Why does America want us to be so thin? Options

[glorwen]

I mean, seriously. I, myself am not thin and I never will be. I have a large family, and I have a really bad metabolism.
Besides, back in medevil (sp?) times, women who were heavier-set were viewed as healthier, and ble to bear better sons... not that I want that last part... XD

So, this raises the question; why do Americans feel the need to look down upon us larger girls, and think that we aren't pretty, aren't as smart, can't do as many things, etc.?

[medic]

America does not want you to be thin. Considering that a large percent of Americans are actually over weight, it is the fashion industry that puts a heavy hit on it. Don't blame it on just one country.

[fameONE]

Civilians are fat and disgusting.

[*Kathleen*]

^ Haha. Gee, thanks. My self-esteem went down about twenty points.

[fameONE]

^No prob.

Seriosuly, I'm tired of all these schemes and programs to help people lose weight. It comes down to personal resonposibility. I've watched people, single-handedly, lose 50 punds in 3 months by doing simple physical training (running, pull ups, crunches). So when people complain about their weight, I'm not moved. They deserve to be fat and nasty.

[bobby james]

^^ True. A lot of the obesity and fat is cause by laziness.
All of my "chubby" girl friends complained about how they wanted to lose weight and change their eating habits. What happens? "Oh, let's go to panda express after school" "let's order pizza for lunch" My one friend would eat something every 30 minutes, she wanted some hot cheetos or was buying some junk food from someone or complaining about her hunger, but then turned around and complained about how fat she was. Tell her to go to the gym and she'll look at you like you're crazy. Oh, but she wants to lose weight. Makes excuses about 'loving their bodies so much and not changing' but deep down my friends are so uncomfortable in their skin, excuses caused by laziness are the worse.

[fameONE]

What people fail to understand is that your physical health is detrimental to a long and healthy life. These fat motherf**kers that walk the street and go from fast food restaurant to fast food restaurant are going to die and make things harder on their paulbearers.

If your plus sized physique is hereditary, that doesn't mean you can't keep in shape. but being fat just to be fat; c'mon now, that shit's lame.

[pandamonium]

American doesnt want us to be thin America wants us to be healthy. We are all supposed to be living around the age 110 or 120 but most of us die premature deaths like around 60 -80 cause we eat all these bad foods and the pollution we live with. America just wants the new generation of kids to grow up healthy cause we are all eating this fast food and this bad stuff.

But on the other hand media tends to stretch it too far but show anorexic models like nicole freaking disgusting richie.

[HakunaMatata]

It's not about being thin, it's about being healthy, like everyone here has said. Food availability here is like, humungously high. I can walk to McDonalds, Jamba Juice, Panda Express, Starbucks, you name it. Donut shop? Shoot, five minute drive. The media does portray that to be pretty, you must be skinny, but I think less and less people are buying that. Ads are coming out by companies like Dove and Adidas that are a tad more realistic.

[*yrrnotelekktric*]

...because compared to everyone else, america is wambo.

[Sheida]

I do not view larger people in any of those ways. I say if a person has a good personality it should not matter at all what they look like on the outside. I guess people need one more thing to make other peoples lives harder, and to feel less accepted just so they have a feeling of superiority.

But still, people should excersize and eat right to be healthy, not just to fit in.

[starlette]

I can answer this in a simple statement. America is a country of extremes; if fat is bad for you we have to jump to the other end of the scale. People have a problem with being in the middle. and not enough people are campaigning to show the world that super skinny is unhealthy as well. So many people only see fat as unhealthy. but like I said, this country doesn't like happy-mediums.

[twinkles6801]

id rather be smaller to be healthier and more comfortabe, but i would rather not feel so unexcepted because i am not slim, its hard enough.

[Laughsalot]

hmmm i think it's the fashion/model society that thinks that girls should have an overall skiiny body. like tiny breasts, butt, waist, arms, legs. but in the hip hop or whatever is all about letting the thighs/ass and breasts grow out naturally while they should have a tiny waist. let everything grow out but keep the waist small kind of thing.

[brandewijn]

Alright. I'm a larger woman. I wasn't once upon a time but that all changed about 3 years ago. :)

I don't see anything wrong with the govt. pushing for a healthier population. You whining about the push to a healthier lifestyle is like whining because I'm a smoker and there are "smoking is bad for you. don't do it" signs every which way I turn.

I'm obese, I'm on my way to a healthier lifestyle and I'm glad that there are people out there pushing people to be healthy. Not just sit around and whine about how it's "in the genes" and not their fault that they ate an entire bag of Reece's Peanut Butter Cups and a pint of Ben & Jerry's last night out of pure boredom. Binging, snacking, unhealthy eating has nothing to do with "genes" or bad metabolism. It has to do with the way you live your life.

I'm an American by birth but I grew up all over Europe. I was always thin until I moved to the US with lovely convenient McDonalds restaurants on every corner whereas in Italy, the closest was 2 hours away. I won't blame it on the food chain either, I blame it on myself.

I'm unhappy with my weight, unhappy with my clothing size and I can't blame it on anyone but myself. If you are overweight/obese and are happy with your appearance then, more power to you!

I don't think every female should be model thin. But obesity is a rising issue and people are getting larger and larger, as are today's children and tomorrow's will be even fatter. I don't think bigger people should be made fun of or looked down upon. But I don't think we should be given special liberties because we are lazy and/or eat too much.

Look at was it Italy or Spain who recently banned models from the runway who are too skinny? No, they didn't want fat models but HEALTHY models! Heroin chic is out. Healthy is in. Now we Americans are always the last to catch on.

[Miss[x]Tiff]

well...fat girls look...ugly(no offence). Also being fat/not fit isn't good for you.

It's people like you that upset me. Also how can you say "no offense" to a obviously offensive comment? T_T

Anyway, as a few people have already said, just because youre thin, doesn't mean youre healthy. I know pleanty of skinny chicks out there who can't go up 5 flights up stairs without stopping. While me, a bigger female, can do it without a problem.

Also, skinny =/= pretty. There are some ugly skinny ladies out there. So don't give me that.

[TheRisingSun16]

I think it has to do with T.V., music, and modeling. Everywhere you look you see skinny girls barely wearing clothes. It's pretty sickening that America sees this as the "natural woman." I'm not overweight, but you still won't see me in a skanky outfit. So actually it's an insult to just about every girl out there...

[lightsabersavvy]

well it's pretty much americas fault, in my opinion. honestly. you could feed like everything in the world with all these fast food restaurants around. and the problem is that it's almost like it's available to everyone, because it's so cheap. and it doesn't help that there are huge servings of it all. people back then were just naturally thin because, hey, they had to do all the work and they had to go find other stuff to do rather than just sit inside on the computer, playing video games, watching tv, etc.

and i don't think america necessarily 'puts down' over weight people, but it is unhealthy. me, i'm not thin. ha. i weigh a lot, actually, but i don't really look it. i have a lot of muscle, is all. it kind of dissapoints me how i get heavier even though i think i look thinner.

okay, now i'm ranting. but yeah. some people just can't help it.

[Joss-eh-lime]

It's just the media using skinny girls to be the front person of every commerical,
magazine, business, or tv show to imprint in our minds what the right way to look is.
It's true, before our time a curvier physique was better, but I'm sure even then
there were many who couldn't measure up. Whats desired in socitey changes
& they are usually only a small amount of people who can achieve "the look".
I think the best thing anyone can do is just strive to feel confident in themselves
and be healthy at the same time.

[vash1530]

bcuz tha country is too fuckiin fat as a whole

[*My Cinderella.*]

I understand that America doesn't their people to be overweight, but it doesn't mean they have to be toothpick skinny. I think its just society and the media that makes people feel that way.

[redmoonflower]

I find this stupid Skeleton=MODEL!! Regular to heavy set girl=LOSE WEIGHT YOUR UGLY! I get sick of everyone saying that their fat!! But, also we have an obesity problem and it needs to be fixed, but going skeleton isnt good to your health.. you could even die but no one is seeing this. When people say "Obesity Strikes America" people start to think "Ohhh , my, gosh!! I'm one of those fat people who need to lose weight." Also the supermodel approach isnt helping either, sticking your finger down your throat to lose weight! it disgust me!! I mean.. I look tiny on the top but I have thighs and butt!! I cant change that, I know it. But, this is just outrageous.. and then they also blame it on stress... Yeah.. ok.. stress it hard, its takes it toll, but making yourself throw up over stress is dumb...

[AngelinaTaylor]

Tiff' date='Dec 30 2006, 1:21 PM' post='2392307']
It's people like you that upset me. Also how can you say "no offense" to a obviously offensive comment? T_T

Anyway, as a few people have already said, just because youre thin, doesn't mean youre healthy. I know pleanty of skinny chicks out there who can't go up 5 flights up stairs without stopping. While me, a bigger female, can do it without a problem.

Also, skinny =/= pretty. There are some ugly skinny ladies out there. So don't give me that.

He's right about the part that if you're skinny, you're more likely to be healthy than if you're grossly overweight.

Come on, being fit is always better. You don't have to be super-skinny to do that either.

[miiichellley]

It's weird how we're all under pressure to be so thin yet what do Americans seem to eat all day? Fast food, junk food, high calories, high sodium, high carbohydrates, the list goes on. I hate it when people like models or anorexics or bolemics (sp?) force themselves to be toothpicks, but it annoys me when people don't watch out for their weight and get totally obese. So best advice..eat on a steady diet and excercise, but not too much.. to keep yourself in shape.

[voguelove]

maybe it's because we're sick of the sterotype, "americans are fat."

[miiichellley]

Also 'cause people think they'll look like a sexy supermodel if they shrink it down when it just makes them look like a retarded chopstick.