Medical Right or Offensive?

[Sylar]

I see an argument has arisen about the use of the terms "overweight" or "obese" in a medical setting, as it may be considered "offensive" to patients who are medically considered thus.

I personally think this is a nonsense and wondered what the wider consensus was on here.

The terms "overweight" or "obese" are used to classify people who are in a position whereby their body mass may begin to compromise their health and wellbeing and as medical practitioners, it is up to doctors to ensure patients are aware of both their condition and it's consequences, and that advice/help is provided to help people get back down to a safe weight.

To suggest that these terms are upsetting and that their use should be stopped is laughable in my eyes. If a patient is eating themselves into a potentially early grave (not for a second suggesting that all weight issues are choice related, but for example's sake...), it is on a patient's GP to address the issue and treat them accordingly. By removing the terminology to address the issues, the 2 outcomes are either new terminology (which will still create the same issue further down the line) or ignoring the problem and thus tying a Dr's hands as to a course of action, on account of not wishing to offend the patient.

To claim that these are akin to "playground language" is preposterous.

[Twa Cairpets]

I see an argument has arisen about the use of the terms "overweight" or "obese" in a medical setting, as it may be considered "offensive" to patients who are medically considered thus.

I personally think this is a nonsense and wondered what the wider consensus was on here.

The terms "overweight" or "obese" are used to classify people who are in a position whereby their body mass may begin to compromise their health and wellbeing and as medical practitioners, it is up to doctors to ensure patients are aware of both their condition and it's consequences, and that advice/help is provided to help people get back down to a safe weight.

To suggest that these terms are upsetting and that their use should be stopped is laughable in my eyes. If a patient is eating themselves into a potentially early grave (not for a second suggesting that all weight issues are choice related, but for example's sake...), it is on a patient's GP to address the issue and treat them accordingly. By removing the terminology to address the issues, the 2 outcomes are either new terminology (which will still create the same issue further down the line) or ignoring the problem and thus tying a Dr's hands as to a course of action, on account of not wishing to offend the patient.

To claim that these are akin to "playground language" is preposterous.

I think your're spot on. If you're carrying excess timber then being precious about being medically described as obese (when that is indeed what you are) is the least of your problems.

If you're too big to be healthy, you're too big to be healthy. Being anorexic is descriptive of the condition at the other end of the spectrum - it is not a pejorative term.

[Jack]

How many words would we be expected to get through after the next one became unacceptable?

[Beefster]

If fat folk get upset by words such as 'obese' and 'overweight', they should try eating some lettuce and moving about a bit so that doctors don't need to use the words in their presence.

[Twa Cairpets]

How many words would we be expected to get through after the next one became unacceptable?

I think if I saw "bloater" "chub-a-lub", "wide-load" or "El Porko" on my notes I might take a bit of a strop.

[VickMackie]

Pandering to people and an absolute farce.

I'm about a stone and a half overweight, even 2 stone. I think my BMI is about 28//29. Can't recall of that's obese but I think clinically it is.

That's what I am, I'm not 'on the large side' or whatever pansy crap.

I'm lazy and eat too many chippies. My own making.

[Jay]

Fat people know they are obese. It wont come as a shock to them. Its PC gone mad. If they would put more support services out there for people with chronic weight issues instead of splaffing this nonsense we might be able to help a few people.

[Holmesdale Hibs]

I though both of those words were the PC equivalent of 'fat'?

Neither are offensive in the slightest, I really don't see anyone can find either offensive. Even if we did come up with a new word, 'big boned' or something, people would start finding that offensive in a few years time and it'll get to the point where we don't have a word to describe fat people.

Where does this argument come from by the way, weight watchers? Actually, is 'weight watchers' now considered an offensive brand name?

[Just Alf]

I think if I saw "bloater" "chub-a-lub", "wide-load" or "El Porko" on my notes I might take a bit of a strop.

Lol, as a fat ******* I know I'm technically obese ... If that's what it's really called then that's what it's dam we'll called.... All this PC crap is a complete and utter waste of everyone's time.

I suppose I can sort mesel out, but as I've just bought another pint I'm taking an executive decision to not hand it back!

Next they'll be telling us to let girls into the boy scouts and boys into the girl guides..... Oh wait :-/

[Dinkydoo]

An absolute farce to be even wasting time considering such an idea.......

Reminds me of a comment someone once made that literally forced me to walk out of the room (it was in a work-ish related setting) to avoid getting into an argument. To paraphrase "What really annoys me is that, its deemed not acceptable to call someone a {insert race here} barsteward, but calling me a fat barsteward is ok.".

My mental response was "Get tae f....." as I stood up, and proceeded to leave the premises.

Unbelievable.

[--------]

I think if I saw "bloater" "chub-a-lub", "wide-load" or "El Porko" on my notes I might take a bit of a strop.


Terms like 'overweight' and 'obese' are proper medical terms used to describe a clinical condition - i.e. carrying weight than is healthy for a person of a particular age/height/build.

I am overweight for a man of my age and height. (240 pounds on a frame of 6' 1".) My doctor has told me so more than once, and so far I have done the square root of zilch about it.

Maybe if he let out a whoop of "Thar she blows!" and reached for a harpoon the next time I went to see him, it might motivate me to do something about the problem. (I could see myself indulging in a fairly energetic 200 metre sprint out of the surgery for a start.)

Obesity is an increasingly serious health issue in this country. Calling it by a 'nice' name isn't going to help solve the problem.

How many times have I heard someone explain that their husband/son/father/significant other 'has a problem' when what they really mean is that you'd get 125/1 from Joe Coral against ever finding him/her/it sober, vertical and in his/her/its right mind during the hours of daylight, and no odds at all offered during the hours of darkness cos during the hours of darkness he's always passed out or in the drunk tank?

He doesn't 'have a problem' - he's a habitual drunk, and calling him anything polite isn't going to motivate him to change.

Why should I end up on a crowded train with a fat guy sitting on top of me? (Overweight I may be, but I still fit into a normal train/bus/airline seat.) Why should a fat lady who takes up two seats be charged the same fare as someone who fits into one? Why should a doctor be penalised for telling his or her patient the truth? Truth that the patient should listen to and act upon to save his or her life?

I know what I need to do to shed fat and improve my fitness.

1. Eat less, and eat healthier. There are plenty of professional people who can give me sound advice and encouragement about how to do this.

2. Get off my backside and take exercise. I don't have to join a gym and get a fitness trainer, I just have to start walking places instead of always taking the car. (Though joining a gym wouldn't hurt , I guess.)

If I burn off more calories than I ingest, I will lose weight, specifically the fat that affects my health. If I eat more than I burn off, I'll end up as twin brother to the Great White Whale. Simple. End of.

I know some people have other health problems that need to be addressed, but this is actually a lot less common than many fat people would like to think. "It's my metabolism", nine times out of ten, is an excuse for overeating.


PS - does this mean that when I call Joe Harper "Lardass" I'm indulging in "playground language" and guilty of Political Incorrectitude?

:shocked:

[lapsedhibee]

does this mean that when I call Joe Harper "Lardass" I'm indulging in "playground language" and guilty of Political Incorrectitude?

:agree: Might tone it down a notch to wobblebottom, which as a word has the added advantage of actually sounding more round.