Sensitive Subject: Overweight Kids at Disney and in USA in General

[Sandy V.]

The day I worry about what someone from France thinks about America or Americans is LONG into the future, but that's another subject . . .

 

[MosMom]

Some of us have no problem with it. I'd rather be fat on the outside than ugly on the inside.

Indeed there are some VERY ugly 4/6 people in this world.

 

[caitycaity]

pnelson - i didn't say anything about health reasons for being overweight in my post.

but seriously, you do realize that some people would not be healthy at size 4-6, right? i don't even think i could get to a 4 if i tried. like i said, at my doctor recommended weight i'm a 12 (sometimes a 10 in shirts since i don't have big boobs). i know because that is what i used to weigh.

dh and i (yes both fat) are going to france this summer. i'll let you know how much we get laughed at. funny, the last time i was there no one laughed at me. probably because they are more polite than some people in the U.S. obviously are.

 

[NMAmy]

In our school district, gym is not required after the 5th grade--it's an elective. Kids no longer walk to school. I was appalled when DD sprained her ankle and I had to take her back and forth to school. The parking lot was FILLED with cars. Hardly any children were walking home. Now we live in a very quiet suburban town--I really have no worries about my daughter walking back and forth to school. She walks with a neighbor.

I'm not surprised that so many children are overweight when they can't walk home a few blocks and have no exercise at all during the day. Many of the middleschoolers at her school are extremely overweight.

My daughter and I are both (luckily) naturally thin--but we also get out and move around a bit. Well, her more than me but I still go to the gym several times a week. She plays basketball, volleyball, and softball.

 

[floridafam]

I also didn't say anything about my thyroid problem causing obesity.

I am not overweight. Here is a picture to prove it.
http://homepage.mac.com/energylab/PhotoAlbum2.html

I love how someone assumes I am overweight just because I said I have a thyroid problem.

FWIW, my brothers were both very thin, ate normal food-not too much junk and they are both dead. One of a heart attack and the other of colon cancer. So I guess genetics can play a part. My Mother has never been overweight and she has high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

I'm done with this thread.

 

[perdidobay]

"And I notice it in my age group inparticular-late 30's, early 40's...Seems to be a prime time for people to let themselves "go" and use many exuses to gain weight."

JMHO, but maybe it's because MOST people in this age group are mature enough to realize being "perfect" in the eyes of others is not important in the grand scheme of things.

I haven't let myself "go", I just love to eat, and my metabolism hasn't kept up! Not an excuse, just the facts, ma'am!!


Better to be big and nice than thin and mean

 

[pnelson]

You know, you guys can call me mean, all you want, it all rolls off. I just believe in calling a duck a duck, if you know what I mean. If I noticed a lot of TALL people at WDW, I would say so. But, what I notice, is a lot of overweight people in this country, and I am not shy about saying so. The same goes for overweight children who are learning what they live from their overweight parents. You want to infer that I am mean or ugly because I am saying, what MANY people agree with? Fine, it doesn't bother me a bit. I know I can walk down Main Street without being red in the face and out of breath, etc. My 5 year old didn't need a stroller when we were there, either. So, say what you want, but I firmly believe, that there are many people who are agreeing with me, but are just too afraid too say anything.

 

[Sandy V.]

Well let me be another one to tell you, pnelson, that whether this country has a weight problem or not, and whether you can proudly walk down the street in size 4/6 clothes looking down upon those that do not . . . no one has yet elected you to be "Miss Morally Superior" or "Miss Self Control".

I'm not overweight and I'm not stick thin . . . but I agree with those that have stated that being nice is far more important than being thin. Please count yourself in the latter group, because you certainly aren't in the former. Your "how can they stand to look in a mirror" comments make you downright mean and rude.

You have no idea WHY certain people are heavy and others are not. Stop acting like it's some sort of character flaw!! Maybe you could squeeze some compassion into your tiny body!

 

[pnelson]

Fine, I'm rude and downright mean. Honestly, I'd rather be mean than fat anyday. There, I said it. And I mean it.

 

[Daisy Duck 5]

I am from Canada. When I went to disney it wasnt the kids I noticed it was the over weight mothers. I know very few woman who are extremely overweight here. Everywhere I look I saw an over weight mother followed by her overweight child. I think fast foods places are to blame. We have fast food in Canada but not as much as the Americans.

 

[caitycaity]

pnelson, no one is calling you mean because you think there are a lot of overweight people in the U.S. there are a lot of overweight people in the U.S.!

i think the mean part is from the "how can they stand to look at themselves in the mirror....it's pathetic" comment.

just a guess.

 

[Tea Please]

Originally posted by pnelson
I exercise, don't eat everything in sight, and work hard to stay a size 4-6.

I also work very hard to keep my pre pregnancy size of 2-4 but in no way, shape, or form, do I have a problem with larger sized people. And your holier than thou attitude is really "fat and pathetic". Let's hope your children don't ever get chubby. I mean with such a perfect mom, it could cause alot of trouble. I too am very judemental, but I judge on character not dress size.

 

[MosMom]

I thought trolls were supposed to be a large breed?

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Tea Please
I also work very hard to keep my pre pregnancy size of 2-4 but in no way, shape, or form, do I have a problem with larger sized people. And your holier than thou attitude is really "fat and pathetic". Let's hope your children don't ever get chubby. I mean with such a perfect mom, it could cause alot of trouble. I too am very judemental, but I judge on character not dress size.

Wow I hope her kids never get fat, she may banish them from the house...they would be to much of an embarrassment to her! She is a truly vile, ugly person.

 

[DMickey28]

It is physically impossible for me to fit into a size 4 pair of pants. I would have to shave off a few inches off my hips and pelvic bones.
How, I wonder, was I able to walk out of the door today without looking like a clown? I mean, to look in the mirror and see myself... how'd I make it?????

If I have nothing better to do at WDW than to even think about what some else thinks when they looked in the mirror, I am probally not only mean but rich.... I wouldn't spend the money to go there if that's what I wasted my time with.......

 

[disneydragon]

Just because a person states their honest opinion, it doesn't make them a troll. And it's interesting how so many people on this thread leaped to judgement about pnelson and started calling her names like vile and ugly, yet were condemning her for making a comment about overweight people.

 

[pnelson]

Actually, I'm not a troll...I have many posts. I just feel that most of the people who are overweight make excuses for themselves and then their children.

And, yes, I did gain weight one time when I was on fertility drugs and I had a hard time looking at myself in the mirror...I couldn't stand the way I looked in my clothes, to be honest. But, I lost those 10 lbs rather quickly.

 

[Pixie_Dust]

Some of these posts sounded judgemental towards the "overweight" and/or bragging if their own kids are "active" or manage to "eat right." I like to see all points of view, so I'm offering another perspective.

Not everyone has the privilege of living in a neighborhood where it is "safe" to let kids run around by themselves outside. Leaving kids unsupervised could be grounds for a call to Child Protective Services in some areas. Plus not every parent or school district can afford the "organized activity" of sports programs, not that those things are appealing to everyone anyway, and kids should not be forced into doing something repellant.

Also, there are additives in food now that did not exist when I was a skinny youngster, ones that are guaranteed to make anyone fat because the body cannot process them properly. Trans-fatty acids (partially hydrogenated fats) and high fructose corn syrup are at the top of the list, and appear in most processed foods. I imagine some people want to give their kids treats or maybe just not fight with them about food when they are on vacation, so I don't judge people by what I see them eat at WDW.

As for at home, I imagine lots of people are too tired or busy to prepare unprocessed food all the time even if they are educated in nutrition and culinary skills, so I am disinclined to throw stones. Speaking of busy, non-Americans might not know how many hours Americans are required to spend at work, commuting, etc., just to make ends meet compared to other countries, or in comparison to times past.

About strollers, I am always amazed that anyone would want to drag little kids to those huge theme parks (especially newborns in the broiling sun!), but if they do, I don't expect them to force march their kids through miles of hot pavement (even though, to be honest, my tolerance is stretched when parents use those strollers as weapons to push through the crowds).

Cheers

 

[ripleysmom]

"Wow I hope her kids never get fat, she may banish them from the house...they would be to much of an embarrassment to her! She is a truly vile, ugly person."

Well she already banished the adopted child because her son didn't like her.

And yeah what perdido bay said!!


No one cares if you notice overweight people pnelson. Being a ***** about it is another thing though.

 

[Christine]

Pixie_Dust,
Great points about the food additives and neighborhoods. I live in an area where I just don't feel comfortable to even let my son wait at the bus stop alone. My kids do not ride around the neighborhood alone on their bikes without an adult with them. Not many other kids in the neighborhood do either. There have been way to many kidnappings around here. Just the other day, in fact, a note went home to all the parents saying that some of the "walkers" had been treated to a genital exposure by some pervert standing in the woods. So while some people can let ther kids run around all day, many people can't. And as I said in an earlier post, my son especially HATES organized sports. So he gets 30 minutes of PE on Fridays and then the rest he has to get from home. His extracurricular activities are piano and drama. Not too much exercise there. Fortunately he is still thin, but that is pure luck!

pnelson--for what it's worth, I'm not offended by your posts; however, many people are extremely sensitive about weight issues and feel helpless, and your comments just hurt. BUT, right now I am about 10-15 lbs overweight, and it IS MY FAULT (I ate 3 brownies today for instance), and I really hate looking at myself in the mirror. And I'm minimally overweight. I can only guess how *I* would feel if I were 20-30 lbs overweight. Very disgusted. But that is me. Many people are lucky enough to be happy and accept their shapes. I could not. But I do not judge them. Everyone has got a story. However, I agree with you that I do not like it when people don't take responsibility for it. I'm overweight and it is my fault. Cookies, brownies, and ice cream snacks everyday take their toll--especially at age 40!