Are there a lot of negative connotations associated with being fat?

Question

I have big friend who just recently won't come out with me because she says everyone stares at her and it makes her really self conscious and unhappy. She said people call her lazy and disgusting and that guys before have assumed she smelt and sweats a lot.
I honestly never thought about how I see big people when I'm out. Do you draw these conclusions when you see a fat person?

Izzy2102 · Accepted Answer

Of course there are. That changed drastically in the past century, before being chubby was considered a sign of health and wealth. In the 20s being thin became popular, a kinda boyish look.
www.shotinthedarkmysteries.com/.../...er_Knees.jpg

But in the 50s and 60s, where thin was definatley in style, having some meat on your bones was considered a good thing. https://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/99/c4/dd/99c4ddbcbf84abda745d6fc540fddfe9.jpg

From there on the ideal has just gotten thinner and thinner. You won't see any ads for pills that make you gain weight anymore, because even girls that are at a healthy range are seen as fat.
Obesity is more dominant in families with lower incomes, for a lot of reasons which would get way to far here, but many people rightly make that association. Fat equals poor and uneducated. Which especially in america is easily associated with lazy too
Then a lot of people think it's visually unpleasing and a lot will assume if you're fat you must be too lazy to work out.

I don't consciously think any of that when I see a bigger person, but I am guilty of thinking things like "how could s/he let it get so far?"

Most people wouldn't say any of that though, most people will keep to themselves and try not to stare

Belleza2 · Accepted Answer

mmh...well, I used to be fat, so I can tell you from experience yes people stare at you and assume you sweat a lot or smell and I was 200lbs. so I can tell you no my hygiene was perfectly fine - people find you to be a slob or someone who thinks about food all day and every time I would eat I was shy (by nature I am shy) but I was in a sense that people might say "look at that fat girl eating" so I used to go hide to eat. Guys were mean to me, girls were bitches to me or always used to say go eat a cheeseburger (and I hate that slime) anyway, lol but going through that is really horrible. People really do think your stupid and in reality my IQ is higher than above average and it hurt my feelings, there was a point in time when I tried to cut my veins because bullying was getting out of hand so I just thought why not take my life and what stopped me was the thought of knowing these people who bully me will call me weak and laugh at my taking my life so I said no I won't give them that satisfaction.

If your friend likes the way she looks, then she should not care but clearly she cares and she does not like it so support her through anything if you are a really good fried and try to put yourself in her shoes, you will see what I mean.

JustinCaseUDontKnow · Accepted Answer

I'm fat but solid i am very clean, smell good, keep my appearance looking good, i don't care what people think about me, i loss weight to the point , i tried to kill myself , i screwed my body up
now i am suffering , if people want judge me than that's on them
fat people who look sloppy, don't look neat than that's a issue

Distant · Accepted Answer

I don't necessarily 'think' anything. If people want to be fat then that's their prerogative. However, the people who are self-conscious about being fat without a medical reason and without trying to change it, to me, are foolish. There is nothing stopping someone from going out and getting exercise except laziness.

Anonymous · Answer

I work as a health professional, so when I see someone particularly overweight my immediate thoughts are in relation to all the possible health consequences e.g. type two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc. and I am therefore more concerned for their well-being than critical of their appearance.

So, to cut my long answer short...I personally do not believe I discriminate against overweight people or make undesirable assumptions; however, I can understand how your friend would feel this way, as it is likely that people who do not have a background knowledge of obesity would make assumptions based on a person's appearance.

In saying that, I do tend to wonder how people who are obese allow themselves to reach that stage- knowing that a vast majority of overweight and obesity is the consequence of unhealthy overeating. Surely, (as it must be so uncomfortable and as your friend indicated, it may be embarrassing) there must be a point in time for someone who is overweight that they decide to seek help and make a change.

Dzindzer · Answer

I must admit that I do see them as lazy, unhealthy (although a skinny girl can be just as unhealthy) and I wouldn't say that I see them as disgusting, but I do think "I am glad I am not that fat" or "How did they even get there?"

It sounds very harsh but I just can't understand, how people can get that fat. When you reach 200 pounds don't you look and say: oh okay, maybe I should do something. I mean I do know that some overweight people are happy about themselves and that is really awesome. It just annoys me when fat people complain about being fat while eating junk food.

Mesonfielde · Answer

The initial assumption is that they have a terrible diet, and despite seeing the signs they made no efforts to stop the process towards becoming extremely overweight and obese. Even my brother is somewhat guilty of this: how come you don't start panicking if your regular weight is 70 kg, and now you're 85? You should probably eat less and move more, rather than wait until you're 105 kgs and you can barely get off your butt on your own. (Luckily, I so far don't seem to have inherited the genes that make me prone to this problem.)
Being overweight has many many health risks, including diabetes and numerous cardiovascular diseases.

Then of course, there's a chance you learn that their thyroid got messed up by the contraception pill hormones, and there's nothing she can do about it. Or that they have a naturally really low metabolism rate.

So yeah, the initial premise is that they messed up, and don't bother to care about fixing it.

Theguyoverthere · Answer

There are some girls at any weight who feel that way. Part of me just feels they're too self-centered for thinking random passerbys are overly analyzing a person who is just sitting there, but others just feel they're body image is so poor that somebody may be laughing at them.

With fat people, others assume they are not exercising and not eating right. So they may feel they're lazy as well.

abundantlyrich · Answer

Depends which culture you're from. In the West, it is seen as grotesque and unworthy.

I do know in Chinese culture, being 'fat' is seen as healthy and not suffering from poverty and famine.

I don't judge if i see a fat person. Some are good, some can be aggressive from my personal experiences.

xzinax2 · Answer

i don't assume anything based on someone's weight, but, yeah, culturally, those assumptions are common. fat, lazy, stupid, poor hygiene, unsuccessful, low ambition-all kinds of negative things. esp. in regards to fat women.

ASOIAF · Answer

Yes - there are lots of negative connotations about being overweight, most of them are based in truth to some extent.

However I think your friend is exaggerating, I've never witnessed adults publicly bullying overweight people.

kambo_trick3y · Answer

I don't draw conclusions at all. As an in-shape lazy, smelly, sweaty person I can assure you I am in no position to judge.

zombiebabe · Answer

nope only immature people will tend to react that way

silvershell631 · Answer

I think "I'll be alone forever and please dont come over and talk to me. Nobody wants to lick that". Aye you asked

genericname85 · Answer

i am not mean to them but i think to myself that they are lazy and undisziplined.

Theguywhomadeurday · Answer

If I am not concerned with someone I would not care how someone looks... Its their life let them live how they want it. None of my business.

NoblesseOblige · Answer

It looks bad but I don't care in most cases. I only care for purposes of mate selection.

knotme · Answer

I for the most part think they are lazy

Are there a lot of negative connotations associated with being fat?

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