. The site is packed full of information about obesity
oppression also Fatism. Fatism is a term that illustrates a
discriminatory point of view. Oppressive messages against the obese
include commonly used labels such as: Couch Potato, Lifestyle, Blame,
Unhealthy, and Michelin Baby. These terms only add to the
marginalization of the obese person. The web site is designed and
created to educate the media about obese oppression and I hope this
will act as a catalyst of social change. Obese people are not the
enemy.

Please share

I think we need a new plan ,one based on education and accountability, and this includes all aspects of the food environment.

[Paul Murphy]

Obesity, stigma, and civilized oppression.

Rogge MM, Greenwald M, Golden A.

Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, IN 46112, USA. [e-mail]

Abstract

The study was conducted to explore what it is like for individuals and family members to live with obesity as a chronic illness. An interpretive phenomenological design was used to obtain and analyze interviews of 13 obese individuals and 5 of their family members. A convenience sample was used to recruit the subjects who participated in the audiotaped interviews. The interviews used open-ended questions. Audiotapes were transcribed and analyzed for identifying the major themes within each transcript, and patterns of meaning across narratives. The major themes and patterns were described through written essays and group discussions about the transcripts. The participants revealed frequent experiences of stigmatization and discrimination on the basis of their obesity. Those who are obese are reminded through their everyday encounters with family members, peers, healthcare providers, and strangers, that their being deviates from social norms, and that they are inferior to those who are not obese. Obese subjects experience a pattern of denigration and condemnation that is so pervasive as to constitute what Harvey has called civilized oppression. A discussion of the social construction of obesity and the elements of civilized oppression, as they are experienced by those who are obese, offers new insights into interpersonal relationships that can provide a foundation for more effective care of the obese population.

PMID: 15602281 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Paul Murphy]

It's the junk food


Calgary Herald October 1, 2010 2:05 AM



Re: "Get on board, parents," Editorial, Sept. 29.

The report that children who are overweight or obese present a health problem is depressing. A primary reason can be found largely in the types and amount of food many young people consume. One only needs to observe the number of chubby children with their fries and pop at a mall food court in the middle of the afternoon to witness the unhealthy diet followed by so many of them.

And don't tell me their obesity is due to a medical condition. That may be true of a small proportion of them, but for most it is a lack of self-discipline and/or poor parental guidance on what these children eat and drink.

[Paul Murphy]

September 16, 2010 at 6:28 PM

2fat2fly on Twitter: "I want to invite you , the reader , to assist in this effort."

So you want help rationalizing your lack of self control? Include me out.

[Paul Murphy]

Winnipeg free press

Awe, you’re hurt by the jeers of others? Then put the Doritos down! You got yourself into this situation and it's up to you to fix it, or don't and go with the drastic surgical weight loss program... like when they have to start lopping pieces of you off to treat the diabetes you are certainly developing. If the spectre of an early grave is not enough to make you stick to your diet, then you my friend are beyond help and you'll get no sympathy from me.

@2fat2fly
"2fat2fly will be making the argument that Obesity Oppression and Fat Hatred undermine the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada."

Getting stuck beside your fat ass on a plane would be an infringement on MY rights and freedoms.

[Paul Murphy]

Medical condition? Excuse me while I throw up. Did you see how you completely justified an obese person's lifestyle by calling it a medical condition?
IT IS NOT A MEDICAL CONDITION! It is a lifestyle choice, and a very poor one. We live in a country of relatively affordable food choices, a large selection of healthy food, massive infrastructure of gyms, aerobics and martial arts businesses at various levels of cost and hours of operation; all of these provide anyone with INITIATIVE AND MOTIVATION the opportunity to get fit and stay healthy.
It's time for obese people to take responsibility for their "condition" and do something about it instead of crying that society does them wrong.
There are plenty of overweight people currently going to my martial arts gym, and I applaud them. I'm pretty sure anyone can set aside $40 a month for a gym pass, or even cheaper at the YMCA or any City of Winnipeg gym. Just give up the fast food and get your butt moving.

[Paul Murphy]

I want to thank everyone for the feedback. The personal accountability, lack of willpower, unhealthy eating, lifestyle,colon cleansing,weight loss industry,eat right,active healthy living,biggest loser,oppressive media continues to support the Activity Solution. Why ? Paid for science and those with a financial interest continue to want to isolate the problem. Have a soda with particapaction , or weight loss surgery with the CON { Canadian Obesity Network}.
I am calling for a national Big Fat Talk ,and I will be more than happy to face the criticism ,first hand.I relish the chance to speak on this subject. So why is the media reluctant to discuss childhood obesity? I think they need to get off the couch potato myth. If we need to be more active ,why do we have drivethrue's at every corner?
Big Brother and Nanny State argument,calories in calories out ,anything to shift ,or scheme away from the route causes. Have you been in a Shoppers Drug Store? When will the fast food outlet arrive? Does your hospital have a donut shop? Mine does.

www.obesitythunderbay.ning.com is seeking volunteers and a community to test my work. The Shared Accountability Model is ready for a test . Our children deserve all resources to address childhood obesity. Please get involved .

[Paul Murphy]

2fat2fly on Twitter: "I want to invite you , the reader , to assist in this effort."

So you want help rationalizing your lack of self control? Include me out.

"This was posted recently and it demonstrates clearly what people believe about obese people. "

[Paul Murphy]

@Daff
Why should anyone have to pay for the irresponsible habits of others? If someone smokes, drinks heavily, abuses sugar, fast food, despite warnings and knowledge of long term health issues from said behaviors, is that my problem? Should I have to use money out of my own pocket to rescue, bail out or save them from their own stupidity. People feel free to spend money on booze, cigarettes, coffee, gambling, drugs and narcotics, but now I have to pay for the results of their choices? Is that what you would teach your kids? That their on the hook for hundreds of thousands of autonomous individuals who of their own accord chose to constantly abuse themselves, understand the possible consequences, but avoid all personal responsibility anyway?
I teach my own children to grow up and become grown ups. Relinquishing personal responsibility in favor of looking for a free ride no matter what you do is an indication of a childlike mentality. We need adults in charge of their lives as much as possible who behave in an emotionally mature fashion, who earn self-respect by acting that way.
And yes you abuse yourself, you pay for it out of your own pocket. The old saying goes you break you buy it. Enough with making excuses or feeling sorry for people who have had decades to do it to themselves.

[Paul Murphy]

2fat2fly: We smokers warned you that fatties would be next on the list for ridicule & denormalization....looks like we were right. We predict that boozers will be next. You speak about the media being to blame. There are booze ads everywhere you look... newspapers,tv,magazines,etc. In today's paper there is a story glorifying a movie star's connections to a vodka maker....what's up with that? Tobacco advertising has been banned in all media in Canada for a long time. Time to start lobbying the government about the out of control booze advertising. Where are you MADD??

* Report abusive comment

Posted by: JustWondering

September 15, 2010 at 6:48 PM

2fat2fly on Twitter: "The media continues to oppress the obese, which only
fuels the notion of blaming through lifestyle."

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. My theory is, if you don't stuff it in your pie hole, it doesn't wind up on your butt. If you're gaining weight, you're eating too much.

[Paul Murphy]

@2fat2fly
Oh please, give up this victim mentality that it's all the food producers fault. No one forces any individual to eat out, consume fast food, drink pop, beer, or other forms of alcohol. Feeling sorry for yourself, blameshifting, or playing the poor me victim does not excuse any one for at least trying to take personal responsibility for their health or life. Grow up! Do you choose to eat high sugar, high fat, and empty caloric foods. Does someone force you against your will. Products may be addictive yes, but you have to keep giving in to that addiction. I hear the lame argument that I'm fat because it's genetic. Well sorry, but placing you on a desert island for a few months with no access to the typical products you would consume would change your weight significantly. The food industry has a blame, but obviously the consumer has to think for themselves. People enjoy high sugar products, many of them are aware that weight gain occurs from these foods or beverages but choose to keep consuming them. Am I to blame for that? Personal responsibility is lacking in much of the world now. Act like an adult and try to keep healthy, stop blaming the evil food producers for making you or anybody fat. Don't eat certain products, because you have a choice not too.