Tories today say "It's your own fault if you're overweight"

Andrew Lansley (Shadow Health Sec.) said today that people should stop making excuses and accept that its their own fault that they are overweight. Google for full details.

This was covered in a lot of radio phone-ins and online newspaper discussions.

Just wondered what people on here thought?

Such sweeping generalisations are neither fair nor constructive

can't speak for anyone else but i know there's nobody else to blame for my weight issues!! lol

Frijj - I agree - any excess weight I'm carrying is down to me as well! But I'm doing something about it and feeling much healthier too.

We can all make excuses until the cows come home, but it IS down to what we eat and how much exercise we take.

I do accept that there are a few - and just a very few - who have medical reasons as to why they cannot lose weight.

I have spoken to several people lately who HAVE managed to lose a lot of weight. All of them were told that they HAD to by their GPS and the shock was enough to get them slimming down. Same as the majority of ex-smokers - when you're told "you must never smoke again" you DO find the strength to do it!

Didn't read it but I can say that it was when I put myself as the cause of my own weight that I could then do something about it so the logic of taking control i agree with. I am guessing it was a politically motivated comment and probably had a load of fluff around it as I truelly believe politics is the biggest waste of time.

I'd say my weight as an adult is my fault. I was an overweight child and nothing was done to help me all through childhood, hence it made things hard in adulthood.
I accept I have to address it and do something aout it.

Alas, this is Tory vote catching and spin as per usual. There are so many things that people could put in the same box: alcoholism, drug abuse, etc.

Anyway ... another excuse for a deluge of (justified) fat jokes and abuse. Oh fun!

icemoose said:

Didn't read it but I can say that it was when I put myself as the cause of my own weight that I could then do something about it so the logic of taking control i agree with. I am guessing it was a politically motivated comment and probably had a load of fluff around it as I truelly believe politics is the biggest waste of time.

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IceMoose - His theory is that people have to take responsibility for their own actions. Obesity is such a huge problem and despite all sorts of initiatives to encourage kids, young parents and older people to stay fit and healthy, it aint really working!

We are bombarded with progs on TV about cooking, healthy eating & so on. Food packets have more info on than they ever have and the range of sports and activities for kids is much broader than it ever was in my schooldays.

Obesity is EXPENSIVE and the idea is that if people start off fit and healthy, they will cost the NHS much less.

I was in town shopping today and the fast-food outlets were (as usual) chocablock!! People wandering around drinking fizzy drinks and tucking into bags of chips. I'm not kidding you, I saw people 10 times my size and so many young girls literally bursting out of their clothes. Also the number of obese people riding around on these mobility scooters is unbelieveable. I nipped into a mobility shop to fetch something for my elderly Mum and the guy there was telling me that his customers are getting younger and younger and are so huge that they struggle to walk a few steps. Now that didn't happen overnight did it? People must stop making excuses and DO something before it gets to that stage.

icemoose said:

Didn't read it but I can say that it was when I put myself as the cause of my own weight that I could then do something about it so the logic of taking control i agree with. I am guessing it was a politically motivated comment and probably had a load of fluff around it as I truelly believe politics is the biggest waste of time.

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couldnt put it better myself!

OMG Lillypop ... you are the incredible shrinking woman!! arty0038: Your pics are amazing and I am in total awe. :clap: What an incredible weight loss.

I'm not sure about this story. It has done me a lot of good to realise that it was my own fault if I was overweight, and conversely that I have control over my weight and if I want to be thin then I can do that. But it was something I needed to find out for myself (yes, you might say it's obvious, but it really was like someone switching on a lightbulb).

Whilst I do take responsibility for my weight, I do believe that being overweight is more complicated than a decision to have a big mac in front of the TV. It's about all sorts of things- self esteem, depression, anxiety, ignorance. And people who need to make changes to themselves need encouragement, not judgement.

I didn't decide to diet because people were pointing the finger, although they did in various subtle and non-subtle ways. I did it because one day I woke up and thought "I deserve more than this". It actually took a lot of counselling (for another issue) before I got to that place. To be honest up to that point I didn't care what I looked like, what I was doing to my health, or what people thought of me.

To be fair I do largely agree with the Tory story. I am responsible for my weight and my current situation. No one put the food in my shopping basket, I did. No one whisked me past the fruit and veg section in the shop, I chose to walk on. No one forced me to nip down to the Chinese takeaway because I couldn't be bothered to cook, I grabbed my coat and went.

I know that certain food is bad and other food is good. I certainly don't claim ignorance and blame the government or food manufacturers for misleading me.

However, that does not mean that the solution to my problem is an easy one. Loosing weight is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do. My problems are compounded by my PCOS, but I would never dream of blaming that for my weight. It just means I have to work even harder.

I DO have issues with food, issues that at the moment I'm not sure how to resolve. And that, I think, is where the problem lies.

Well no one forced me to eat cake

Floella said:

Also the number of obese people riding around on these mobility scooters is unbelieveable.

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I have to comment on this, and to ask people generally (nothing aimed at you, Floella) not to condemn everyone on a mobility scooter. I had to use one to get round Tesco when I was about 5 months pregnant. Yes I was overweight (weighed about 15st at the time) but that is not why I was using one. I had very bad SPD which is a pelvic problem you can get in pregnancy which can make walking more or less impossible. I got it very early on in pregnancy, and being only 5 months pregnant and overweight, my baby bump wasn't that obvious.

So I just looked like a fat lazy ***** who couldn't walk.

Now I don't know if that is what people were thinking when they saw me, but I felt SO awful about it that it was my one and only time in a mobility scooter. For the rest of the pregnancy I remained indoors unless I had to go for hospital appointments (thank goodness for wheelchairs there).

I used to automatically think badly of people using these scooters. I don't anymore because I don't know why they have to use one.

Sorry, just wanted to get that off my chest

hi, well ive been quite lucky really, when I was younger I went through a stage that I ate chips everyday for lunch but I never gained anything, and later on I did eat more healther foods but I would usually eat chocolate in between meals, but still i never gained anything it was only from the age of 17 that i had weight issues nothing major though I wasnt overweight but I was sometimes quite conscious of it and I started yo yo dieting, then i did manage to loose weight when i was in hospital, but when I went to live with my grandmother I was pileing on the weight i was eating alot more and I was eating alot of cakes and I was a little bit overweight but luckerly I started dieting for real and going to the gym and managed to be a normal weight, I am still a bit conscious about my weight and im hoping to loose a few more pounds and yes it was my own fault for putting on that weight and sometimes I do blame myself but I think positive that ive lost a bit of weight .

Floella said:

Obesity is EXPENSIVE and the idea is that if people start off fit and healthy, they will cost the NHS much less.

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I'm really sorry but i feel i must comment on this. Yes Obesity is expensive but so is slimming, being fit and healthy.

I had a crap childhood. I was a deppressed child that ate to block out my parents arguing. My schools idea of teaching healthy eating was to put a choice of chips or brown leaf salad on the menu. I was badly bullied by both teacher and students and no one helped me. I was left feeling stupid and worthless. I left school at 16 and a dress size to match. I needed councilling but had no chance to access it. "its just a teenage thing" or the puppy fat will drop off soon" my weight crept up and up and up. GP's tell you to loose weight for your health but when i begged for help i was told to go to WW or SW. no offence but its not cheap and the councillors dont have psychology degrees or certified councilling skills to help each individual with their long term issues. They work for me for a while but the cracks appear and i start to comfort eat again.

I can not get any councilling on the NHS for my emotional issues even though they are effecting my relationship with my OH, Son and other family members. Some days i am so low i can't eat some days i can't stop forcing things in my mouth. I have had to find the money for private councilling at 40quid a time 1-2 times a week and i wil probably be in councilling for a good few years yet.

Yes i am responsible for what i shovel into my gob but i have been failed by the system, never been taught the fundimentals of healthy eating or even a good source of help to access.
i do feel teachers and assistants should be trained to spot warning signals in children and help, not just have meetings to discuss how "annoying" the child is. (and yes a teacher did describe my as annoying, she also added, retarded and unteachable).

Sorry for the rant but this whole subject comes up alot and upsets me every time.

Having had counselling for nearly a year now (and I count myself lucky that I get it free through my university), I really wish that other people could get it when they need it. It really has helped me so much, I feel a completely different person as a result of it, and it is what has given me the strength to address my weight issues.

I would never want people to think I don't take responsibility for what I eat and what exercise I get, and yes ultimately it is my own fault that I'm overweight. But I really believe that people need support, not judgement, to turn things around.

To be fair, the schools are much better equiped for teaching about healthy living, but we also have to watch out for eating disorders such as anorexia etc. I spent the whole of Autumn term with year 5 on healthy eating using the food pyramid etc. making sure they did not think that they 'couldnt' eat a certain food but to think about eating a balanced diet, for then a drama group to come in and talk about 'Bad' foods and how they shouldnt eat crisps, chocolate etc.
My dancing teacher once said "You have lost weight, oh you are good girls!" to me and one of my friends. I wasnt over weight at the time, but that phrase at the age of 13 has stuck with me and hasnt helped the issues I have had with food.

I do think that people need to take responsibility, nobody made me eat anything directly. BUT people need to recognise there must be a reason why people eat a whole tube of jaffa cakes in one sitting or whatever.
The price of fruit and veg is rediculous and some people can not afford it - but some of them should think about priorities (e.g. they can smoke 20 a day, but not afford vegetables) Relative poverty is not an issue but absolute is.

I am overweight because I ate too many takeaways because I couldnt be bothered to cook and I didnt do enough exercise. It is my fault as I know what I should eat and how to keep healthy! I have made choices not to do those things. (and I can blame the abusive ex boyfriend etc, but ultimately nobody force fed me).
xx

Hazelnut said:

Having had counselling for nearly a year now (and I count myself lucky that I get it free through my university), I really wish that other people could get it when they need it. It really has helped me so much, I feel a completely different person as a result of it, and it is what has given me the strength to address my weight issues.

I would never want people to think I don't take responsibility for what I eat and what exercise I get, and yes ultimately it is my own fault that I'm overweight. But I really believe that people need support, not judgement, to turn things around.

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Hazelnut - that is SUCH a positive post and I'm really glad its helping you so much.

My sister is also receiving counselling and it is helping her no end. She is really thinking things through now and understanding why she ate the way she did. I am SO pleased for her because she came very close indeed to having a gastric bypass operation, which would not have helped her with the "head" stuff at all.
I hope you continue to do well Hazelnut.

spod said:

My dancing teacher once said "You have lost weight, oh you are good girls!" to me and one of my friends. I wasnt over weight at the time, but that phrase at the age of 13 has stuck with me and hasnt helped the issues I have had with food.

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I think thats disgusting the way that teacher talked, no wonder there are so many people with eating disorders! and the media doesnt help.

Can't really generalize but In my case drinking 2ltrs of coke a day for about 4 years was what sent me from 10 stone to 20 stone by time I started and finished high school.