Thin flier: Southwest booted me for overweight teen

[Indy refugee]

This problem is only going to get worst as Americans get fatter and fatter. I even wonder how some of our fellow fat-ass pilots pass their medicals.

I look at them as hidden "seniority improvements"!! Or manadatory early retirements!

 

[johnsonrod]

It's actually very simple. SWA is simply bowing to Obamacare. Obese/sick people will crowd out healthy people and get more resources whether they deserve them or not. Healthy people will pay more for those who are less-healthy. All liberal democrats should love and agree with this SWA incident. Power to the unfortunate people!!!! Sign of the times....

 

[Erlanger]

It's actually very simple. SWA is simply bowing to Obamacare. Obese/sick people will crowd out healthy people and get more resources whether they deserve them or not. Healthy people will pay more for those who are less-healthy. All liberal democrats should love and agree with this SWA incident. Power to the unfortunate people!!!! Sign of the times....

And the demise of the U.S.

 

[waka]

It's actually very simple. SWA is simply bowing to Obamacare. Obese/sick people will crowd out healthy people and get more resources whether they deserve them or not. Healthy people will pay more for those who are less-healthy. All liberal democrats should love and agree with this SWA incident. Power to the unfortunate people!!!! Sign of the times....

Alright Rush, put down the oxycontin. That wasn't even a good try to sneak in your politics.....a pretty stupid try, actually. This had nothing to do with healthcare reform.

 

[Bringupthebird]

As for the weight loss thing, it is all, 100%, absolutely, totally lifestyle. Period. The genetics argument is crap. It is a cop-out. My parents are heavy. I was heavy (388 to be exact). Now, I ain't heavy (172-175 to be exact, and kept it off for the last 2 years). I eat healthy and get my lazy rear end to the gym for a 3-4 mile run 3 days a week. As someone said, it is simple -- more calories in than out, you gain weight. More calories out than in, you lose weight. It can be done. It just takes work, discipline, and a good support network (and no fast-food or soda -- diet or regular, as those are the death of American society).

Did you eat TWICE as much as the average 175lb person? Probably not. I would guess the average obese person eats at the most, 20% more than a slim counterpart. Most people (of all weights) do not perform any supplemental excercise, yet some are heavy and some aren't.

I admit there is a portion of the obese population that is drawn to consumption of large quantities of food and much of it is unhealthy. However, the epidemic of obesity is much greater than can be explained by that small subgroup. Obesity is not entirely a self-control issue.

But the acceptance of bigotry toward the obese does impact their self image. The "support network" you mentioned is entirely eclipsed by society's free pass at denigrating the overweight, perhaps to mask their (society's) own self-loathing (I don't know, I'm no psychologist).

So when you see an overweight person, you are looking at a complex web of issues that deserve more understanding and less prejudice.

 

[FlyinGuy]

We are more fat than any other generation. Why....because of our prosperity. There is a small portion of the population that has a medical issue that contributes to their weight. Most people that are overweight over eat. They overeat and under exercise. Before modern modes of transportation, people walked. Before air conditioning, people sweated more. Before fast food, people ate less. This problem is purely a side effect of our prosperity!!!

If everyone on our country limited themselves to 2 modest meals a day and simply walked for 30-45 minutes for 3 times a week, we would be a different place in a year.

But I digress.....Let's supersize my personal pizza and coke.....and since I am here go ahead and toss in that chocolate thingy!!!

 

[Bad-Andy]

Did you eat TWICE as much as the average 175lb person? Probably not. I would guess the average obese person eats at the most, 20% more than a slim counterpart. Most people (of all weights) do not perform any supplemental excercise, yet some are heavy and some aren't.

I admit there is a portion of the obese population that is drawn to consumption of large quantities of food and much of it is unhealthy. However, the epidemic of obesity is much greater than can be explained by that small subgroup. Obesity is not entirely a self-control issue.

But the acceptance of bigotry toward the obese does impact their self image. The "support network" you mentioned is entirely eclipsed by society's free pass at denigrating the overweight, perhaps to mask their (society's) own self-loathing (I don't know, I'm no psychologist).

So when you see an overweight person, you are looking at a complex web of issues that deserve more understanding and less prejudice.

Grumpy,

Simply, yes I did eat twice as much as the average 175 pound person. Not in quantity of food, but in quantity of calories. I ate double the calories that I needed. And, did not exercise the extra calories away.

You are correct, obesity is not entirely a self-control issue. There are studies that show once a person passes a certain BMI, the weight will not come off as easily. However, it can still come off with self-control, discipline, and (I'll say it again) a solid support network.

As for the prejudice from society, again, I do not disagree. It is there and blatant, and should not be. It takes a hell of a lot of work to change for the long term. But, we also should not accept obesity and just ignore the problems it causes. It has to be addressed. It is a condition that is killing us (and costing the rest of us billions of dollars a year in increased health-care costs). We need to do something...

I don't know if your last comment was to me or not. But, if it was, trust me, I know exactly how much understanding we need and the level of support that is necessary to lose the weight and keep it off. I'm just saying that it can be done -- eat less, exercise more, and the weight does come off (and stays off...)

 

[Whataburger]

Whataburger,


Everyone knows that there is only one "good" burger joint -- In 'n Out

I could not agree more!

And, the only "great" burger joint -- Whataburger!!

However, when on the West Coast, I loves me some In 'n Out and some Carl's Jr.

 

[COOPERVANE]

I had an FO once that was in excellent health. He ate about every 20 minutes ALL day long and never ate a large lunch or dinner.

He said it was amazing how many Captains he flew with that whined about not being able to lose weight. How hard they worked out and dieted. "Woe is me, what am I doing wrong?"

He noticed when it was time for lunch, he would get a salad or veggie wrap, and the poor struggling Captain would almost ALWAYS come back with Panda express, extra egg roll, and a LARGE diet coke.

Nah................Probably just a thyroid issue

 

[clr4theapch]

If it were not for the very good responses and thoughtful conversations here, i would have moved this thread.. but it has alot of merit, and I hope that some people take heed.. as well as those that don't understand the complex nature of this condition on average..
Just my advise from personal knowledge...
Don't look at loosing weight as a "diet" it is just the kind of food one eats on a daily basis and the amount of cals they burn..( life style change). I hate to admit it here but, I was one of those back in the day, and have now lost 75lbs in less than 6 months just by reducing my carb and calorie intake combined with moderate walking..3 times a week.. I have learned to make most of my families meals fresh each day, salads cut fresh, very lean meats, little of no breads and potatoes except every other week, I get to have them in moderation..this helps keep the body's engine burning and prevents stagnation of weight loss..

Yea go ahead.. but what does one do when your out of work.. mr. mom.. hehe..

Good conversation...

 

[LoneWolf]

Sounds to me like Southwest had a tough choice and would have dealt with negative press either way. I think they made the right move here not stranding a UM. Personally I think one major cause of supersize Americans is not so much what we eat, but the amount we eat. Seems like anytime you order a meal it comes on a plate that's 2 feet in diameter and it's loaded to the edges with food. You might get enough calories for a whole day in one meal. And it doesn't matter if the plate is full of vegetables, you will gain weight if you eat too much of anything. People in skinny countries may eat rich foods, but much less of it, and they don't choke it down in 5 minutes. Now off to Cinnabon...need to work on the before shot.

 

[414Flyer]

There are plenty of obese vegetarians. If there is any credence to the theory of evolution, then it must also be ackowledged that changes in diet over generations could lead to permanent genetic changes as well.

We, as a society, demand that those obese individuals perform above and beyond what so-called "normal" people do, just to conform to that same subjective "normal" body shape. One person can only avoid ridicule and discrimination so long as they spend 2 hours daily at the gym, while someone else without the genetic predisposition to obesity can sit in front of a computer and make fat jokes for 12 hours a day without gaining an ounce.

The real shock is not that there are a growing number of obese, but that we give tacit approval to bashing them without consequence as a way of openly venting a prejudice against folks without being called racist. Those who can't get away with using the "N-word" in civil society anymore can turn their venom toward the fat girl and everybody gets a laugh.

However, Obesityrates in the US are not the same worldwide either, and the obesity rates in the US have not just always been there.

The analogy of race to obesity is utterly laughable, sorry. People are born black, or whatever race. They are not born fat. Genes can contribute some, but then if genetics were the main factor, you would have obesity all around the world just like here. And there is not.

Like it or not, Americans eat more calories than every before, and do less manual labor than every before. Thats why people here are so fat. Unfortunately the UK and Germany are not too far behind either

 

[Bringupthebird]

The analogy of race to obesity is utterly laughable, sorry. People are born black, or whatever race. They are not born fat. Genes can contribute some, but then if genetics were the main factor, you would have obesity all around the world just like here. And there is not.

You are confusing genetics with evolution. There can be many causes of genetic mutations and predispositions isolated to certain areas. Cleft palate, certain genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell, and so on are found more in one area than others.

I'm not discounting that there are quite a few overweight people who can't keep thamselves away from the Snickers bars, but I think if you look into it more closely, you will find that there are far more people who put on weight with just a moderate increase in calories.

Many people, in order to meet the "ideal weight", must go to extrordinary measures such as supplemental exercise and a dedication to dieting. But if they don't perform these actions on a consistent basis (actions many without such a predisposition to weight gain never have to consider), then they are subject to merciless ridicule and are deemed "fat lazy slobs" by society. Folks imagine them to stuffing their faces with Cinnbons when in all fact they may eat just as healthy a diet as anyone else (equal caloric intake), but they don't restrict themselves to a 1500 calorie regimen.

For those who still want to berate all fat people and blame them for the high cost of health care, consider that the life expectancy for a heavy person is far less and you don't pay any health care expenses for a dead person. How much of a burden on society is the 99 year-old slim guy getting a knee replacement on medicare?

The point is, folks should not feel they can get away with ridiculing a heavy person, regardless of the reason for their overweight. No one prefers carrying around 100 extra pounds and buying all their clothes on-line and trying to pretend that there is anything else going through the mind of someone they're talking to, than how horrible they look. Many try to fight the battle, some have given up, but it's not up to us to try and make their world any crummier than it already is.

 

[414Flyer]

You are confusing genetics with evolution. There can be many causes of genetic mutations and predispositions isolated to certain areas. Cleft palate, certain genetic blood disorders such as sickle cell, and so on are found more in one area than others.

I'm not discounting that there are quite a few overweight people who can't keep thamselves away from the Snickers bars, but I think if you look into it more closely, you will find that there are far more people who put on weight with just a moderate increase in calories.

Many people, in order to meet the "ideal weight", must go to extrordinary measures such as supplemental exercise and a dedication to dieting. But if they don't perform these actions on a consistent basis (actions many without such a predisposition to weight gain never have to consider), then they are subject to merciless ridicule and are deemed "fat lazy slobs" by society. Folks imagine them to stuffing their faces with Cinnbons when in all fact they may eat just as healthy a diet as anyone else (equal caloric intake), but they don't restrict themselves to a 1500 calorie regimen.

For those who still want to berate all fat people and blame them for the high cost of health care, consider that the life expectancy for a heavy person is far less and you don't pay any health care expenses for a dead person. How much of a burden on society is the 99 year-old slim guy getting a knee replacement on medicare?

The point is, folks should not feel they can get away with ridiculing a heavy person, regardless of the reason for their overweight. No one prefers carrying around 100 extra pounds and buying all their clothes on-line and trying to pretend that there is anything else going through the mind of someone they're talking to, than how horrible they look. Many try to fight the battle, some have given up, but it's not up to us to try and make their world any crummier than it already is.

So you are saying that there is an American obesity gene? Why has that just came about too in the last decades and gotten much worse in the last 25 years? And why when I have lived and worked overseas, this obesity gene does not appear? Comparing something racial does not work either, since there is no caucasion obesity explosion.

This thread was about a fat woman who was able to get the seat of a skinny woman, because the fat woman needed two seats. Last I checked, there are fat people who think they are entitled to two seats for the price of one too, its not ridiculing to expect them to buy two seats if they need two seats.

Look, its not coincidental that Americans now are the most overweight people in the world and that also have the highest caloric intake. Nor is it coincidental that more Americans that ever before have sedentary lifestyles.
yes, some people have an easier time with it than others, but its that way with anything in life.

 

[Bringupthebird]

No, it was about an unaccompanied minor who needed to be on a plane. Coincidently, she needed 2 seats IAW Southwest policy, but it was juicier to make it all about a teen who was overweight, so that all the self-righteous can condemn her without fear of reprisal.

I think it is completely reasonable to compare discrimination based on weight to racial discrimination. All other races could try and be more "white" and thus "acceptable" to the sensibilities of the most judgemental among us.

Should they have to, just to avoid bigotry?