Are Fat People Discriminated Against?
 

I seem to recall a discussion about this a while back but I can't find it on AFF.

Are fat people discriminated against? Do they miss out on jobs and ministry opportunities because of their weight? If you had to choose between exact replicas of the same church - yet one church had a fat pastor and the other a stud muffin, would you choose the stud muffin solely based upon the other guy's obesity problem?

Are fat people paid less?

I'd choose the one with the fat pastor. His weight alone would let me know that this man enjoys good fellowship. And I love good fellowship.

Some of them eat more.

I think people are discriminated against because of their looks. Good-looking trim people are usually given better jobs than less attractive overweight people.

If all things were equal between the pastors except for the weight I'd pick the trim stud muffin. I'd be afraid for the fat guy that when he was preaching and turning red he'd have a heart attack any minute. Oh yeah, and trim guys tend not to break through to the levels below when shockamooing (the trim guys may even spit less -- espeically if the pastor was grossly overweight enough to have fat lips).... :lol

I don't know why fat people would be paid less.

I would choose the stud muffin.

Speaking as a fat person.... YES!

:heeheehee

Speak for yourself Stick Boy!

He he......you called? :D

I preface my comments by telling you that I used to be overweight, but am now in excellent shape. :D.

Corporately, there is definite discrimination.

Within the context of the Apostolic sphere, there doesn't seem to be as much. Look at some of most respected speakers in the UPC. :oops

People, that includes sinners and saints, are definitely more attracted to people who have managed their lives well. Often, being overwieght is an indication of a lack of self-discipline/ self-control.

She called you in to dismiss you. She decided on the stud muffin.:girlpopcorn

Maybe you can give insight to those of us trapped in the cubicle farms.

As one who, in the last 4 years, has gone from morbidly obese to 'fat' with a small 'f' (>450 to 230lbs) some people treat me much better now that I'm almost a 'normal' size.

They should lose the weight and find out.

You're joking, right???

I guess I need a new eating plan for church growth.

Translation - People will trust me, because I am fat.

:donuts:thebunny:popcorn2:icecream

My pastor has expressly urged the ladies to fatten up their husbands, to lessen the chance of infidelity. Somewhat in jest.

I read an article within the last 2 years that proved that there is discrimination against the obese in this country. Discrimination in treatment, by people on the street and in terms of customer service, is quite widespread. Discrimination in employment is not systemic or catholic. There tend to be specific areas of employment that are worse, and in some cases there is the perception of discrimination when the person's obesity truly and technically disqualifies them from the job. All of it is worse for women than for men. Sorry, ladies. It may no longer be a man's world, but the fat lady is still waiting for her invitation to the songfest.

To "discriminate?", against fat people? I'm really not sure that using that word is appropriate in this case. Making a decision not to hire someone because they are overweight, requires one to set a dividing line at best. Studies have shown that the overweight (by this I mean to say, obese and morbidly obese) is a serious health issue that can cost a company a considerable amount of money in health care. Not hiring a smoker, is a wise decision due to the health risk the individual has willingly placed themselves into by using tobacco. People are obese because they have no control over their food intake and do not exercise. Hence, they will have serious health problems as a result. Make no mistake, over eating and nicotine addiction are behaviors that are curable by simply stopping the destructive behavior!

To discriminate then, in my humble opinion, is to be very discerning before hiring someone who is unable to control their personal health and habits which could easily cost the company more than what the employee could ever give by their labor.

I realize my comments will likely set off a fire storm of debate but, as a personnel manager, there has to be a line drawn somewhere. I am required NOT to discriminate against anyone that falls within the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, but the obese and tobacco users are not a protected minority at this time.

Bro. Dave

I don't care if someone is fat if they can hear from God.If the stud muffin cannot hear from God forget it.If the fat man cannot hear from God forget it.
Everyone struggles with some issue.The fat mans is just more evident.What is not evident is what worries me with some folks.lol.

Very interesting. I sat in a seminar some time back where the speaker openly encouraged hiring "the most attractive female your business can afford" for the retail showroom floor. She admitted that it should not be this way but said the data is overwhelming - the attactive female has a huge edge over others in retail. (at least in home furnishings/hearth products decor)

1. Understand that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are not our own. Consistently overeating and indulging in unhealthy, sugar-laden foods destroys your body. Remember, smoking does the same thing and most of us wouldn't dream of taking up the habit.

2. Understand that we are clearly instructed to practice self-control in our day to day living. Overeating and failure to practice healthy eating habits can be a sign of excess and a lack of self-discipline. Begin to choose your foods wisely. Limit carbs. Cut out refined sugars and flours. Choose heart-healthy foods. I would recommend eating organic foods, if and when possible. Begin to view what you take in to your body as yet another spiritual discipline.

3. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Refuse to eat as a means of escapism. Refuse to become addicted to or come under the control of any types of food or beverage.

4. Find some form of excercise. Our bodies were created to move. Take stairs when possible. Walk in the evenings. Ride a bike. You don't have to go to the gym to get 30-45 minutes of good excercise.

Shall I continue?

:D

Neither...I'd look for the guy that is skinny as a rail...grayed hair at an early age.....

Go vegetarian...


Drink soy milk for a snack...




Graze on organic wheat grass...



Love God instaed of yer belly...




Do as i say not as I do....






:killinme

I was being serious.

Probably the one closer to my house. :)

I know brother, it is still sort of funny though.

Hey, he asked. :D

I won't ever forget when God convicted me of my lack of self-discipline in my eating habits. My wife and I changed the way we ate and within 4-1/2 months, we each had lost 50 lbs. Several health problems also left. Today, we thank God that we listened to Him.

That's what I call, "Good Business Sense". Why would I invest in a company that hires Mud Hens to show off their product? There are some jobs that require an attractive person and some that do not.

I just say, GET OVER IT, IT'S A FACT OF LIFE! When I am approached in a store by a fat/obese sales person trying to sell me a fantastic weight loss product would I be convinced? Well actually, I would be offended, as I am not over weight, but you get my point?

;-)

Bro. Dave

Actually I know that they do take this into consideration somewhat in smaller companies. I've been told by our CFO that it is considered... as is age.. I think that is a no brainer though. I would think anyone would rather hire healthy people that will be at work and not out sick.

One reason I do know that companies do monitor health issues is I was told (whether it was appropriate or not) that I was a "good" employee when it came to health insurance... I rarely see the doctor and have no health issues... I work in an office of 20 people... only probably 6 overweight..

I was told in jest that my med history always looks good when it comes time to shop for new health insurance rates... I'm one of our heathiest employees. Our company continually changes health insurance about every year, as we are a relatively small corporation and they look for the best for the money.

Weight doesn't always mean anything though.. I'm 40 years old, 90lbs overweight with perfect BP, BS, Cholesterol. I do exercise most everyday, but just am healthy other than I struggle with weight.

Some of the people on daily meds among my coworkers are not overweight.

Right it is a fact, and no amount of law is going to stop the practice.

I agree with Foreverblessed.Many people are very thin but have high blood pressure,diabetes and other things.Its not being fat that is making them sick.

As to the first post and questions..

I don't see any discrimination with overweight people as I am one EXCEPT when it comes to dating issues.

Overweight men can date thin women... but not overweight women. Most men in general don't give overweight women the time of day... regardless of character, financial stability or what they would have to offer in a relationship.

That's the only discrimination I have seen as an overweight female... :girlpopcorn

I spent first 25 years of my life thin to normal or average size... the latter 15 as an overweight person.

Did you follow a book in print for the dieting or simply change the way you ate?

Ignore the critics, and do continue, please?

Age, should never be considered in hiring. Any company that practices age discrimination is violating the EEOC which is a crime. Anyone that believes a company is guilty of this form of discrimination should report it immediately.

Bro. Dave

well, of course it shouldn't be, but we all know that it happens in companies.

We had dieted before, only to regain it and then some.

We made a decision to change our lifestyle.

We finally made the decision to try a low carb way of eating. We purchased a few books and decided to begin the Atkins program. We felt terrible the first few days, but within 4 or 5 days our energy levels increased rapidly. We lost most of the weight without excercising. Not the proper way to do it, but when you cut sugars and reduce carbs, losing weight becomes a matter of physiology.

After getting to our goal weight/BMI, we adjusted to a moderate carb plan. We have maintained the weightloss for several years.

If you excercise, many people can just eat sensibly and never regain. Right now, I'm somewhere in between moderate carb and eating sensibly.

One thing to remember is that being at your ideal weight does not mean that you are healthy. Losing weight, however, will almost always improve your overall health.

It depends on the level of "overweight", but for the most part this is probably true

God convicted me of not being self-disciplined as well. It was more than just health.. it was just unhealthy foods. When I end up eating sweets, I repent just as anything else I might do in failure or being undisciplined. I repent when I am running behind and end up eating fast food..and continually ask God to help me be more disciplined. I also stopped caffiene because it is basically a drug...and I have to repent about that every so often too. Sometimes sweet tea gets the best of me when eating out.

I will never speak against someone smoking... they struggle against something that they picked up as a habit and struggle to get rid of. (not all, but many)

Overeating is the same as any other addiction.. and it is a very strong one. I have vowed to eat healthier...but you would not believe the struggle...especially in emotional times.

It was all over the news not too long ago that Tyra Banks did a show where she put on a 'fat suit' and went out into public situations, including dating men, as a very obese person to see what it felt like.

From what I understand, she was heartbroken over the way she was treated.