Comments on: Biggest Loser Decatur to Donate to Decatur Education Foundation

By: J_T

J_T — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:01:41 +0000

You know who you remind me of, Keith? This guy:

By: Keith F

Keith F — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:46:26 +0000

By the way, it now looks like we ARE supposed to make fun of the fat kid! So Coca-Cola and McDonalds aren’t the real cause of rising obesity rates, it’s the fact we’ve worked too hard to curb bullying and our chlidren aren’t being shamed enough. In addition to the contest I also want all of you to begin shaming me in order to make me a better person. I appreciate your concern.

http://todayhealth.today.com/_news/2013/01/24/16664866-fat-shaming-may-curb-obesity-bioethicist-says?lite

By: TOK

TOK — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:24:04 +0000

Well, I said “mixed feelings” because my feelings were genuinely mixed (not just negative). I’m not trying to impugn the motives of the people organizing it. So the contest supports a good cause, maybe the drastic jump-start will motivate more moderate long-term change, etc. Those are good things. So sure, it’s not *all* about losing the most weight in the shortest time. But that’s how you win the contest, which does (IMHO) put the focus there (it’s called the “Biggest Loser Fitness and Weight-loss Contest”), although it includes things like recipes for healthy meals. And that focus makes me uneasy, because in the U.S., we have an unhealthy culture of people concentrating too much on weight loss, especially weight loss in a short period through drastic diet and exercise regimes (google “crash diet for wedding” for fun examples).

By: Keith F

Keith F — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:23:13 +0000

I have at least 30 lbs that have no business on my frame. I’m in!!!!

By: Moonmommy

Moonmommy — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:11:16 +0000

You’re right; that is how you win.

What I take issue with is TOK’s comment that the contest is only about losing weight in the shortest amount of time. The contest is about so many other things, all positive I might add, including raising money for DEF (as you point out in your own post) that TOK needs to re-read the post and focus beyond the “mixed feelings”.