America's Fattest Cities... Houston TX

[Jeni]

I have watched many of those type shows many had abuse in their lives of something and like you said could have turned to drugs/ alcohol ..instead they turned to food.
I really feel those who are morbidly obese are committing slow suicide.......... while often having their families help them do it.

I see what their family also goes through.... having to bathe them or help them move to bathroom etc... often scared if their obese loved one will wake up in morning etc ........
I KNOW many medical personnel who have been permanently disabled after someone over 500 lbs fell on them .. it is a big career altering event for nurses and therapists... paramedics etc

wonder how many family or caregivers have bad backs or have been injured also?

And its fact only a small percentage of them have any actual issues that can't be dealt with that contribute to the weight gain.

Even though it is only a small fraction of cases that is ALWAYS the number one excuse....
Many of us have been overweight and worked hard to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

There are other issues in addition to health costs... i knew a small business restaurants that had to often replace furniture and hand rails etc because they had been stressed and strained or Broken trying to hold up this weight.

 

[hollydolly]

My supermarkets all have the motorized carts. We don't have Walmart in NYC.

I learn something new every day

 

[Shalimar]

Like smokers, obese people drive up the cost of health care insurance for EVERYONE. They are more prone to issues like heart problems, bone and joint problems and diabetes, just to name a few. Yes, people resent being made to pay more because of it. And its fact only a small percentage of them have any actual issues that can't be dealt with that contribute to the weight gain.

Hmmm. As a psychologist, I beg to differ. Even with therapy, not everyone is able to conquer their demons. A far larger percentage of obese individuals carry trauma than is generally known. Most do not advertise the fact. Also, not everyone resents contributing to their care.

 

[Shalimar]

I have watched many of those type shows many had abuse in their lives of something and like you said could have turned to drugs/ alcohol ..instead they turned to food.
I really feel those who are morbidly obese are committing slow suicide.......... while often having their families help them do it.

I see what their family also goes through.... having to bathe them or help them move to bathroom etc... often scared if their obese loved one will wake up in morning etc ........
I KNOW many medical personnel who have been permanently disabled after someone over 500 lbs fell on them .. it is a big career altering event for nurses and therapists... paramedics etc

wonder how many family or caregivers have bad backs or have been injured also?


Even though it is only a small fraction of cases that is ALWAYS the number one excuse....
Many of us have been overweight and worked hard to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

There are other issues in addition to health costs... i knew a small business restaurants that had to often replace furniture and hand rails etc because they had been stressed and strained or Broken trying to hold up this weight.

During decades of being a therapist, I have yet to meet a morbidly obese client who did not have a history of significant trauma. More often than not, they live with CPTSD. As a culture, we must strive to look beyond the surface, to react with compassion, rather than scorn and condemnation.

 

[Remy]

I have watched many of those type shows many had abuse in their lives of something and like you said could have turned to drugs/ alcohol ..instead they turned to food.
I really feel those who are morbidly obese are committing slow suicide.......... while often having their families help them do it.

I've wondered why I never got to that size. But two things I realize are: I wanted the f. away from that family. I moved out but should have moved away. Far far away but I was too beaten down. And I knew I'd probably just have to take care of myself so getting that large was not an option.

 

[Remy]

I applaud that, apparently, your life has been sufficiently free of trauma that you have been able to avoid developing an eating disorder. Many have been less fortunate. As for the comments relating to appearance, this is fat shaming, pure and simple. One final thought. In the real world, fat shaming kills.

It does kill and it isolates. You hear people say get the kids out and exercise. The kid doesn't want to if they are being bullied for their size. Also I was very isolated and often not released from the house or yard for weeks at a time. This is common for borderlines to do to their children. Of coase I didn't know that at the time. I was over 50 before I started to process it all.

 

[Shalimar]

It does kill and it isolates. You hear people say get the kids out and exercise. The kid doesn't want to if they are being bullied for their size. Also I was very isolated and often not released from the house or yard for weeks at a time. This is common for borderlines to do to their children. Of coase I didn't know that at the time. I was over 50 before I started to process it all.

I am so sorry you had to endure all this. As evidenced by certain comments on this thread, this isolation and/or bullying often does not cease once the individual grows up.

 

[Remy]

Thank you @Shalimar your posts, kindness and expertise are very much appreciated. It's the one of the thing I've never been able to overcome.

 

[SeniorBen]

...

 

[Shalimar]

Thank you @Shalimar your posts, kindness and expertise are very much appreciated. It's the one of the thing I've never been able to overcome.

You are most welcome, Remy. I honour your efforts to build a life for yourself in spite of the pain. I think you should be proud of your ability to function, to work, take care of yourself, and your

beloved cats. Many in your shoes cannot, but live lives of emotional paralysis. Sadly, many don’t live at all. I think you are very valiant, and as both a psychologist, and a survivor, I hold you in high esteem.

 

[StarSong]

There is no bigger lie & there is nothing more phony than a seriously-obese person saying "I'm OK with size" or "I'm proud of myself, or
"I'm comfortable the way I am."
The heavier they are, the harder they work to convince themselves of that lie.
That lie is a fat person's way of avoiding dealing with the problem, which takes work & determination & LOTS of stubbornness.
A young person who can't walk, can't bathe, can't go to the bathroom without help, can't live without a nurse is miserable - not the least bit comfortable.
And, No, I NEVER told any of those lies to myself or others at my previous weight 45 years ago (405 lbs.) In fact, I went to bed every night, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning.

Your honesty is refreshing, Win. Thank you for telling it like it really is.

 

[Nathan]

After my divorce I was in don't give a $h!t mode, wasn't a happy time in my life, my weight shot up to almost 300 lbs, as I allowed myself to over indulge in eating & drinking [beer]. I couldn't run, had breathing problems, high blood pressure, was headed for a train-wreck health crisis for sure.
I have empathy for those who's weight has gotten out of control, am happy when they are determined to get that monkey off their back.

 

[win231]

New Orleans does have great food. People might walk more in New Orleans than other places.

I also thought it was New Orleans. Maybe after seeing this chef: (Kevin Belton)
At 62, he's headed for disaster. Such a shame; he's entertaining & fun to watch.

 

[Patricia]

I also thought it was New Orleans. Maybe after seeing this chef: (Kevin Belton)
At 62, he's headed for disaster. Such a shame; he's entertaining & fun to watch.

Well, I think it's possible to find overweight people in most any area. Possibly some overweight people will try to join the group. Talking about weight in gerneral, or areas, might be okay, but I don't want to make people feel uncomfortable.

 

[Pecos]

I don’t know very much about weight control except for one narrow aspect and that is the role of hormones.
When I was under treatment for prostrate cancer, the primary thing used was radiation, but they also kept me on hormones for almost 2 1/2 years. Those hormones took my testosterone down to zero and kept it there. The Doctor told me that among other things, I would experience weight gain. I did gain about 8 pound’s altogether, but I lost a lot more muscle which was replaced by fat. My waist grew noticeably.
When they stopped giving me hormones, it took almost six months for them to leave my body and let testosterone return.
I made no changes to my diet or exercises, but all that fat just disappeared all on its own and my waist returned to its normal size.
I am now back to the weight I had for most of my adult life. Back to what I weighed when I retired from the Navy in 1991.
So I know, absolutely, that hormones play a major role in weight control. Beyond that, I am ignorant of all the other things that play into it.
I have seen so many people struggle with this and know that I am very lucky. Judging people because of their weight doesn’t help.

 

[hollydolly]

I don’t know very much about weight control except for one narrow aspect and that is the role of hormones.
When I was under treatment for prostrate cancer, the primary thing used was radiation, but they also kept me on hormones for almost 2 1/2 years. Those hormones took my testosterone down to zero and kept it there. The Doctor told me that among other things, I would experience weight gain. I did gain about 8 pound’s altogether, but I lost a lot more muscle which was replaced by fat. My waist grew noticeably.
When they stopped giving me hormones, it took almost six months for them to leave my body and let testosterone return.
I made no changes to my diet or exercises, but all that fat just disappeared all on its own and my waist returned to its normal size.
I am now back to the weight I had for most of my adult life. Back to what I weighed when I retired from the Navy in 1991.
So I know, absolutely, that hormones play a major role in weight control. Beyond that, I am ignorant of all the other things that play into it.
I have seen so many people struggle with this and know that I am very lucky. Judging people because of their weight doesn’t help.

I must ask my ex husband about that. He had prostate cancer, and is over it, hopefully, and is now verrrry thin.. he never was a big person ever in his life.. but he's like he's anorexic now..

 

[Patricia]

I don’t know very much about weight control except for one narrow aspect and that is the role of hormones.
When I was under treatment for prostrate cancer, the primary thing used was radiation, but they also kept me on hormones for almost 2 1/2 years. Those hormones took my testosterone down to zero and kept it there. The Doctor told me that among other things, I would experience weight gain. I did gain about 8 pound’s altogether, but I lost a lot more muscle which was replaced by fat. My waist grew noticeably.
When they stopped giving me hormones, it took almost six months for them to leave my body and let testosterone return.
I made no changes to my diet or exercises, but all that fat just disappeared all on its own and my waist returned to its normal size.
I am now back to the weight I had for most of my adult life. Back to what I weighed when I retired from the Navy in 1991.
So I know, absolutely, that hormones play a major role in weight control. Beyond that, I am ignorant of all the other things that play into it.
I have seen so many people struggle with this and know that I am very lucky. Judging people because of their weight doesn’t help.

A push to remove fluoride from the water supply, something that has already taken place in so many countries, and to create a healthier environment in general would be a good start.

 

[Pecos]

I must ask my ex husband about that. He had prostate cancer, and is over it, hopefully, and is now verrrry thin.. he never was a big ever in his life.. but he's like he's anorexic now..

All my life, I have had to workout hard to keep my weight up. Folks don’t like to hear me say that, but if l did not work out with strength building exercises, I would lose muscle. I suspect that there may be a relationship with testosterone, but I don’t know. I do personally know other men with this same experience and they cannot explain it either. I hated being skinny.

 

[Pepper]

My dad was skinny @Pecos. Frank Sinatra too.

 

[hollydolly]

All my life, I have had to workout hard to keep my weight up. Folks don’t like to hear me say that, but if l did not work out with strength building exercises, I would lose muscle. I suspect that there may be a relationship with testosterone, but I don’t know. I do personally know other men with this same experience and they cannot explain it either. I hated being skinny.

Interesting, I'll make a point of asking him next time we speak...

 

[hollydolly]

My dad was skinny @Pecos. Frank Sinatra too.

Frank sinatra was not skinny after he got older...

 

[hollydolly]

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) has secured the right to buy a 2% stake in Just Eat Takeaway.com's (TKWY.AS) Grubhub and will offer no-fee access to the service for a year to U.S. Prime members, hoping to boost subscriptions with a renewed push into meal delivery.

Announced ahead of Amazon's July "Prime Day" marketing blitz starting Tuesday, the deal lets the online retailer's loyalty club members use Grubhub without delivery fees on orders over $12 in more than 4,000 U.S. cities.

Amazon will receive warrants representing 2% of Grubhub's shares, and an additional 13% of shares conditional on the deal bringing Grubhub enough customers.

Amazon's stock rose more than 1%, while Uber shares fell about 4% and Doordash tumbled about 7%. Just Eat Takeaway specified in a statement it continues to "explore the partial or full sale of Grubhub," though there is no certainty any deal will be reached.

In a note on the Amazon deal, analysts from JPMorgan said it would bring new customers and strengthen Grubhub's position in the United States
Globally, Amazon has said it has more than 200 million Prime members. It raised the annual cost of membership to $139 from $119 in the United States this year and has aimed to show the higher price-tag is worth it.

 

[Jeni]

In a note on the Amazon deal, analysts from JPMorgan said it would bring new customers and strengthen Grubhub's position in the United States
Globally, Amazon has said it has more than 200 million Prime members. It raised the annual cost of membership to $139 from $119 in the United States this year and has aimed to show the higher price-tag is worth it.

Ironic isn't it that they are still pushing ppl to just eat out more and more have it delivered....
while in some instances ... maybe unable to get out etc but reality is the people who need this the least are probably the best customers for meal delivery..
SIL had a late meeting at work so his boss offered to buy dinner but SIL had eaten so he ordered some ice cream came out to $36 for a 1 ,5 quarts ... (cost plus delivery plus tip ) Ridiculous IMO

 

[Ruthanne]

No comment. I'm like Patricia in not wanting to make People of Size uncomfortable. Their lives are tough enough with all the prejudice, discrimination and abuse thrown at them continually.

 

[Patricia]

All my life, I have had to workout hard to keep my weight up. Folks don’t like to hear me say that, but if l did not work out with strength building exercises, I would lose muscle. I suspect that there may be a relationship with testosterone, but I don’t know. I do personally know other men with this same experience and they cannot explain it either. I hated being skinny.

Often ladies with curly hair spend a lot of time straightening, and ladies with straight hair spend a lot of time curling. Somehow that came to mind when I read this post.