I subscribe to Former Fat Dudes! whose blog post from this weekend mentioned the Obesity Action Coalition. Considering the dust up that happened on the blog last week and my interest in obesity in general, I decided to become a member. Since I’ve chatted with Rob on Twitter and read his blog, I value his opinion about the Obesity Action Coalition.
If you are interested in joining, the Obesity Action Coalition is offering membership discounted by 50% through Friday, June 17th (It’s not entirely clear on the front page of the website, but individual memberships can be purchased for $10 instead of the regular $20. It’s straightforward once you click “Join”). You can find out more information on Rob’s blog.
Thanks for the mention, always good to hear when someone finds something of value in what I've posted.
I would also like to invite those interested in supporting the OAC to do so now, because in addition to the discount they are offering, you can also take part in a fund raiser I'm doing to support the OAC (as well as a couple other obesity advocacy related organizations).
Please check out Dash From Obesity for more info..
BTW… wow, must be a lot of early birds out there that saw this. I had to up the resources and reboot the server. My site was down for a bit, but is back up and hopefully will remain up all day now. :>
You are not curious about obesity. You are full on judgmental and cruel. My only hope is that one day you find yourself in the position of those who you have bullied via this blog.
I would do anything to be a 'normal' sized person. But the problem with doing anything is that it never lasts. Most obese people will follow that yo-yo ride for the greater share of their lives, never being where they want to be for long enough. They'll always be just where most are right now: not good enough in their own minds.
I just looked at the page for the Obesity Action Coalition. It mentions prevention, awareness, treatment, education, and putting an end to the stigma of being obese. Tell me how any of that will really happen because it's not the obese person who needs prevention or awareness. It's not the obese person who needs to learn about putting an end to the stigma.
I am more than aware of being fat. I've been fat for the last 43 years. Morbidly obese for the last 40. Prevention is a joke because it relies on people to make the right choice and that isn't just a matter of picking fruit over cookies. Education? What are you going to teach? How to eat healthy? How exercise is the needed complement to eating healthy? Don't you think the obese haven't heard it all before? Awareness? Like we don't know we're fat? Do you think I haven't heard practically all the possible fat jokes there are out there at least 5 times each by now?
Treatment… Yeah, that's something I've never tried. Name the diet, the program, and I think I've been on it. Surgery is not financially possible as I just don't have an extra $20k hanging around right now. So tell me, what treatment should I undergo? Do you think that a few sessions with a shrink, to find out why I ate like I did, would help me now?
So tell me, please: What exactly do YOU know about being morbidly obese that I don't know and how are you going to tell me anything without sounding condescending? Do I sound angry? You bet I do. Go back to foods for children in the classroom. It's what you know best, Mrs. Q.
To anonymous @ 8:31:
Do you really think that by calling Mrs. Q names you are doing something productive? Constructive criticism seems like a better alternative. Are you adding to the discourse on this topic/movement, or are you taking away? Also, you *chose* to read this blog, and I'm sure you are more than welcome to take your base name-calling somewhere else online.
JT – I joined the OAC because I want to better understand so I don't make the same mistakes I did in the past. I'm trying to do better.
Anonymous @10:21 – Thank you! 🙂
I've been reading this blog for over a year. The basic message of healthier food for our kids is what keeps me coming back. Mrs. Q is a regular person behind her anonymity, and she has her own thoughts and opinions, which she is completely entitled too. What readers fail to remember is that Mrs. Q is writing not only for said readers but for herself as well.
I am currently overweight after having a baby. The weight loss is slow coming because, after some postpartum complications, all I am allowed to do by way of exercise is walk. And I do everyday. I also try to make the best food choices I can within our budget.
We have three children and I do feel it is important that they eat well, and learn where food comes from, etc.
Mrs. Q is on a food journey, and joining the OAC is part of her education. Good for her.
JT, If you really look in to what the OAC is and what what they do, you will get answers to many of your questions.
The OAC is fighting to be a voice for people like yourself. Remember the PETA billboards – "Save the Whales"? I've met the president of the OAC and he was instrumental in getting PETA to pull those ads. He and the OAC have also lobbied to prevent states from implementing a "fat tax" on obese people.
The OAC works closely with the WLSFA (two of the three groups I'm doing my fund raiser for), the WLSFA is a group set up specifically to help folks like you afford weight loss surgery.
Simply joining the OAC does more good than most folks can imagine. Simply joining the OAC, Mrs Q is taking a step towards not only helping others, but also educating herself.
To suggest someone… anyone… not be open to learning, especially learning from their mistakes is terribly short sighted. I for one, support Mrs Q's efforts, not just in what she has done but for the very fact she is open to the reality that she doesn't "know it all", that she makes mistakes (and owns up to them), and is willing to take steps to learn from them.
Rob, I know for sure that your heart is in the right place but your comments to JT struck me as condescending even though I just don't think that was your intention. Can you not see her pain and that her questions were rhetorical?
I have mixed feelings about OAC. You say they are trying to be the voice for obese people but many of its supporters and promoters are physicians who perform highly lucrative weight loss surgery. That, frankly, casts a mighty dark shadow over the organization for me. Please correct me if I'm wrong about the involvement of bariatric surgeons in OAC.
None of the bariatric surgeons I know are members of the OAC, but it wouldn't surprise me if they are. Are there a number of members that are? Very likely. But I'm not sure why that should cast a dark shadow over the OAC.
Bariatric surgery is a viable treatment for obesity. I know, because I'm living with it. I did not want to be condescending, because I can empathize. I've "been there". I not only see her pain, I've lived it.
But this statement "Tell me how any of that will really happen because it's not the obese person who needs prevention or awareness. It's not the obese person who needs to learn about putting an end to the stigma." left me with the impression that she had not really looked at just what the OAC is about and what they do… because educating others is exactly what they're about.
Like I said, I've met a couple of their board members and have seen and heard the passion they hold for this cause. The passion for not just help those battling against obesity, but for opening the eyes of those who continue to perpetuate the stigmas surrounding it.
I have friends working with them next week in fact, going to Washington DC as part of an OAC effort to speak to legislators about obesity related issues. and every membership helps in this because when they can go to these legislators and say "We have 50, 60, 70,000 members", they sit up and take notice.
Are bariatrics a part of what the OAC talks about, teaches about, advocates for? Yes, but that's just one small part of it.
The shadow regarding bariatric physicians' involvement in the organization is that they stand to reap financial reward from the promotion of bariatric surgery. I don't really see much on the site that's related to weight loss by other methods but maybe I've overlooked it?