What I love about the psyche of many obese people is that someone else is nearly always to blame for their predicament. It couldn’t possibly be because they eat too much and don’t do enough exercise.
Unfortunately, the basic premise that it’s someone else’s fault is also keeping too many health journalists and medical researchers in lattes and digestive biscuits.
A quick glance at recent headlines suggests it’s the “influential” obese which are causing all the problems. Prof Michael McMahon says James Corden, Beth Ditto and even housewife favourite Eamonn Holmes are at fault. They’re making “dangerous” weight gain appear normal.
This week, it’s porky teenagers who are copping it. Earth shattering research suggests that adolescents with fat friends also tend to put weight on.
Fortunately, we’ve got the National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry to tell us what to do with our obese friend. “You do not stop seeing people because they are fat but you might be able to influence them into leading a healthier lifestyle,” he said. Phew, thanks Tam!
Healthier lifestyle is high up the agenda in the US with President Obama coming over all Jamie’s Dinners by encouraging schools to introduce healthier lunches and relevant education. Pucker! The Onion, as usual, makes a weighty contribution to the debate.
“If a fat person falls in the woods, do the trees laugh?” It’s a joke but, importantly, not one that should be told by a doctor in front of a patient. Or indeed by anyone, including me. The laughter police, otherwise known as medical ethicists, are on the case. “Humorous but cynical comments about obese patients perpetuate the belief that obese people are entirely to blame for their predicament, ignoring environmental and biological factors. This prejudicial belief can lead, even subconsciously, to a lower standard of medical care,” they say (after having cracked some quite funny fat jokes).
That’s me told. Next week: short people, featuring an interview with Randy Newman.
