Controversial: The Right to Be Obese

Personally, I feel that humans have the right to look or feel anyone that they want as long as it doesn’t break the law or interfere with the lives of others. There is a thread on Livestrong.com that brought up the issue of people that try to gain weight and want to be 400, 500, 600 lbs — as big as possible. Some people feel that this should be against the law, that we should protest it, or tax it. While others bring up the argument of obesity making health care cost more money and yada yada.

I’ll share with you some of my responses to this thread and how I feel about the issue:

“Allowed to? Well, sure. I say whatever adults want to consent to that doesn’t break the law, directly hurt or change the life of others (even if it hurts themselves), then they have the right to do so. While many people might not agree with certain things like: alcohol abuse, prescription drugs, food abuse, cults, religious beliefs, evolution, gangster rap, political views, body piercing, having children out of wedlock, anorexia, circumcision, adult movies, strip clubs, etc., it is no one’s job to the be moral police unless it’s somehow interfering with their freedom and/or lifestyle.”

“Health care and other insurance costs are also raised by:

- Bad drivers causing accidents and doing bodily harm. Car insurance and health insurance goes up because of this

- People that drink too much alcohol make health care go up

- Smokers

- Pollution makes health care go up and we are ALL guilty of that in a civilized society. Driving a car, using plastic anything, drinking bottled water, using an air condition, and buying foreign products are just a FEW of the things that humans contribute to environmental pollution and completely unnecessary for survival

- People having kids that they cannot afford makes health care go up because the state has to pay for it, which makes taxes in general go up

- People that hurt and/or disable themselves doing something optional like like BBQing, skiing accidents, hiking, boating, skateboarding, yard work, camping, etc. etc.

- People that get skin cancer from tanning too much make health care go up

- People that abuse drugs or go to rehab make health care costs go up for everyone

Nobody is perfect and what people choose to do to or for themselves is their own business. Living in a modern society, you cannot pick and choose which vices are acceptable and which ones are not when they are in the same optional-to-survival class. You CANNOT control how a person CHOOSES to look or feel. It’s their individual right.

I don’t want to pay taxes or higher premiums for a lot of things that I choose not to do to/for myself, but I accept it as part of a civilized society and I support a person’s right to have the freedom to do unto themselves as they please. This is not to be confused with laws and regulations that take our liberties away from us and/or force us to do things without any say in the matter. The government already has enough say in how and when we do things, some people think we should give them 100% control of our lives? I’m very happy thinking for myself, I don’t need someone else to do it for me. Free will is a precious thing, we shouldn’t put it up for grabs. We’re human beings, not machines that need to be pre-programmed.”

“I agree with taking self-responsibility. I pay for all of my health care and don’t expect anyone else to, nor do I blame anyone or anything for my obesity. However, I do not think health care is the only reason for why people say that the morbidly obese have no right to be that way; I think health care is the only argument people can use without looking like a completely prejudice and hateful person because they are actually repulsed by obesity, the same way some people are repulsed by full-body tattoos, they just use health care as their legitimate (politically correct) argument.

Oh, and here’s a little dose of reality for those that think “well, I’m only 40 lbs overweight, it’s not as serious as being 200 lbs overweight”; unless you have a medical condition that causes you to gain weight unwillingly and/or making it harder to lose it, you willingly made yourself overweight or obese if you overate and/or under-exercised. Unless you are completely oblivious to the fact that overeating and/or under-exercising is what causes weight gain, then you are willingly putting yourself in a position to gain weight. Period. Whether you are 20 lbs overweight or 200 lbs overweight, unless you have an underlying medical condition, you still ate too much or moved too little and that was your choice, no one else’s. Which also means, you are in the same exact boat as these people that are trying to top the scales at 400, 500, 600 lbs. The only difference is speed.

These people are trying to do it as quickly as possible, whereas most other people think that they have time and age on their side to lose their excess weight. In the end, being overweight or obese still has the same exact consequences, it’s just a matter of how soon they kick in. For someone weighing 500 lbs, that will likely come when they are 35-40 years old; for someone that’s 175-250 lbs (example) and overweight with fat, they can probably get through life feeling “ok” until they are in their 50s and 60s, but in the end, it’s the same exact outcome, just different speed rates.

Bottom line: Don’t think you are above anyone simply because you paced your weight gain slightly better than others. You followed the same exact formula that these fat extremists are; overeating and/or under-exercising. You’re in the same exact boat, whether you realize it or not.

This isn’t directed towards anyone in particular, this is just a general statement and a reality check for those that are hypocritically judging people for the same things that they do.”

Please feel free to discuss this in the comments.