<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/15/age-of-obesity-shaming-overweight-people>
The punchline:
"Perhaps this is because obesophobia is often a fatly-disguised form of
snobbery. In most rich nations, obesity rates are much higher at the
bottom of the socioeconomic scale. They correlate strongly with
inequality, which helps to explain why the UK’s incidence is greater
than in most European and OECD nations. The scientific literature shows
how the lower spending power, stress, anxiety and depression associated
with low social status makes people more vulnerable to bad diets.
Just as jobless people are blamed for structural unemployment, and
indebted people are blamed for impossible housing costs, fat people are
blamed for a societal problem. But yes, willpower needs to be exercised
– by governments. Yes, we need personal responsibility – on the part of
policymakers. And yes, control needs to be exerted – over those who have
discovered our weaknesses and ruthlessly exploit them."
Via John Verdon and Christopher Lamke.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
