Bollox. Fat people should be hounded and belittled in the same way that racists are. Peer pressure is a powerful tool, and can give you the needed boost to your willpower. I do not believe obese people are REALLY happy with how they look.

Posted by: Devil's advocate | May 16, 2008 5:42 PM

"Finally, what about the fact that fatter people have more insulation and therefore don't need the heating on so high in winter - thus saving energy? I'm not joking about this one...thin people are invariably responsible for bumping up the temperature; a crime I have been guilty of for years."

Not unnecessarily, Abi. What if a heavier person has hypothyroidism and can't stay warm due to poor circulation (dramatic weight gain is another symptom of hypothyroidism). Conversely, what if a very thin person suffers from hyperthyroidism (dramatic weight loss is anther symptom of hyperthyroidism), and does not need much in the way of heating to stay warm?

Posted by: MandyPandy | May 16, 2008 7:26 PM

"Finally, what about the fact that fatter people have more insulation and therefore don't need the heating on so high in winter - thus saving energy? I'm not joking about this one...thin people are invariably responsible for bumping up the temperature; a crime I have been guilty of for years."

Not unnecessarily, Abi. What if a heavier person has hypothyroidism and can't stay warm due to poor circulation (dramatic weight gain is another symptom of hypothyroidism). Conversely, what if a very thin person suffers from hyperthyroidism (dramatic weight loss is anther symptom of hyperthyroidism), and does not need much in the way of heating to stay warm?

Posted by: MandyPandy | May 16, 2008 7:27 PM

"Finally, what about the fact that fatter people have more insulation and therefore don't need the heating on so high in winter - thus saving energy? I'm not joking about this one...thin people are invariably responsible for bumping up the temperature; a crime I have been guilty of for years."

Not unnecessarily, Abi. What if a heavier person has hypothyroidism and can't stay warm due to poor circulation (dramatic weight gain is another symptom of hypothyroidism). Conversely, what if a very thin person suffers from hyperthyroidism (dramatic weight loss is anther symptom of hyperthyroidism), and does not need much in the way of heating to stay warm?

Posted by: MandyPandy | May 16, 2008 7:28 PM

As much as I think that the idea fat people are not green is a bit dramatic, I belive there could be some real basis in the arguement.
First thing, you commmented that you belive that fat people are on diets so they would consume less food. Well, there is something wrong with that statement. Since my questions would be, HOW did they get fat if they are eating less than skinny people are. I realize that people have different metabolisms, but I am SURE that the reason most people have gained the large amounts of weight in the first place, is over-eating or eating the wrong types of food. These wrong types are most often the ones that are high in fat and low in nutrients.
I really do not think it takes a brain child to deduce that one. If people were careful about what they eat...THERE would be less fat people.
My whole family is overwieght. On average daily, they all eat more than I do. Even when they are on "diets"
NOw the arguement that they wiegh more so it wastes more gas is a little off as well. I really find it hard to believe that the gas would be a great difference if you had a heavier person in the car. BUT, when thinking of my family and the people that are around me that might be considered over-weight, they do not walk half as much as they should. It might not be the wieght per drive, but they drive more. When my mother was at her largest she would drive the 2 blocks to the store.
Blaming Fat people for not being green is NOT the way to go green. I do believe though, everyone has a personal responsibility to themselves to watch how they are affecting the environment. If I sound terrible to say that I belive that over-wieght people do cause more of a strain on the environment, GOOD. I hope it wakes people up a bit.

Posted by: Jenna Gibbens | May 17, 2008 7:47 PM

It is also a well known fact that fat people like to turn up the AC in the summer. Waaaay up. Enough to freeze the entire office.

Posted by: Weee | May 18, 2008 2:53 AM

You disagree with the theory because you're a fat fuck yourself. Lose some weight or just off yourself you slug ass piece of shit.

Posted by: midak | May 18, 2008 8:52 PM

"Firstly, I'm pretty sure a stick-thin model in a 4x4 is likely to be consuming more fuel than a tubby woman in a mini."
- This is a scientific study. They obey the scientific method. The claim they made is that a fat person in a car requires more fuel than a skinny person in the same car.

"Secondly, it's a fallacy that fat people necessarily 'consume more calories'."
- This is amusing, because your skinny woman in a 4x4 from earlier was a fallacy. This, however, wasn't. Fat people have larger basal metabolic rates (BMR), meaning they require 3-4000 calories per day just to stay fat.

"If anything, it's fat people who a likely to diet, so their total calorie consumption is likely to be less than that of a 'normal' person."
- Speculatory!

"Finally, what about the fact that fatter people have more insulation and therefore don't need the heating on so high in winter - thus saving energy?"
- What about summer?

Posted by: Daniel | May 18, 2008 8:58 PM

"Firstly, I'm pretty sure a stick-thin model in a 4x4 is likely to be consuming more fuel than a tubby woman in a mini."
- This is a scientific study. They obey the scientific method. The claim they made is that a fat person in a car requires more fuel than a skinny person in the same car.

"Secondly, it's a fallacy that fat people necessarily 'consume more calories'."
- This is amusing, because your skinny woman in a 4x4 from earlier was a fallacy. This, however, wasn't. Fat people have larger basal metabolic rates (BMR), meaning they require 3-4000 calories per day just to stay fat.

"If anything, it's fat people who a likely to diet, so their total calorie consumption is likely to be less than that of a 'normal' person."
- Speculatory!

"Finally, what about the fact that fatter people have more insulation and therefore don't need the heating on so high in winter - thus saving energy?"
- What about summer?

Posted by: Daniel | May 18, 2008 8:58 PM

*laughs* Actually, I weigh exactly 101 pounds. Call that fat?

It's called having empathy. And realzing when someone's put forward a really stupid theory...

Posted by: AbiSilvester | May 19, 2008 10:01 AM

You disagree with the theory because you're a fat fuck yourself. Lose some weight or just off yourself you slug ass piece of shit.

*laughs* Actually, I weigh exactly 101 pounds. Call that fat? It's called having empathy. And realzing when someone's put forward a really stupid theory...

Posted by: AbiSilvester | May 19, 2008 10:03 AM

Hi Mandy

I have hypothyroidism myself - it doesn't necessarily make you fat. It's probably why I love the central heating so much though.

I think you're absolutely right to point out that metabolic factors are important here though, because as you say they can certainly contribute to weight gain without the sufferer 'consuming more calories' as is so commonly assumed of 'fat' people. That's one of the assumptions the original article made that annoyed me.

Posted by: AbiSilvester | May 19, 2008 10:07 AM