I know I made a mess of myself. When I was 20 and a junior in college, I weighed 248lbs. This is according to my doctor. By the time I graduated college, I was tipping the scales at 260-265lbs. This is an estimate since I was actually concerned about hopping on the scale (there are weight limits on those things, you know).
Why did I let it get out of control? The simple answer is because I didn’t care to control it. I simply let myself float towards the heavier portion of the scales. I easily gained 60lbs while I was in college. Each year, I had a more obvious double chin, and soon I stopped appearing inphotos. By my senior year, I was in almost none. I became a photographer to avoid being photographed, which worked out well since I enjoy having a camera and capturing things that I feel are worth remembering (be it a game of beer pong or a tree in the Arts Quad).
Since college, I have lost the weight and then some – which is actually quite nice and required little active work. It was mainly a lifestyle change… smaller portions and less butter, oil, grease. Within the last few months, I find myself drinking less. Recently, I’ve started going to the gym and running. Where I found it quite difficult to run home after class, now I easily run 3-4 miles. Of course, I would love to be healthier, but it’s a work in progress.
The reason I bring this up is because of an article I read in the New York Times. The article, “Heavier Americans Push Back on Health Debate”, struck a cord with me. It boggles my mind that there are organizations like National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance and Council on Weight and Size Discrimination (I tend to believe that the latter serves a more legitimate purpose – the prevention of discrimination). At my heaviest, I was never exactly proud of my size, and I was very aware of the health risks it posed for me as a young adult. With diabetes, heart disease, and stroke running strong on my father’s side of the family, I was never comfortable with my expanding waistline.
I was not and could not be proud to have joined the ranks of so many obese Americans. At the age of 20, I was an American stereotype. I was too large for certain seats. It is actually a concern that stuck with me. It is one of the prominent reasons why I will not sit on the subway during Rush Hour. I can now comfortably fit in the seats, but at 260, I would most likely spill onto another passengers lap. It is embarrassing, and it is somewhat shameful. The resolution to this dilemma is not produce larger and larger seats but educate the public and produce smaller and smaller waistlines.
With Americans being so large, it is easy to become tolerant and accepting of the new American. The wider and beefier breed will soon become the status quo, and that is a major disservice to the future of this country. Yes, you can be healthy at a larger size, but it is safe to say that majority of the population is not healthy at an extremely high BMI with fat percentages well over suggested levels.
I disagree completely with the statements made by most of the people in this article. So many people say they cannot help their size, but they will be irresponsible when it comes to meals. Also, why is it that Americans are becoming heavier? The article cites some disturbing statistics about the levels of obesity rampant in the country. The body does not produce fat out of nothing, and I believe that is something we must acknowledge.
With that being written, I do not believe we should bar the overweight from receiving medical assistance. Do we prevent smokers from receiving chemotherapy or other medical procedures due to their smoking? Do we oppose alcoholics receiving treatment for cirrhosis that has ravaged their livers? No, and to do that to an overweight person, battling what may be a food addiction, is immoral and definitely wrong.
But don’t lie to yourself. I was so much larger because of my decisions. I saw myself binging on chicken wings and cheap beer. I don’t have a glandular problem (I think); I’m not big boned. Most are not fat because they must be fat, it is because you have chosen to be fat – on some level. Smokers aren’t naturally inclined to be smokers; they choose to smoke. I think we need to stop tip-toeing around that fact.
Here now is my favorite NYC Subway Ads against obesity:
Of course, here’s the opposition:
Ah, it’s good to be an American, but must we be fat Americans? The answer is no.
JJRC
