Comments - Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by Debate

Garima

Garima — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Fantastic concept. I fully support the Alabama government for taking this measure. Our country should implement such measures. We have even obese policemen and soldiers in our country. Hundreds of crores of taxpayer rupees are spent to to treat them for various ailments related to obesity.

Jhelen

Jhelen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

If they think that it is their personal right to be the way they live their lives and eat whatever and how much they want then they must be ready to foot medical and insurance bills by themselves. Why burden the taxpayer? Good decision by Alabama.

Tommy

Tommy — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

If smokers can be penalized for smoking then why not people who have other unhealthy lifestyles? If smoking kills then obesity kills too. I agree that taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be spent on drug addicts, smokers, alcoholics, and obese people unless there is a genetic cause of the disease.

Ramesh Balam

Ramesh Balam — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

YES

Hussain

Hussain — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

They should not be penalized only if they agree to donate their bodies after their death to the government who can then auction them to animal food and glue factories. Their fat can be used to make grease.

Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Not only this is a correct step towards teaching the hippos to curb their eating, but a strong signal to the obese people out there who indifferent to their own health. They should know that their disease has a direct effect on the pockets of healthy tax paying citizens.

Omar

Omar — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

This is a small penalty. Twenty five dollars for insurance that was waived earlier will not be waived for obese people.

They must rather be fined for being fat if they are not taking any treatment. They must be put behind bars on the weekends and made to starve for two consecutive days.

Sasmita

Sasmita — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

No. Being unhealthy or obese is not always the reasult of our food habit or any other lifestyle. It may arise out of hormonal changes. Sometimes there is no way to stop the hormonal imbalance. Doctors try their est effort to cure, but some diseases are incurable. Don’t we know that?

But yes Obesity is something very bad to look at. If it’s more than enough. Perhaps God makes it so much ugly because it’s dangerous to health. So that man should try to check it.

Sasmita

Sasmita — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It is sad that we laugh at the bulky fat persons. But we don’t think how they must be feeling among the thin fellows all around them. And I know some ladies if very fat, feel shy to eat before all. Because they feel inferiority complex, that what others would think when they eat a lot.

But tell me view point, is it the real figure of these sexy women, or just computerized to make it look more funny? Specially designed bikini, for some special people!

Radhika

Radhika — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

i think rehabilitating obese people is what should be done, even obesity is like a disease. many succumb to food when depressed and disheartened or under pressure, the root cause should be eliminated not the people

Leighanne

Leighanne — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Some people do not realise that all obese people do not become obese by choice by hogging on all things unhealthy. Sometimes hormonal imbalance or genetic defects can make a person obese. There is too much prejudice against obese people and people tend to make judgement on the fly.

Robin Robin

Robin Robin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

neah

Deepa

Deepa — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Rubbish! Instead of penalizing, incentives for keeping healthy and fit should be meted out. This is be a motivation factor to loose weight and live a healthy life.

Aneez

Aneez — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Yes, of course!

Being obese should be considered a social crime and the ones who set a bad example should be penalized. In fact, they should be banished to a secluded region somewhere so that they cannot make us sick by displaying that ugly mass of unwanted fats.

Harsh words, but tell me honestly, do you find the pic above pleasing to the eyes in any weird way?? I bet that image is more than sufficient to scare the shit out of anyone.

And yes, if these so-called ’I-don’t-care-if-I’m-obese’ people (read: morons) come up with an activist group of some kind, it should be banned immediately.

We’ve shouted enough for a Greener planet, now lets do our bit for a Healthy planet!

As I always say,

Fit is fine, fat is ugly!

Jaiyant Cavale

Jaiyant Cavale — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I think penalizing people because they are unhealthy or obese is a bit too extreme. I know anorexic girls who starve themselves to death and this would give them a reason to indulge in ’starve unto death’ campaigns in a quest to become thin. I agree with most of you that fat people are an eyesore and can never get laid but then penalizing them for being fat isn’t the way to go about it. As sasmita says, Obesity could be inherited, babies are born obese and certain hormonal and organic disorders make a person obese. A person’s metabolism may be so bad that he/she can never burn fat and they continue to swell and turn into fat blobs. In my opinion, psychometric tests must be conducted or even the ones on the ’Tickle’ website would do, and if a person is found greedy, he/she/it must be taxed heavily and the money must be distributed to fat people for their liposuction treatments..

Shikha Garg

Shikha Garg — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

very true...

Leena

Leena — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Alabama seems to have taken a correct step. As we all know obesity can be due to a lot of reasons and Alabama is justly not charging those people who have medical reasons for being obese. The state is infact giving them time and giving medical consultation facilities. The ones who are eating their hearts out and getting abnormally fat need to be penalized. No excuse for that! Sadly ,some people in this world respond to only punishment and no other methods of rectification.

Manish

Manish — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The state of Alabama is doing this only to ”State Employees” who are obese and not the entire population who are fat.

Also the penalty is to pay for insurance, since its the tax payers money that will go into footing medical bills of unhealthy people and not because ”fat looks ugly”.

Considering these 2 points, I don’t see too much wrong with this policy of penalizing, however I disagree as I also feel that rather than penalizing, there should be incentives to be healthy.

In fact the policy should sound like ”If you are healthy, your insurance is free, if you are unhealthy/obese, you pay for your own insurance” - that sounds like incentive and not penalty.

Obesity can also be due to genetic or hormonal disorder, so I am sure that should also be looked into rather than a carpet policy based on weight.

Deepa

Deepa — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Ditto! Why dont you suggest your point ’If you are healthy, your insurance is free, if you are unhealthy/obese, you pay for your own insurance’ to the state of Alabama

Stephanus

Stephanus — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Along with penalizing for being unhealthy there must be incentives for staying healthy. If the cause of obesity is not because of some hormonal imbalance or genetic causes and because of a person’s personal unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle, he must surely be penalized.

Markus

Markus — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Maybe yes. Penalizing might help especially the poor employees who can’t afford insurance premiums or high medical bills that fat people have to foot for a myriad of diseases. But there should be incentives too for people who seriously try to get rid of the extra lard.

Nishi Roy

Nishi Roy — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Definitely, but at the same time, they can be counseled too regarding lifestyle changes, healthy food habits etc.

Alessandra

Alessandra — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0000

to be fat is to sin. to sin means you should pay for it. you should be punished. so fat people must also pay some penalty. they can be spared if they dont have a role to play on their health. but if neglect is the cause they must be penalized.

Jen O

Jen O — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Great idea

Oscar

Oscar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

It’s sad, but it may be what’s needed to correct a very serious problem. I t has a spiral effect on them, their health, their children, etc..Better to break the chains now, even if it’s by force.

Olga

Olga — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0000

I agree with this. I mean come on ! If they dont have self control - someone would have to protect a life !

I understand and appreciate that there is this thing called personal choice - but then on the other hand, there is also another thing called : at who’s expense ?

Cheers

Olga Ledncihenko

http://olgalednichenko.wordpress.com/2008/09/07/olga-math-confusion-is-not-conflict-one-is-bad-the-other-worse-olga-lednichenko/

Sandy Boler

Sandy Boler — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When you support implementation of these policies, why don’t you go ahead and penalize the handicapped and mentally ill. Oh, and don’t forget drug abusers, jews, homosexuals, etc. Now that we can analyze DNA, why don’t we go ahead and just eliminate anyone whose DNA indicates a less than perfect health profile? Then, we’ll have a society exactly like Hitler wanted. Wake up and think about what you’re suggesting people!

Aneez

Aneez — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

When we - and the world in general - talk about penalizing people for being obese, we are considering the people who are obese by choice (read: people who become fat like a pig because of their faulty lifestyles) AND NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR FAULTY DNAs. It seems you are either an obese by the fate of DNA, or a mentally ill person. Fortunately, you do not invite any penalty in both the cases.

I hope this clears the thing for you. If not, come again.

Sandy Boler

Sandy Boler — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Just a few additional thoughts. Seriously, who chooses to be obese? There are usually other factors at work: emotional, physical, and spiritual. Are you sure lifestyle choices aren’t related to DNA? Who are the Lifestyle Police who will seek out the obese, determine the cause of obesity, and enforce the penalties? Do you seriously care about these people and want to help them? If so, don’t penalize them. Help them out of love. Beware what you try to enforce on others by legislating penalties, etc. Big Brother is waiting on the sidelines and is all too willing to get involved. Who knows, some of your lifestyle choices may be targeted next.

Shikha Garg

Shikha Garg — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Dear all,

I agree wd Sandy Boler nd Sasmita here. Most of the people here are of notion that u r obese wd courtesy to ur unhealthy lifestyle or wrong eating habits. It is sad to know that most fat people otherwise feel both shy and complex while eating in front of someone as everyone would gaze at their plate while eating. As portrayed by our honourable media, obese people are subject to both source of fun (remember those ads or humour scenes that are incomplete without a defamed mockery of the ’fat’).

If this is supposed to be fate than y not penalize every person who is sick; penalize for AIDS which is spread as of both contaminated blood and unsafe sex. Then next day u might wish to penalize people for having fever, tuberculosis, physically or mentally challenged and numerous other diseases. There are 100 of diseases that can be mentioned here.

I just want to suggest that life isnt all abt penalizing that is an ’eyesore’ of your eye. Even obese people need the same love and motivation to loose weight. Besides, I feel that we should try to have the strength to accept the people who are not like us. After all, at the end of the day its both ur attitude and ur nature that speaks for you. If this isn’t right, none of the people who have agreed would have an obese friend. For God sake, every damn thing in the world can’t be coined for penalizing.

One more point I would like to add- Think of the amount of food that is wasted in parties and sometimes drained but no one would consider giving it to nearby orphanage or needy. I am not defending obesity but since it is a disease, the patient need to be dealt patiently and motivationally.

Rajagopalan S

Rajagopalan S — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0000

These could be due to heridity issues.

The employer sponsored insurance service providers do not cover pre-existing diseases from the first year onwards or the commencement of employment. These include pregnancy, cateract or any other similar items. These are found out in biopsi tests which gives the age of the disease and they disqualify covering these illnesses.

Insurances have co-pays, deductibles that are to be absorbed by the patients both for doctor visits and other lab work as well as surgeries.

Staying healthy is good and we need to control maintain our dieting habits to keep a healthy lifestyle.