just to add in some thoughts here:
Many "obese" people don't find it so easy to just "lose the weight". Just like every pound piled on [some over the course of years due to many varying reasons, some put on lots of pounds rather quickly due to various reasons], every pound must go. But for many "obese" people with every pound dropped is a list of other issues that I'd like to point out:
1] mentality - they have to retrain their brain
2] psychological - to deal with many of the issues that lead to them being overweight, because despite common beliefs just "eating bad" is NOT why many people are overweight
3] they have to reach a point where they love themselves enough to hate what they've become [combine 1&2 here because by being obese society has taught us we are monsters and we often see ourselves as such]
4] support- they have to have positive support [good example: some one willing to teach them healthy cooking habits][bad example: someone tells them all you need is to eat healthier > news flash they know that <]
5] a diet that will work for them, which means most often going your doctors and setting up a dietary plan
6] starting light exercise- being put of shape, it's hard to jump right into exercising, so we have to start light
7] dealing with how others react to us: this goes back to number 2. See it's not that we obese people "fear" being bullied or picked on or judged, it's that we are. We see the looks, we hear the comments. Everywhere. From strangers to family. And we reach a point where something in us breaks and we say "you wanna see a fat monster fine" and we refuse to change because we're dammed if we do and dammed if we don't. We hear the judgmental comments more then perhaps people realize and it crushes us until we don't care anymore. Because a cheese curl doesn't call me a whale, or ask if I've ever thought about going on a diet [no lady the thought never crossed my mind, guess that's why I've spent most of my life on one diet or another trying to loss the fat], or be told if I only just "eat healthier or exercised more" I'd magically be skinny. No, we don't fear judgment, we live with it everyday. And it's one of the many things that break us down and make us feel worthless.

So to sum up:
Yes we can choose to eat healthier and exercise, but it takes YEARS to undo the damage done. So it's really not that easy.

As for obese people being given "same rights": all most of us want is to be treated with more decency, and less judgment. We are human beings with feelings and emotions too. And we all have a story of why we are the way we are, maybe next time instead of offering the "eat healthier" or "exercise" advice, you ask them about their lives, it might shock you to find out why some of us put the weight on to begin with... just sayin

Yes, we all do.....and its up to each of us to determined if how we are is a positive or a negative influence in our lives.....its not for haters to determine.

while true, it's easier said then done. Some people have been beaten down and aren't that strong, it takes time for some people to be able to stand up and not let the negative dominate their lives.... took me til I was 22 to finally stand up for myself and be able to move forward without caring about what others say or think [doesn't mean it doesn't sting a little sometimes] but not everybody is that strong.

Nobody said life is easy....or fair. Its still an individual choice to sink or swim......whether youre 10 ft from shore, or a mile from it.

I have to say...it depends on the job being considered. There are certain fast paced, high energy jobs that a significantly obese person may not be suitable for. That being said, yes the same rights should be given, as in, being able to provide for their families, being able to interact socially, and the right to not be discriminated against based on size.

BUT, as for wider seats, doorways and accommodations on planes (paying for 2 seats) and such...I just don't know. Everyone can't be accommodated in a "one size fits all" kind of way...

N some ppl who r considered obese have medical issue that play a role in them being obese! And they face other health issues ad well!

If they do the truffle shuffle first then they should be allowed the same rights :p


http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t5whaRkuipU