They are boring, lazy, slow, weaker, less scrupulous, undisciplined, sloppy and dishonest. People with abnormal body weight often meet such opinions. Society says – why take care of them, better arrange a pig-killing.
Warsaw. The clinic in Żoliborz. A woman weighing 130 kg wants to do densitometry, i.e. a bone mineral density test. The technician declines, citing the machine’s load limit.
Germany. Herne, Ruhr. Hairdresser to obese woman: “Your caliber clients spoil my armchairs.” He points out that he will service it conditionally, but in the future he is not to come anymore.
USA. Geoffrey Miller, professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico and the University of New York: “Dear obese students applying for a PhD program: if you do not have enough willpower to cut down on carbohydrates, you also will not have the willpower to write and defend a thesis” .
There are many forms of discrimination.
New Zealand authorities refused to extend a work visa for a 2007 kg South African immigrant from South Africa, living there since 130, Albert Buitenhuis. Why: Buitenhuis’s obesity increases his risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. And thus – expenses from the New Zealand budget for its possible treatment.
Some US airlines began charging obese passengers for two seats if they couldn’t fit into one seat. Samoa Air was the first to introduce a pay-per-kilo system.
The idea to increase fares for obese passengers was also considered by Ryanair. This would apply to customers whose weight would be over 130 kg for men and 100 kg for women, and all those whose BMI is greater than 40 kg / m2.
The airline group KLM / Air France came up with a similar idea, which wanted to impose the obligation to buy a second ticket on obese passengers occupying more than one seat. It was only after the reaction of the French government and associations protesting against the discriminatory policy of the airlines that the concept was withdrawn.
Thirty-year-old Weronika encounters daily manifestations of discrimination. As she says, everyone reminds her at every turn that she is fat. At work, she was the only one who did not get a raise. In the clothing store, the saleswoman did not let her try on the blouse. – «You won’t find anything with us,» she said.
You don’t even have to leave your home to feel discriminated against.
«I hate fat guys. Especially in the summer, on the bus, on the street, when they put their drums out and sweat like pigs, fu. Take care of yourself, finally lose weight and look like people !!! » – is one of the many voices on the internet. Others echo him that “fat is disgusting, because he eats for five while people in the world are starving, that a pig slaughter should be arranged or euthanasia or sent to an extermination camp”.
Contrary to appearances, these voices do not come only from people who present their misunderstanding of obesity openly, without any inhibitions.
These are opinions that patients hear from doctors who, apart from reducing the amount of food they eat and activating physical activity, have nothing to offer them.
Katarzyna L., 45. Krakow. 165 cm, weight 95 kg. He has been fighting obesity for 10 years. The history of these struggles is long and fruitless. Kasia suffers not only physically, however. More severe are the attitudes of the environment, family and even the doctor who, when she asked for help, said that “there were no fat people in Oświęcim”.
Iga heard from the internist to lock the refrigerator with a padlock. Another advised to hang a mirror in the kitchen. «If you see clearly, your appetite will go away immediately» – he concluded.
Iza B. was not thin from an early age, but with time she gained more and more weight. At 16, she weighed 65 kg. Today she is 40 years old. The same is her BMI. Does not work. He has been on a pension for several years. He doesn’t actually leave the house. – In the evenings I sneak to the neighborhood shop to buy something to eat – he admits. It was a shame on her day, since she heard the comment from the neighbors: “What she was supposed to eat in her life, she must have already eaten”.
Another time, in a taxi, the driver made her pay more than the taximeter had indicated. Reason? «Too much load on the car increases the fuel consumption».
Krystyna S. from Warsaw wanted to buy a trip abroad. Lady in the office: “Maybe a slimming holiday is better?”.
In February this year. Mariola Z., an accountant, lost her job. The reason was that it is too thick. When the management of the company for which she worked changed, the new boss examined her carefully and said: “Thank you already. In the company, we focus on a modern image ». Mariola had no illusions what it meant for a moment.
The problem also affects men. American, Michael W., who has been living in Warsaw for many years: «I wanted to sign up for fitness. Coach after a short conversation with me: please don’t waste your money. Looking at you, you can see that nothing will come of it ».
Piotr G., 29 years old, 105 kg complains that in contacts with other people he has the impression that they feel disgusted with him, they avoid sitting close or even shaking hands, as if obesity could be spread by airborne droplets. In the end, the employer decided to end the cooperation, explaining that Piotr discouraged clients from contacting the company.
Discriminatory behaviors faced by people suffering from obesity lead to withdrawing in themselves, avoiding contact with the environment, mood disorders and even severe depression. And yet obesity is not a disorder of aesthetics, but a disease associated not only with improper diet, but often also ailments that, despite numerous attempts to lose weight, do not allow you to lose weight.
Tekst: Lidia Banach