Originally Posted By barboy I have no stats.; I have no studies; but I have eyes that work fairly well and I saw the biggest collection of big people I have ever seen---- I thought I was at a "Body By Cake" convention. Is that joint a magnet for the large or did I just happen to hit it during obeseness week or none of the above? And the staff/cast wouldn't exactly fall through drains while showering either.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 Americans are fat. Many are morbidly obese. WDW is a showcase for just how ill many are. Unfortunately, it isn't politically correct to say that people who consume 6,000 calories a day are addicts like those who pop oxy-codone (like Rush) or alcohol (like Kiefer). But I'll tell you something. WDW is an epicenter of it ... and you can tell by all the fat 10-year-olds in strollers and fatties eating turkey legs while riding ECVs. I am 25 pounds over my 'perfect' weight according to my doctor. Yet I feel almost thin at WDW ... at DL, I definitely feel like I need to lose weight (all those 90210 and OC beauties!) and at DLP, well there I feel FAT. And guess what? I should. I'd venture to guess the average WDW guest is likely 80 pounds overweight ... just an anecdotal figure tossed out. But overeating is an epidemic and the fact people feel its wrong to confront the problem head on is going to cause countless early deaths, illnesses and strains on our already broken healthcare system. Oh, and I'd venture to say that 3/4ers of WDW CMs today would have never been hired in the 70s or 80s, and if they were would have been hidden away backstage.
Originally Posted By barboy I've been in 12 countries(not counting US) and strollers, rolling chairs/ECV's for the most part don't exist there compared to US and especially WDW. Never have I seen so many strollers while touring WDW 3 days ago. I guess my question is why is WDW the epicenter of obeseness(based on my 6 day visuals)?
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<I guess my question is why is WDW the epicenter of obeseness(based on my 6 day visuals)?>> Maybe because fat people don't go on white water rafting vacations? <<But I'll tell you something. WDW is an epicenter of it ... and you can tell by all the fat 10-year-olds in strollers>> This one really gets to me. I was thin when I was a kid, and now, like many other sedentary desk jockeys I lug around more pounds than I should. But when I see all the really plump kids these days I can only shudder at the thought of how morbidly obese they will be as adults.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I was a stick as a kid. But maybe that's because I never rode in a stroller past age 3. When a kid can walk, they should walk. But that means not running all day. That means taking breaks. That means pushing the brats beyond all reason so mom and dad can get 'my money's worth!' Now, the typical WDW scene is triple-wide parents pushing double-wide strollers with kids that almost look ready for junior high (sometimes the lazy brats are) and piled high with bags of crap they bought. You don't see so much of it at DL because the west coast is more health and image conscious and thank Walt, they haven't started renting double-wides there yet. In Paris, well, you see very few strollers period and the only people with ECVs have obvious health issues not just renting them because they're fat and lazy.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I am not going to comment of the obese epidemic of this country, nor am I going to comment on the type of people that visit WDW now a days..and especially those from the midwest. Finally, I am not going to comment on how bad some CMs look in those totally uninspired ugly GAP costumes they wear, nor am I going to express my disatisfaction with the poor "Disney Look" I see on 'stage' at WDW. I guess I would be totally ADMIN'd, so why bother?
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost All the rest of you self righteous dorks should follow the example of TDLFAN and keep your bigoted, unwelcome observations to yourselves. Make sure your house is completely clean before you criticize others.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Or at least keep it in World Events... But frankly, I am not commenting because I have covered those issues before. And NO, it's not a matter of bigotry. It's a matter of Americans not being able to handle the truth. I think the press does a good job of telling this deaf nation of ours we have major problems about our health and about our dispositions towards us and others. So, again, why bother? People will continue to get bigger, keep on smoking, keep visiting WDW even if the quality does not match that of it's sister resorts... etc etc.
Originally Posted By Tip Top Club Does anyone actually have numbers on them about american's obesity? Yes it is worse today then it used to be, but in percentage to other countries we're not actually that obese. In pure numbers we have the largest amount of people of course, but in percentage of population it's not much at all compared to some European countries (France not withstanding).
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Does anyone actually have numbers on them about american's obesity? Yes it is worse today then it used to be, but in percentage to other countries we're not actually that obese. In pure numbers we have the largest amount of people of course, but in percentage of population it's not much at all compared to some European countries>> I don't have any numbers; I only can go by my admittedly casual observations. My observations are that the percentage of overweight people is higher in America, and that morbidly obese people make up a good chunk of that percentage, while morbidly obese people almost don't exist in other countries. I think it's a combination of the cost of food in this country, and our poor physical education. The cost effect is similar to what happens with our cars... we have relatively cheap gas, so we have morbidly obese vehicles as well. As for education, our schools Physical Education programs are not about teaching life fitness, but about... heck, I don't know what they are about. I certainly didn't learn anything from P.E., other than that I sucked at sports so was always one of the last to be picked when teams were decided.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I think it's a combination of the cost of food in this country >>> When I was in Europe this year, I was surprised at how expensive restaurant food was. I knew about the small (and sensible) portions relative to American restaurants, but the cost caught me off guard. Considering how many sidewalk cafes and other eateries there were, Europeans must spend a lot higher percentage of their disposable income on wining and dining.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper After my month in Italy last year the very first observation I had when I got to the airport back here in the States was: look at all of the overweight people. It actually shocked me because it just isn't something you see over there...unless you are in a tourist area frequented by Americans. And, I think WDW is an indulgement, in a sense, so it stands to reason one would see lots of people who indulge in many areas of their lives.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well my mom just got backed from her first home in 21 years. She is really glad to be back to good food. They ate about 50 meals in restaurants, and she said it was all salty, the portions were too big, and she saw people in and out in 20 min (my lunch the other day at work I had plaice in a peppercorn sauce with spiced spinach, and we were there for an hour and 45. Big cultural differences. What worries me is am morbidly obese and I have been steadily losing weight this year. When we were at WDW last year, I actually felt a little on the smaller side of normal - that's terrible. At DLP, I am definately bigger - but obesity is really starting to hit Europe too sadly - especially the UK and Germany, some of the med too.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>I have no stats.; I have no studies; but I have eyes that work fairly well and I saw the biggest collection of big people I have ever seen---- I thought I was at a "Body By Cake" convention. Is that joint a magnet for the large or did I just happen to hit it during obeseness week or none of the above?<<< Since this personal situation is OK to be nasty about, how about changing the wording a little. "I have no stats.; I have no studies; but I have eyes that work fairly well and I saw the biggest collection of crippled people I have ever seen---- I thought I was at a "Body By accident" convention. Is that joint a magnet for the imperfect or did I just happen to hit it during gimp week or none of the above?" The first one that says...fat people choose to be that way, should be forced to study some reports that show that it isn't always food input that causes that and how lucky they are that they have a metabolism that takes care of the excesses they do. And let's have a round of whining from those that are 10 or 20 pounds overweight and are going to use themselves as an example of how they know what it is like to be obese and how easy it is loose it. As for illness...I am what is defined as morbidly obese (what does that mean anyway. We are all going to die so I guess that makes us morbidly human). I am almost 60 years old and I have been hospitalized twice, once when I was 5 to have my tonsils removed and once when I was 27 to have impacted wisdom teeth taken out. I don't have diabetes, I don't have heart disease, I don't use a motorized cart to get around and I work everyday. But somehow because of my body size I am worthy of everyones scorn. I guess it's OK that we are the scapegoats because otherwise we will be seeing posts that say...I saw the biggest number of people with huge noses or I saw the biggest number of people with receding hairlines or I saw the biggest number of people wearing glasses. I'm sure that there are a number of folks out there that have been judged and critisied because of their physical being or their personal persuasion, their ethnic background, etc. Think about it, what gives anyone the right to determine the good or bad of anything that they are not? Oh, and by the way, you see more overweight people because we no longer care what you "others" think about us. We are fat and this is where we're at. Live with it.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I don't have diabetes, I don't have heart disease, I don't use a motorized cart to get around and I work everyday.>> I agree that it's not right to look down on people with less-than-perfect bodies, but at the same time, I think you're brushing over a real problem in this country. I think it's great that you've made it to 60 and have had no medical issues, but you're probably more an exception than a standard... like one of those people that chain smoked all their lives and didn't have lung cancer or, on the other side of the coin, one of those athletic people that drops dead at a young age. I am obese; I carry 230 lbs. on my 5'6" frame. I'm not getting bigger, mainly because I get light exercise every day (thanks to my dog!) At one time in my life I was in very good shape, because I exercised more and ate better, and I can tell you, being fit feels _really_ good. It is hard work to be fit for those of us with a slow metabolism though; no doubt about that.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd >>>It is hard work to be fit for those of us with a slow metabolism though; no doubt about that.<<< It is hard work. I have one uncle who is average weight. The entire rest of my family, my aunts, uncles, one remaining living grandmother, many of my cousins are not just obese, but morbidly obese. Many in my family have died from diabetes. My mom, dad, both my sisters and I are all hypothyroid and believe me, just because they give you the synthroid pill and tell you your TSH levels are normal, does not ever mean I will have a normal metabolism. I have as low a metabolism as one can genetically get. Unless I do something, obesity is inevitable. I have to work out a minimum of three strenuous hour long workouts a week, plus then on pretty much every weekend we are out hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, or something. I eat on average 1200 to 1500 calories a day and since my husband has unfortunately inherited high cholesterol from his side of the family we eat mainly a vegetarian diet with some lean meat a few times a week. This is not a pity post. This has become my life and I love the way I live my life. I enjoy being active and being outdoors. My son is out there with us and he ditched the stroller on his own when he was 2 1/2. He would never get back in it. At 4 years old he climbed his first 14,000 foot peak. At 7 years old he completed the Santa Cruz Trek in five days with us in the Andes in Peru which we did without porters. If I chose to live my life as many of my friends live theirs then I would be living my life as an obese person. That's just a fact for me.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost I'm sorry...but this topic obviously strikes a nerve with me. Not because I am in denial about the possible health risks involved with being obese, I am aware of them, it is the holier than thou attitude exhibited by those that feel obligated to comment on the physical situation of others. It is none of anyone else's business as far as I am concerned and I am bewildered at the concept that they don't spend that time improving themselves, as human beings, instead of criticizing others. On top of that, being ever insightful about just what causes the problem must be a terrible burden. These are the same people that see someone get up out of a wheelchair or scooter and determine that they are just lazy and looking for the easy way to tour. Volumes could be filled with the information that these people DON'T know. I think I need to leave this thread because the more I think about it the more upset I get. At this point I am going to "let it go".
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>At DLP, I am definately bigger - but obesity is really starting to hit Europe too sadly - especially the UK and Germany, some of the med too.<< Same cane be said for Japan, but the numbers are not that alarming yet. >>We are fat and this is where we're at. Live with it.<< Actually, it's you living with it. If you are happy with being overweight, and do not mind the health concequences it may bring in the long run, then I am happy for you. But some of us would prefer more space, and really.. is an extra cupcake or twinkie worth that more to you?
