Obesity -- who is really at fault?
By calypsojeep
@calypsojeep (89)
United States
September 8, 2009 5:48pm CST
Recently in California restaurants with more than 10 locations were required to list the calories of all dishes and put them on the table. Common sense would assume that people would start making wiser food choices.
Wrong.
I work in a chain restaurant where a majority of patrons are overweight/obese. (I'm not talking thick, or speaking about those who could lose a few vanity pounds.)However, these people eat like there's no tomorrow. They start with appetizers, continue with bacon cheeseburgers, multiple pop refills, and of course dessert. I often watch people consume 3000-4000 calories in one sitting.
This may sound harsh, but why should I feel bad for the obese? Why should we tax junk food if they lack self control? I'm sick of the "large people can't help it" attitude, but truly, most can. Put down the cheeseburger and eat a salad!
(To be clear, I hadn't developed this attitude until I started working in this particular restaurant. This isn't a reflection on the personality or character of obese persons, but rather the inability to make healthy lifestyle choices and then complain about being overweight.)
What are your thoughts?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Wizzywig (7847)
•
9 Sep 09
I think we all know that, ultimately, we are responsible for our own food choices (assuming we are actually capable of making the choice). Not all obese people are gluttons and similarly, not all gluttons become obese. Some people do face difficulties by virtue of their income or certain health issues. It is easy to make wrong choices when you dont appear to be suffering any diet related problems but, hard to change eating habits once those problems start. I think its very easy for people who have no weight problems themselves to 'point the finger of blame', but,I do agree that we all need to accept the responsibility for our own bodies.
1 person likes this
@Archie0 (5652)
•
9 Sep 09
You are right.I think it affects on us really more when we see someone before us out of control i want to say is yes when i see people more obese than me and they are really eating to their hearts content, i feel shocked and i really start eating less.As far as i concern i have seen much of the people who dont have time from their office work tend to eat wrong and junk only because they are tensed and depressed, and this is a fact that depressed people tend to eat more calories than normal one's.I think obesity can be blamed to todays technology may be, because we dont have to move from our place to produce the grains for example as the farmers earlier did.
@ivygrey (550)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
Two things. 1.Ourselves 2. Environment. I mean we are what we eat right, people who are obese, chose to be like that, They love eating, and so they have that kind of body, But people who have the right thinking, right choices will never ended up this way. Well environment because there are a lot of weak people who grew up in a family who just eat what they want, and they brought it until they aged. They might have the thinking of what their parents taught and showed them. But then again, right thinking and right choices can always change everything.
@YoungInLove (1254)
• Canada
9 Sep 09
I feel ya. I mean sometimes its not their fault. I eat a TON but thank god I have a fast metabolism. Or sometimes they have thyroid problems or other issues. I personally dont need a list of calories because I automatically know what I order could be really good or bad for me. I never order appetizers or desserts when I go to a restaurant though so I dont know how they feel to have an appetite that large. But personally, whenever I go to mcdonalds and see what person put back 2 big mac meals, Im kinda disgusted. And not just becuase its a rediculous amount of food, but also like, to much grease makes me feel like $h*t like I dont understand how a person can put that much grease into their bodies without feeling really sick of nauseuous. I guess id have to really be in that situation to understand how some people can do it becuase right now it grosses me out but maybe if my appetite was like tht Id change my mind.
@gracefuldove (1668)
• Malaysia
9 Sep 09
It is more the fault of the person. Food are just stimulant. Do not fault the chefs and cooks for churning out mouth watering dishes. We must have self-control. Wem ust not go to extremes to pig out. We must ensure we eat enough and not overdo it. Overdoing it over time leads to obesity. Once you are obese, you cannot really bring down your weight. You may have to do liposuction and all kinds of surgery to nip that wanton gluttony in you.
@cherrc (661)
• Philippines
9 Sep 09
hi there! we r all responsible for what we eat. the media, the environment, and every individual. the orientation that makes us craving for more. as for me, am not obese but still having weight problems. now, we're monitoring the food we eat in the family and exercise. of course, am doing my best to give justice to my clothes, haha! :)
