Obesity is NOT beautiful! :(

[ChrisL]

I am getting tired of hearing these obese people try to make it sound as if obesity is some kind of "fashion statement." Obesity is bad for our health, costs us billions of dollars in medical expenses and is just as bad as smoking! Encouraging obesity is like encouraging smoking or any other bad habit. Obesity is NOT fashionable and for a very good reason!

While I think the CEO's comments about obese people were rather crude, I think this woman is even worse to push such an unhealthy lifestyle. If a 10-year-old is on a diet because he or she is overweight, then that is a GOOD thing!

'Attractive & Fat' and Abercrombie controversy - CNN.com



Jes Baker is cutting retailer Abercrombie & Fitch down to size.

Baker, who blogs under the name "The Militant Baker" and wears a size 22, changed the brand's A&F logo to "Attractive & Fat" in a mock, black-and-white Abercrombie ad to challenge the line's branding efforts.

The photos come as a provocative response to contentious comments Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries made in a 2006 Salon article about the multibillion-dollar brand's target audience.

"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," Jeffries said. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

The divisive remarks resurfaced earlier this month after a series of protests went viral, from Greg Karber's video of himself giving homeless people Abercrombie clothing to a Change.org petition for larger sizes by a teenage eating disorder survivor.

The plus-size community particularly took umbrage to the CEO's business model because the retailer currently does not offer clothes above size 10 or large for women.

"I challenge the separation of attractive and fat, and I assert that they are compatible regardless of what you believe," Baker, 26, wrote in a public letter addressed to the CEO.

Jeffries has since apologized in a statement: "While I believe this 7-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense."

Baker spoke to CNN about Jeffries' comments and her motivations to address them. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

CNN: You start your letter with a preface that Jeffries' opinion "isn't shocking; millions share the same sentiment." The comments are from 2006 -- what motivated you to act on them?

Jes Baker: It really wasn't upset or outrage at all. I've been an art major for the majority of my academic life, and so I am always trying to find opportunities to do something artistic.

I just thought we don't see the juxtaposition of typical and atypical bodies in advertising specifically. Since I am a woman and I am fat and that's what I have to work with, I wanted to show that contrast by finding a male model.

Really, it just came because I wanted to not be angry about it. I wanted to not say, "This is an outrage, I've never heard of this before," but say, "OK, well, look at this. Look at how awesome this is."

And, I think when you're talking about really serious subjects, and this is kind of serious, it's important to be a little bit cheeky and pull in a little bit of humor so that it's approachable -- and it worked.

Very interesting and very difficult subject. There is a national hysteria about obesity in America. There is no dialog or cure, because the fat acceptance movement represents all institutions that make money with obesity. I think the worst is that obesity forces misery on other people. You will live forever only getting more and more obese every year. Currently the American national obesity statistics is at 75 %. How does obesity work? Yyou can't have healthy relationships under the condition of obesity so is it the drugs that Americans are after I guess? Hmmm.

Huh? What drugs? You have to be more specific.

 

[ChrisL]

Someone posted a picture of the minister of health in Belgium. I was like The MINISTER OF HEALTH? Seriously???

 

[Papageorgio]

It is actually not beautiful. We should try having proper diet and a perfect weight and body.

Why?

 

[Papageorgio]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

 

[ChrisL]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

Because it's a sign that you are becoming unhealthy. That's why.

Obesity is one of the biggest drivers of preventable chronic diseases and healthcare costs in the United States. Currently, estimates for these costs range from $147 billion to nearly $210 billion per year.1 In addition, obesity is associated with job absenteeism, costing approximately $4.3 billion annually2 and with lower productivity while at work, costing employers $506 per obese worker per year.3

As a person's BMI increases, so do the number of sick days, medical claims and healthcare costs.4 For instance:

• Obese adults spend 42 percent more on direct healthcare costs than adults who are a healthy weight.5
• Per capita healthcare costs for severely or morbidly obese adults (BMI >40) are 81 percent higher than for healthy weight adults.6 In 2000, around $11 billion was spent on medical expenditures for morbidly obese U.S. adults.
• Moderately obese (BMI between 30 and 35) individuals are more than twice as likely as healthy weight individuals to be prescribed prescription pharmaceuticals to manage medical conditions.7
• Costs for patients presenting at emergency rooms with chest pains are 41 percent higher for severely obese patients, 28 percent higher for obese patients and 22 percent higher for overweight patients than for healthy- weight patients.8

The Healthcare Costs of Obesity: The State of Obesity

 

[sealybobo]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

 

[Papageorgio]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

 

[sealybobo]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

 

[ChrisL]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

Hope everything is going well for you.

 

[sealybobo]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

Hope everything is going well for you.

He is a good guy. You're not so bad yourself Chris. I like your presence here. You are smart, interesting, like to argue. You're fun. Thanks for putting up with me.

 

[ChrisL]

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

Hope everything is going well for you.

He is a good guy. You're not so bad yourself Chris. I like your presence here. You are smart, interesting, like to argue. You're fun. Thanks for putting up with me.

Okay, what do you want?

Seriously though, thank you. That was a very sweet thing to say, and very surprising coming from you!

 

[Papageorgio]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

I don't care to be truthful, if someone wants to be fat, that is there business not mine.

 

[Papageorgio]

I don't really see much difference between this and telling young people that smoking is "beautiful." Obesity and smoking are NOT beautiful. In most instances, both are not necessary. MOST people are fat because they eat too much of the wrong kinds of food.

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

Hope everything is going well for you.

It is and you as well, just working and been busy. Bought a spa, a pellet grill and redoing our back yard. If you want great food, get a pellet grill. Grill fish, and veggies and it tastes great! Low fat, low cal, I lost 10 pounds cooking on that thing. I have stayed away from bread and pasta.

 

[anotherlife]

I am getting tired of hearing these obese people try to make it sound as if obesity is some kind of "fashion statement." Obesity is bad for our health, costs us billions of dollars in medical expenses and is just as bad as smoking! Encouraging obesity is like encouraging smoking or any other bad habit. Obesity is NOT fashionable and for a very good reason!

While I think the CEO's comments about obese people were rather crude, I think this woman is even worse to push such an unhealthy lifestyle. If a 10-year-old is on a diet because he or she is overweight, then that is a GOOD thing!

'Attractive & Fat' and Abercrombie controversy - CNN.com



Jes Baker is cutting retailer Abercrombie & Fitch down to size.

Baker, who blogs under the name "The Militant Baker" and wears a size 22, changed the brand's A&F logo to "Attractive & Fat" in a mock, black-and-white Abercrombie ad to challenge the line's branding efforts.

The photos come as a provocative response to contentious comments Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries made in a 2006 Salon article about the multibillion-dollar brand's target audience.

"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," Jeffries said. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

The divisive remarks resurfaced earlier this month after a series of protests went viral, from Greg Karber's video of himself giving homeless people Abercrombie clothing to a Change.org petition for larger sizes by a teenage eating disorder survivor.

The plus-size community particularly took umbrage to the CEO's business model because the retailer currently does not offer clothes above size 10 or large for women.

"I challenge the separation of attractive and fat, and I assert that they are compatible regardless of what you believe," Baker, 26, wrote in a public letter addressed to the CEO.

Jeffries has since apologized in a statement: "While I believe this 7-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense."

Baker spoke to CNN about Jeffries' comments and her motivations to address them. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

CNN: You start your letter with a preface that Jeffries' opinion "isn't shocking; millions share the same sentiment." The comments are from 2006 -- what motivated you to act on them?

Jes Baker: It really wasn't upset or outrage at all. I've been an art major for the majority of my academic life, and so I am always trying to find opportunities to do something artistic.

I just thought we don't see the juxtaposition of typical and atypical bodies in advertising specifically. Since I am a woman and I am fat and that's what I have to work with, I wanted to show that contrast by finding a male model.

Really, it just came because I wanted to not be angry about it. I wanted to not say, "This is an outrage, I've never heard of this before," but say, "OK, well, look at this. Look at how awesome this is."

And, I think when you're talking about really serious subjects, and this is kind of serious, it's important to be a little bit cheeky and pull in a little bit of humor so that it's approachable -- and it worked.

Very interesting and very difficult subject. There is a national hysteria about obesity in America. There is no dialog or cure, because the fat acceptance movement represents all institutions that make money with obesity. I think the worst is that obesity forces misery on other people. You will live forever only getting more and more obese every year. Currently the American national obesity statistics is at 75 %. How does obesity work? Yyou can't have healthy relationships under the condition of obesity so is it the drugs that Americans are after I guess? Hmmm.

Huh? What drugs? You have to be more specific.

I don't really know what drugs, but if you are a fatso and you have already stomped all your friends into the ground for your amusement, then what is left for you to enjoy in life?

 

[anotherlife]

You should be healthy thick or thin. But if you start getting a belly gut or love handles it's time to do something about it.

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

I don't care to be truthful, if someone wants to be fat, that is there business not mine.

No because being fat ruins the universe through reducing choices for everyone else.

 

[Papageorgio]

Why?

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

I don't care to be truthful, if someone wants to be fat, that is there business not mine.

No because being fat ruins the universe through reducing choices for everyone else.

No it doesn't, please be serious.

 

[anotherlife]

It means you are getting out of shape. It's not healthy or attractive.

I was wondering where you've been the last few weeks.

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

I don't care to be truthful, if someone wants to be fat, that is there business not mine.

No because being fat ruins the universe through reducing choices for everyone else.

No it doesn't, please be serious.

Be serious? Okay. In 1970, 5 % of school students were fat. In 2010, 75 % of school students are fat. So if you want a hot gf, or even just an average gf, your chances have gone down from 95 % to 25 %. Now isn't that a rather big reduction of choices for everyone?

 

[anotherlife]

Someone posted a picture of the minister of health in Belgium. I was like The MINISTER OF HEALTH? Seriously???

Genetic engineering gone bad again. This must be personal for her. Hehe.

 

[Papageorgio]

Been around.

I just got a dog in October. I walk him 7 days a week 1.5-2 hours a day no matter what. Everyone's saying how great I look. Now that I'm looking and feeling better I'm eating better. I do believe most people who are fat or obese are because they don't move and eat bad. Do you deny that? I hate agreeing with Chrisl but she's right

I don't care to be truthful, if someone wants to be fat, that is there business not mine.

No because being fat ruins the universe through reducing choices for everyone else.

No it doesn't, please be serious.

Be serious? Okay. In 1970, 5 % of school students were fat. In 2010, 75 % of school students are fat. So if you want a hot gf, or even just an average gf, your chances have gone down from 95 % to 25 %. Now isn't that a rather big reduction of choices for everyone?

So hot girl friends are the motivation? It's all about looks? Pretty shallow Hal.

 

[ChrisL]

I am getting tired of hearing these obese people try to make it sound as if obesity is some kind of "fashion statement." Obesity is bad for our health, costs us billions of dollars in medical expenses and is just as bad as smoking! Encouraging obesity is like encouraging smoking or any other bad habit. Obesity is NOT fashionable and for a very good reason!

While I think the CEO's comments about obese people were rather crude, I think this woman is even worse to push such an unhealthy lifestyle. If a 10-year-old is on a diet because he or she is overweight, then that is a GOOD thing!

'Attractive & Fat' and Abercrombie controversy - CNN.com



Jes Baker is cutting retailer Abercrombie & Fitch down to size.

Baker, who blogs under the name "The Militant Baker" and wears a size 22, changed the brand's A&F logo to "Attractive & Fat" in a mock, black-and-white Abercrombie ad to challenge the line's branding efforts.

The photos come as a provocative response to contentious comments Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries made in a 2006 Salon article about the multibillion-dollar brand's target audience.

"In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids," Jeffries said. "Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don't belong [in our clothes], and they can't belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

The divisive remarks resurfaced earlier this month after a series of protests went viral, from Greg Karber's video of himself giving homeless people Abercrombie clothing to a Change.org petition for larger sizes by a teenage eating disorder survivor.

The plus-size community particularly took umbrage to the CEO's business model because the retailer currently does not offer clothes above size 10 or large for women.

"I challenge the separation of attractive and fat, and I assert that they are compatible regardless of what you believe," Baker, 26, wrote in a public letter addressed to the CEO.

Jeffries has since apologized in a statement: "While I believe this 7-year-old, resurrected quote has been taken out of context, I sincerely regret that my choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense."

Baker spoke to CNN about Jeffries' comments and her motivations to address them. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

CNN: You start your letter with a preface that Jeffries' opinion "isn't shocking; millions share the same sentiment." The comments are from 2006 -- what motivated you to act on them?

Jes Baker: It really wasn't upset or outrage at all. I've been an art major for the majority of my academic life, and so I am always trying to find opportunities to do something artistic.

I just thought we don't see the juxtaposition of typical and atypical bodies in advertising specifically. Since I am a woman and I am fat and that's what I have to work with, I wanted to show that contrast by finding a male model.

Really, it just came because I wanted to not be angry about it. I wanted to not say, "This is an outrage, I've never heard of this before," but say, "OK, well, look at this. Look at how awesome this is."

And, I think when you're talking about really serious subjects, and this is kind of serious, it's important to be a little bit cheeky and pull in a little bit of humor so that it's approachable -- and it worked.

Very interesting and very difficult subject. There is a national hysteria about obesity in America. There is no dialog or cure, because the fat acceptance movement represents all institutions that make money with obesity. I think the worst is that obesity forces misery on other people. You will live forever only getting more and more obese every year. Currently the American national obesity statistics is at 75 %. How does obesity work? Yyou can't have healthy relationships under the condition of obesity so is it the drugs that Americans are after I guess? Hmmm.

Huh? What drugs? You have to be more specific.

I don't really know what drugs, but if you are a fatso and you have already stomped all your friends into the ground for your amusement, then what is left for you to enjoy in life?

I'm not getting what point you are trying to make. I think most of the time, people who do drugs are skinny and not fat (illegal drugs anyways), because they don't eat well.