Huge Guests

[atalanta]

I invited my niece and her boyfriend to Sunday lunch. I hadn't met him, and hadn't seen her for years, so I was horribly dismayed to see how huge they both were. Both morbidly obese. In fact, they broke the feet and castors on the settee when they sat on it. The dining chairs creaked ominously, too. They both said how much they'd love to come again, and meet the rest of the family, but honestly I don't think my furniture will stand it, even if I get the settee mended. Any ideas where to go from here ?

[ummmm]

Arrange to meet at a restaurant next time.

[douglas9401]

Weightwatchers?

[ummmm]

Helpful, Doug, very helpful!

[douglas9401]

Their success rate with the overweight is fairly good.

[ummmm]

And what good will that do Atalanta?

[douglas9401]

She could pick up some literature and hand it to the couple when next they meet. Somebody needs to intervene before there's a furniture related disaster where someone gets injured or worse.
The already damaged furniture is another matter of course.

[ummmm]

How insulting would that be?

[douglas9401]

If handled in the right way it needn't be insulting and may, in the long term, prolong their lives or at least improve their health in terms of the risks of heart disease, diabetes and the complications that can result from those conditions.

Hurt feelings in the short term are nothing compared with a heart attack or worse.

[ummmm]

Well I suppose it's one way to stop them visiting again.

[douglas9401]

Och you're right of course, just let them eat till they explode then have a reet good laugh at the funeral or have a hand wringing session about how 'somebody should have said something'.

I'm out.

[ummmm]

I'm sure they know how overweight they are, they don't need to be told.

You made a silly comment and then tried to back it up...

[Purist]

Obesity is often a symptom of depression, feeling unhappy or poor mental health, no one wants to be obese. How about delving a little deeper if you care about them. They are human beings.

[jno]

If it's both of them, it's awkward, it's (exaggerating wildly) like a suicide pact that they're embarked on together. You could have a quiet word with your niece, or with whichever of her parents you're related to, but chances are you'll get nowhere; they're happy that way.

If it's just the furniture, eat out.

[Islay]

If an aunt had said something about me being obese I would have been deeply upset and insulted!!!
Eat out next time arrange it yourself then you can be sure they don't turn up at your place. As for you sofa look on yell.com for furniture repair or restoration

[DTCwordfan]

A furniture repair shop.....?

[aelmpvw]

two of those jockey scales positioned in the hall as they enter?

[Cloverjo]

As others have said, no one needs to be told they're obese. They know. They must have been mortified when they broke the furniture. Just go to a restaurant next time.

My nephew and his girlfriend are both overweight, but not morbidly obese thankfully. They both know but still keep packing the food in. Mentioning it would be extremely embarrassing for everyone.

[Islay]

And hugely insulting cloverjo

[Cloverjo]

Yes, islay. His mum, my sister, keeps having a dig at his weight. He laughs it off but it must be very hurtful.

[Islay]

Really quite rude too actually why do people think they have the right to tell people to lose weight, you wouldn't tell someone to change their hair colour or whiten their teeth!