on being overweight

[abcNKH]

Is it more acceptable for men to be overweight than women?

[threadhead]

I think that society has led us to believe this. That's a very interesting oberservation... humm...

[CrystalJem]

Is it more acceptable for men to be overweight than women?


No because the health risk for both is the same. Unfortunately the magazines bombard us with images of tiny women so we as society have become more condemming of overweight women

[Clio]

Well now here's a relevant story.

When i was having chemo the weight just fell off. I was never FAT just a bid cuddly. Even though people knew I was sick they kept saying "my you look wonderful.....apart from the no hair thing". I was SKELETAL! I was 14lbs under my ideal weight. Dangerously thin. I'm not up to my ideal weight just yet but I'm getting there.

At the same time I was losing weight, DH was also shedding a few lbs. He was never fat, just a carried a little extra too. He lost weight he says due to the fact I wasn't at home to cook for him but I know it was due to stress. When people noticed DH had lost weight anyone that commented on it said "but the weight suited you". WTF?!

It seems to be double standards.

[PlayBall40]

Physically, no. Socially, yes.

[Meiri]

From a health standpoint, no, it is not "more acceptable" for men to be overweight. In fact, I would say that it's more dangerous for them overall. While we women are premenopausal, we get some protection from the estrogen in our systems, men never have that at any point in their lives.

Socially, there is most definately a double standard in regards to appearance.

[kingclick]

No. Fat guys are fat guys....but GOD FORBID if you point out that a woman is hanging over her pants with rolls of fat.

Sorry I think for women it's more ok to be over weight because it's almost a cardinal sin to even mention that a woman is over weight.

[mommymushbrain]

Hello.... we have metrosexuals now... so no, it's becoming NOT okay for men to be overweight...

Overall I do agree with what KC said.

[Jory]

No. Fat guys are fat guys....but GOD FORBID if you point out that a woman is hanging over her pants with rolls of fat.

Sorry I think for women it's more ok to be over weight because it's almost a cardinal sin to even mention that a woman is over weight.


I agree, but I think a lot of that is because women have more pressures than men do to be thin. Has anyone ever seen the Zelnorm commercial?

compare the average guy (and there are ones who are a lot chubbier on the commercial) with the women who by no means are ultra chic skinny, but neither are they in the slightest bit chubby. Very nice tight tummies.

There are rarely your average plump (and I am not talking fat either) women in advertisements.

http://www.adsearch.co.kr/cut_img/0505084_1.jpg

http://www.whoknew.us/images/zelnorm2.jpg

http://www.canadadrugsuperstore.com/products/41866.jpg

[SisterTaffy]

I definitely think guys can get away (socially) with having a gut and some extra lbs. much more than women can.

And I never had so much positive attention about my physique as I did when I was very thin. Looking back, I was probably <i>too</i> thin, but I sure got a lot of compliments.

[ziviel]

I think it is way more socially acceptable for a guy to be heavy.