Yea but it's not just genetics, it's psychological issues and things like family environment. There may be a child who has no say in the processed food they eat, who has never been taught any healthy habits or how to cook, and end up as an obese 18 year old... It's going to be very hard to suddenly change the only lifestyle they've known.

But that doesn't mean you can treat them as scum. If someone is happy with their weight shut the **** up and leave them to live their own life.

Yeah except they do bother others. They take handicap spots from people who ACTUALLY need it, like veterans who had their legs blown off or people with cancer, they take wheelchairs from the elderly and the physically handicapped, and they suck massive amounts from people in health bills. You pay the price for THEIR mistakes pal.

So sports players who provide absolutely no benefit to society besides entertainment can have hundreds of thousands of medical bills for needless injuries and its ok, but the fat scientist that makes modern life better for everyone is a drain on society because he has some medical bills? Maybe we should change our priorities a little.

#29 There are 4,000 professional footballers in England and Wales. About a quarter of men and women in the UK are obese, coming out to nearly 16 million people. that means, for professional footballers to take up the same amount of money that obese people do, they'd have to spend 4,000 dollars in care to every dollar that an obese person does in health care, and that simply does not happen.

But you ignore the millions of non professional and highschool level players that also get injured.

#91 yes, I am ignoring them because the non-pro player is doing it in a lot of ways just to stay in shape. Yes, there are those in the non-pro ranks who are trying to become pro, but if you're including high school players, then you're getting into the territory of people doing it to stay in shape and to have fun. You might as well change your complaint to say something like: everyone complains about obese people being a cost to society, but no one ever talks about the injuries that non-obese people get while doing normal daily activities. Which really starts to sound like a silly argument. Of course people get injured sometimes during daily activities. However, the injuries you might get while staying in shape are still less than the medical costs of obese people, and probably less than the taxes you pay. Yes, there is the occasional torn ACL, which in the states costs $20,000 out of pocket, of course that's inflated. That's really the only sports surgery that costs more than the cost that the individual pays in taxes. However, obesity comes with a ton of medical complications, much more than the cost of sports injuries. And most sports injuries are just the negative consequence of keeping in shape, which is a huge positive. I think everyone could agree that those are doable expenses. There is no pluses to obesity, and it is draining on health care. Yes, the obese scientist you mentioned might have a net plus, but the average obese person is not a scientist. Moreover, the obese scientist would have an even bigger plus if he were to lose some weight and lessen his strain on society.

There are way safer ways of staying fit and healthy.

no.

An actual "physical deformity." Just offensive that you're implying people who *look fine* couldn't possibly have a medical issue that'd make them want to use the scooter.

do tell. what deformity are you thinking if that isnt a physical one that would require scooter help? you offered, can you name some?

Well there could be something like nerve damage, there could be mental issues that prevent them from walking correctly, there are many explanations for why someone might need a wheelchair, being fat because you eat too much shouldn't be one.

@62: severe fibromyalgia, people with lung and heart problems who physically cannot handle as much as everyone else, people with spinal problems. there's plenty of invisible illnesses; be careful of judging who can/can't be "disabled" even without the issue of obesity in the mix.

My uncle is overweight, but that's because half of his body was partially/mostly paralyzed in a wreck, along with other medical issues, so he has to use a wheelchair or scooter to get around. He can walk short distances, but it's hard to walk more than that. The point is, it can be impossible to tell if someone is actually handicapped and has trouble with weight or just obese.

My Ehlers-Danlos is considered a physical deformity. The only reason you would know I have a problem is if something was out of place right at that moment.

your first point is fine... second point: sure, but when youre a thousand pound behemouth shoveling down fried chicken wings and lard filled bullshit in a motorized scooter simply because your knees would crumble under the weight, its just plain irresponsible, and it makes your third point untrue because it IS disgusting.

thats their business, and i keep my judgements of that kind to myself, but i will definitely let my kid know the differences.