America's fattest city lost 1 million pounds. An example to follow!

[marylander1940]

America's fattest city lost 1 million pounds. An example to follow!

 

Seven years ago, Mick Cornett appeared to have lost his mind. Midway through his second term in office, the mayor of Oklahoma City called a New Year's Eve press conference at, of all places, the city zoo. Standing in front of the elephant enclosure to drive his point home, with TV cameras rolling and journalists looking on, he told the good citizens of his city that they were fat. Not only that, but they needed to fix it. "This city is going on a diet," he declared, "and we're going to lose a million pounds."

 

http://www.mensfitness.com/weight-loss/success-stories/city-lost-million-pounds

 

[+ WmClarke]

The cynic in me says that in a few years they will have out a million and a half pounds back on....

 

But after reading the article, it seems like some permanent, sustainable changes were made. Good for OKC!

[marylander1940]

The cynic in me says that in a few years they will have out a million and a half pounds back on....

 

But after reading the article, it seems like some permanent, sustainable changes were made. Good for OKC!

 

I think you might be right... unless they change their sedentary habit.

I've always believe in carrot and sticks, but what kind of incentive (carrot) would work?

 

http://www.willett-ink.co.uk/LGC%20web/images/Carrot%20%26%20stick.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

I'm hardly the most PC person on here, but "this city is going on a diet?" Thanks for your concern, Mayor Cornett, but I'll make my own decisions about what to do with my my body. If he wants to give inventives (subsidizing gym memberships with tax money), fine. The voters will have their say during the next election. But it's my business whether I lose or gain weight.

 

And insulting your constituents by holding a presser in front of the elephants at the zoo?

 

That said, I'm happy for those who lost weight and are able to sustain the weight loss.

[+ FreshFluff]

Let's look at the flip side: The mayor of Beverly Hills, whose female citizens may have the lowest average BMI of any city in America, says:

 

"You BH residents are a bunch of anorexics. Seriously, you look like sticks with bad boob jobs. You're going to gain 100,000 pounds."

 

Can you imagine the reaction?

[Juan Vancouver]

Let's look at the flip side: The mayor of Beverly Hills, whose female citizens may have the lowest average BMI of any city in America, says:

 

"You BH residents are a bunch of anorexics. Seriously, you look like sticks with bad boob jobs. You're going to gain 100,000 pounds."

 

Can you imagine the reaction?

 

Well, I can. As a matter of fact there is an example of something very similar happened recently. Specifically in California, to follow your example, the government decided that making porn without condoms was illegal, driving out of the state the porn production.

 

Of course, it is easy to feel outrage when a government suggestion impacts our self esteem, specifically the one related to the way we look.

 

When the government tries to decide on my behalf when it comes to sex, however... well... of course... sex is dirty... those fucktards are just dirty and gross and I won't pay their treatments with my taxes.... and blah blah blah. But surely you can see how it is exactly the same.

 

Both are a government decision trying to look for the health of its constituents and trying to prevent the expenses they would incur into if those measures were not suggested in the first place. Both address lifestyle choices that affect people's health and the state's finances.

 

I think it is a great thing that someone in a place of power would want to inspire people to live a healthier way.

 

I think it is a scary thing when someone in a place of power takes away my choice and decides in my behalf what is right and what is wrong.

[+ FreshFluff]

Juan, as your post appears to be directed to me, I will address it on that assumption.

 

Of course, it is easy to feel outrage when a government suggestion impacts our self esteem, specifically the one related to the way we look.

 

Many things have an effect on my self esteem, but the OKC's mayor "city diet" isn't one of them. Moreover, I have no problem with making suggestions and offering inspiration.

 

Standing in front of caged elephants and telling residents "You're all going on a diet" makes it a whole different story.

 

When the government tries to decide on my behalf when it comes to sex, however... well... of course... sex is dirty... those fucktards are just dirty and gross and I won't pay their treatments with my taxes.... and blah blah blah. But surely you can see how it is exactly the same.

 

I know too little about the bareback porn ban to offer an opinion at this point. But "those fucktards are just dirty and gross and I won't pay their treatments with my taxes?" When on earth did I say anything of the sort? Porn performers are a tiny percentage of individuals having bareback sex, so the argument makes little sense anyway.

[Juan Vancouver]

Freshfluff,

 

Don't get that pretty fluffy pelt all ruffled. I am not trying to start an argument with you and I am not assuming or implying you think bareback performers ar disgusting. I am not accusing you of anything. I am talking more generally. There seems to be a generalized phobia of offending people based on their physicality while offending them based on the sexuality or sexual practices seems to be perfectly accepted. It's not you, it's not your fault. It's just the puritanical, victorian view your country's culture still has around sex.

 

Also, there seems to be a huge fear of talking about people's obesity. The term Fat Shaming was just recently coined and it is often used as an attack back whenever anyone points out at an evidently unhealthy practice. This year was the first year that I remember obese people created a movement to express their pride on what they call "the way they are". They vehemently insist that they ARE big boned and nothing can change that. Whenever people point out that the fact that their weight is very dangerous and they are risking huge health complications, they just attack back accusing their interlocutor of being a fat shamer.

 

The bear community started to do that years ago but they don't only focus on their pride of being obese, but on the laisez faire attitude that is the perfect opposite of the uptight, anally retentive steroided pretty queen culture.

 

When it comes to sex, slut shaming doesn't only have to do with shaming people for their unhealthy practices, like barebacking, but shames them just for enjoying sex.

 

So nope, I was not talking about you. I hope this is sufficiently clear.

 

Have a great december night! xxx

[+ FreshFluff]

Also, there seems to be a huge fear of talking about people's obesity. The term Fat Shaming was just recently coined and it is often used as an attack back whenever anyone points out at an evidently unhealthy practice. This year was the first year that I remember obese people created a movement to express their pride on what they call "the way they are". They vehemently insist that they ARE big boned and nothing can change that. Whenever people point out that the fact that their weight is very dangerous and they are risking huge health complications, they just attack back accusing their interlocutor of being a fat shamer.

 

C'mon, fat people hear about it all the time. They probably get dirty looks and nasty comments. The problem is that either their satiety signal or their metabolism is messed up, so that being thin means constant hunger and obsession with food. No matter how vain someone is, that cost becomes unbearable at some point.

[+ quoththeraven]

I am not thin. I am somewhere on the border between overweight and obese.

 

It was not always thus. Age, pregnancy, genetics (my mother thickened through the middle at about the same age as I did), and the cumulative effects of poor physical fitness have something to do with it. But since I was good at, enjoyed, and was rewarded for more sedentary pursuits, was always picked last for sports in gym class, and didn't discover physical activities I enjoyed and was relatively good at, like modern dance and yoga, until later, what incentive would I have to pursue physical fitness? (As it turns out, I like using most weight machines, like lat pulldowns. But that's another topic.)

 

And yes, I am part of the "take yourself as you are and love yourself" movement. People who are fit and/or thin think obesity is solely (or even primarily) due to a lack of willpower. It's not. Food science says it's not, that diets not only don't usually work in the long run but are bad for you because the yo-yo effect of dieting is worse than consistently carrying more weight.

 

I have chronic pain, fatigue, and fibromyalgia as well as some other more specific and clinically identifiable mucoloskeletal issues. Some of that is on me for not being more physically fit, but for me to beat up myself wbout it now would only make things worse, not better. One thing I can tell you is that since there are days I hurt too much to leave my apartment and I can't predict how I'll feel the following morning (I also have insomnia as a result of my conditions, which is a pain of its own), I am in no shape to hie myself to a gym or devote myself to tracking and "controlling" my weight. (Which, if we're being honest, requires a level of dedication approaching that of those with eating disorders.) Nor do I gorge or eat large quantities -- I have acid reflux and IBS and would be extremely uncomfortable if I regularly overate.

 

So the suggestion that it's my civic duty to lose weight is more likely to be met with expletives and a boot to the rear than thanks.

 

For what it's worth, I weigh 15-20 lbs. less than my highest ever weight, but I couldn't tell you why and wasn't doing anything specific to achieve it.

 

Also, to be clear: I am not interpreting anyone's post on this thread as a personal attack, just taking something that's easy to generalize and pontificate about and applying one person's specifics to it. I am sure I'm not the only person in the world with conditions that make it difficult if not impossible to meaningfully change my weight short of risky surgery. Moreover, the kneejerk approach to obesity is not only uninformed, it is seriously lacking in compassion. Fat people are the one group it's apparently still okay to criticize and blame for higher medical costs when it's not that simple.

 

I don't smoke. I rarely drink alcohol and I don't use illegal drugs. Those are choices. You don't see me pointing fingers at those who do, telling them they're responsible for higher medical costs, even though some of them are. You want to point fingers, you need to point a finger at everyone, because no one takes care of their health (or anything else) 100% perfectly.

 

/gets off soapbox

[+ quoththeraven]

Carrie Fisher speaks out on this issue and on aging - "Youth and beauty are not accomplishments"