Anorexia Vs Morbid Obesity

[Rockrose]

Watching a programme anorexic ladies I am struck by how these ladies are treated with sympathy and caring and how there is help out there for them. But when it comes to obesity you are told to eat less and move more and are treated with complete derision.

[237SJ]

Anorexia is a mental illness though and obesity usually isn't

[hc4361]

That's debatable, 237SJ.
"Rates of obesity are even higher in people with
severe mental health problems than in the general public, due to the effects of medication, poor diet, alcohol misuse and less active lifestyles"

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/591875/obesity_in_mental_health_secure_units.pdf

[retrocop]

From what I saw the NHS are investing in loads of equipment to deal with morbidly obese patients. Larger beds,hoists and ambulances etc.
Are either regarded as suffering a mental illness? Young girls have too much pressure on them to emulate stick thin models whereas who wants to look like two ton tessie? As a matter of interest do young men suffer from anorexia?

[Rockrose]

Yes and it’s inthe increase retrocop.

[SparklyKid]

But when it comes to obesity you are told to eat less and move more and are treated with complete derision.

Seems fair enough.

[hc4361]

Yes, they do, retrocop, and the same social pressures push men in to abusing anabolic steroids.

It's not just young men, older men are affected too.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/31/eating-disorders-in-men-rise-by-70-in-nhs-figures

[Rockrose]

Sparklykid would you think that’s fair to say that to someone suffering anorexia?

[Mamyalynne]

Your opening observations are generally true RR, we have all seen and heard them - I imagine it is because over indulging is immediately seen as greed and therefore a deliberate act whereas depriving oneself isn't and may be more readily accepted as an illness.

So very easy to judge from the sidelines when it doesn't affect you personally.

[Rockrose]

And obviously sparklykid I mean eat more and move less

[spathiphyllum]

"and obesity usually isn't"

Is that coming from a doctor?


........ MANY mental illnesses can lead to obesity

[Rockrose]

Thank you mama for that balanced view

[spathiphyllum]

Cause and affect.. Anorexia is a cause which is why it gets more sympathy.. Because obesity is an affect it's dismissed along with the cause. People just "see fat".

[spathiphyllum]

it's not OK

[DarceyK123]

I totally agree with Rockrose, over eating is an illness but folk get no sympathy and are just told to eat less and move more.

Its not as easy as that, they overeat for a reason, not just because they fancy all the pies in the bakery and for some with mobility problems they cant do much exercise.

[spathiphyllum]

WHO DOESN'T LOVE PIE!!!

[spathiphyllum]

;) * should i add!

[retrocop]

If a patient is in a life threatening condition and I assume morbid obesity means just that. Do the NHS not offer Gastric bands or other surgery to patients to reduce their cravings?

[hc4361]

I don't love pie - it gives me shocking indigestion :(

[anneasquith]

I may be wrong. , but I doubt the nhs offers gastric band surgery very often .

[ducksie]

I guess they would offer gastric bands retro as they would offer food to an anorexic, an operation is not the answer, people with either health issue didn't ask to live the way they do - it's debilitating whichever end of the spectrum you are at, if you force feed an person with anorexia it's against their human rights and I guess the same for the obese patient