Are we too polite in our terms for being overweight?

[R1Geezer]

Do you agree with the minister?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10789553
Now as someone who can put on half a stone smelling a bacon sandwich, I'm not suggesting we got out and verbally abuse fat people but I do think that we are too twee and nice with our terminology and I think the blunt term "fat" may well motivate.

[Jemisa]

Those that are 'Fat' know they are Fat, why would they want every Tom Dick & Harry reminding them of it? whether its called plump, obese, overweight, portly, those people are aware. they're not going to thank you for reminding them, they're more likely to turn round and punch your lights out. THEN how much would that cost the NHS to sort them out in the A&E, not to mention dentists fees.

jem

[ummmm]

I don't know. My niece is fat...her mother is obese.

[Jemisa]

But they know it ummmm, I bet you don't go and tell em so.

jem

[R1Geezer]

I'm not talking about that jemisa, do read the question. I'm referring to the way it is referred to on TV or by doctors, they always say "big" rather than "fat", which I think i unfair on big people who are not fat and the term obese etc etc.

[ummmm]

I see 'obese' as worse than 'fat'

[Sqad]

R1Geezer.......I have a certain amount of sympathy with your post as well as the opinion of the minister.

The medical profession, in their wisdom, have decided to call "fat people", obese, for some "high flung" psychological reasons in an attempt to normalise the condition and make them more amenable to methods of weight reduction.

I am "old fashioned" an fat people were always called fat and not obese and since we, the populace has changed our terminology to "obese" more people are getting "fatter"

No. I am not an expert, but I see the merit in calling a spade a spade.

By the way.....I am not fat........I am a little overweight.........;-)

[Jemisa]

I think that term is "Pleasantly Plump" Sqad.

Look at my avatar I'm 'PP' too.

jem

[Sqad]

Jem....LOL...I will stick to slightly overweight....LOL

[woofgang]

I think it depends on context. personally I dislike the term obese and find "clinically obese" even more annoying. If I am in a clinical consultation about my weight then I don't think that the words matter so much as the attitude...or maybe doctors should call drug addicts "junkies" and alcoholics "drunkards" or "lushes" How about "***" and "pox ridden" for those who have an std and "irresponsible idiot" for people who present with sports injuries....I might have invented a whole new kind of PCspeak here? Anyone else care to add to the list?
btw I am with jemisa on this one....and to paraphrase Winston Churchill I would tell anyone who calls me fat that I can lose weight and they will still be a stupid mouthy git.

[woofgang]

the asterisked out word was s l u t

[Sqad]

woofgang...LOL...excellent.

[woofgang]

sqad :-)

[jake-the-peg]

Do you think she's told her colleagues yet Eric Pickles and Ken Clarke spring to mind.

Wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall to that coversation!

[Kathyan]

According to my BMI calculation I am obese. I am a size 18 and 5'4"!

[Ankou]

the reason clinicians use the term obese is because it is classified in order of severe, morbid and super. telling someone 'man! yo is phaaaat' could just refer to someone who is bloated and constipated, or a pregnant woman!

i don't think calling people fat is particuarly offensive but then i guess it can depend on context. my nieces sometimes call me uncle fatty, fatty arbuckle or mr fat from fatland i know they don't mean it. but if a professional said to me sorry mr kou, but you are just plain fat, i might just queak a 'gasp'.

[Sqad]

ankou.........NHS patients are "fat".....Private patients are "overweight"

Very important difference.

[China Doll]

I think obese is worse than fat.

[AB Editor]

I'd have to agree with China, "fat" is a friendlier term than obese. "Fat" is commonly taken to be the kind of body shape you have and could often be described as "portly".

Obese - well, it is a word that suggests if you don't switch to munching celery shortly you'll need a winch to get you out of the house. It also makes me think of The Simpsons:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJQEl5vcAo

[Ankou]

the word obese comes from the latin which means 'that which eats itself fat' or summink anyway.