An Ugly Word and Discrimination

[nursekathy2u 0]

I have long thought about how horrible it is to be called MORBIDLY obese. What a terrible word. The word MORBID alone sends the message that we are gross. Everytime I hear myself or my "condition" referred to as MORBID obesity I cringe and feel a flash of embarassment and shame. Sometimes I feel we are the recipients of discrimination from the medical society as well as society as a whole just by using that label when referring to our weight problem. Why can't the medical term for our condition be changed?? Maybe grade it on a scale of 1 to 5 or something. The current scale is overweight, obesity, severe obesity, morbid obesity and the dreaded super obesity which I would much rather be called than MORBID. But then again if you fall into the catagory that tops morbid obesity what is so "super" about it? Maybe it could be level one obesity, level two obesity, level three obesity, etc. I see no reason why the terms can't be changed. Medical terminology has been changed in the past and could be changed again. After all we no longer call mentally challenged folks retarded, and deaf people are referred to now as hearing impaired, crippled folks are now handicapped, etc. There are even laws in place to help these people and protect their rights. All public buildings have to be handicapped accessible but they wouldnt dream of dedicating sturdy or wider chairs for us. They will run get you a wheel chair at the airport if you need it but Ive never seen one there that would hold a heavy person. They even make you buy 2 seats on a plane if your fat. I say build bigger seats !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even thin people dont like to be packed in like sardines. And what about doctors offices who only have small gowns? DOCTORS OFFICES for gosh sakes!!!! They should know better!!! My Bariatric surgeon had those little chairs with arms on them in his waiting room!!!! And then had larger "bariatric" chairs in the examining room. Go figure. My point to all this rambling is that society will change titles and laws for people and conditions whether it is medical, racial, religious, or lifestyle titles to be politically correct. Where do we stand in that?? In my opinion we dont fit into that picture. Until we stand up for ourselves and our condition nothing ever will change. But to stand up for yourself would mean drawing attention to yourself and your "condition" and could be very uncomfortable and even humiliating.. So we continue to be discriminated against and labelled as MORBID. How sad.

Kathy

<!-- / message -->

[mousecrazy 2]

I decided to love the term Morbidly Obese, because being "that term" qualified me for the lapband surgery that has changed my life, and has been a great decision. I think it's all in how you choose to look at it.

[bandedmama 0]

I am not usually one to play devil's advocate - and I understand your stance and agree that overweight people are most definately discriminated against - but I have to say that I think "morbid obesity" is a proper term, or atleast it was for me. It told me that at that weight, I was killing myself. I looked up the definition:

Morbid Mor"bid, a. [L. morbidus, fr. morbus disease; prob. akin to mori to die: cf. F. morbide, It. morbido. See Mortal.]

1. Not sound and healthful; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; diseased; sickly; as, morbid humors; a morbid constitution; a morbid state of the juices of a plant. ``Her sick and morbid heart.'' --Hawthorne.

2. Of or pertaining to disease or diseased parts; as, morbid anatomy.

Syn: Diseased; sickly; sick.

Usage: Morbid, Diseased. Morbid is sometimes used interchangeably with diseased, but is commonly applied, in a somewhat technical sense, to cases of a prolonged nature; as, a morbid condition of the nervous system; a morbid sensibility, etc.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

At my highest weight, I DID have a disease (even now I do...) - an eating disease that made me uncontrollably fat. I never have understood though why "super obese" came after "morbidly obese" - morbid to me always meant "near to death". And why we're complaining about society & where they put us, I never understood why they put the women's clothing section next to the petites? The smallest women and the largest women shopping next to each other - and the "normal" people get to shop on their own separate floor? That always bugged me!!! I do understand your point, and agree to a degree -- but I also think that having a certain amount of extra weight IS damaging, and is a disease. I'm not trying to bash you or start anything - just another perspective!

[Alexandra 55]

Yep, I agree with bandedmama. It's a medical diagnosis, not meant for social usage. Hell, I would NEVER have characterized myself that way, but I completely accept that having a BMI of 47 placed my life in mortal danger. My obesity was a disease, and that disease was causing an increased chance of dying. Quite plainly: morbid.

[jojo41 0]

nursekathy....I understand where you're coming from. I also get frustrated at the descrimination against fat people.

I realise 'morbid obesity" is a health issue but it also has a stigma attatched to it.

I do not want to be "morbidly" obese that is why I am having WLS but I feel that if people chose to be then they should not be descriminated against purely on their size.

Let's face it "fat" people are the majority!

[FunnyDuddies 6]

I hate the term, even though it is a medical term. But I love the word FAT LOL I cal myself a fat chick all time, and boy do i get looks LOL I am not big, I am not a bbw, I am not obese. I am fat. And it just shocks people when I say it. Not that i am running around going "Look at the fat girl!!!" but when people feel it is ok to start talking about my weight, I am not going to go easy on them. Fat is so offensive to everyone. Don't talk to me about my weight unless you are willing to hear the word FAT a lot LOL

[jojo41 0]

I agree...I have NO problem with the word FAT.....I am FAT.....and I'm OK with that but "Morbidly" obese I do have a problem with that.No one says someone is "morbidly underweight" if the person is so underweight that it is affecting their health.

[Marimaru 7]

I never really had a problem with the term. It simply means that you are at a weight where it can and will start effecting your ability to live. Just like "co morbidities".

I agree there is plenty discrimination though.

[DrewsLou 3]

Amy.... I always call the plus size section in stores the fat girls sizes. It still makes my hubby cringe!

I agree that the term "morbidly obese" is horrible but so is killing myself with my over eating. It took words like that to make me wake up and realize I have a problem.

[juliek 0]

I also pretty much agree with bandedmama. While it is certainly not the best word to use, it is fairly accurate based on the defination. I do agree that we tend to get discriminated against!

Frankly, if I went into my bariatric surgeon's office, and they had small chairs in the waiting room, I would have turned around, left and found another doctor. That is just plain insensitive, esp considering the business he/she is in.

[jojo41 0]

I agree....the first thing I noticed when I went to my surgeon's office was there were NO chairs only big, wide comfy lounges.The second thing I noticed was the nurse, nutritionist, psychologist and doctor never mentioned the words "Morbidly Obese".They explained that my weight was affecting my health....well, I would have had to be stupid not to know that, but they at no time made an "issue" of my size. Actually the nurse referred to me being a "smaller" candidate (which amused me beacause it's been a long time since I was referred to as "smal"...lol).

[Meow=^..^= 1]

LOL... Love Fat...Fat Gurl (Fat Gral, Fatalicious, Fat Butt Girl LOL hubbys fav:whoo:) ova here!!!!

Heres a question.... Do ya have friends that become offended when ya call yourself Fat???? I do and it is soooo annoying!!!! One friend is always saying, "stop putting yourself down" no matter how many times I have said...Ummmm I am fat, thats just my own reality.:frusty: Sheesh

Never had a issue with MO either... But my mom had a coniption when she saw her chart and it said obese OMG she blew!!!!

[GayleTX 1]

One of the things that really hurt my mother after my dad died was seeing what the coronor wrote on the death certificate beside "Cause of Death" - he wrote "Obesity." Not any reference to coronary problems (which he'd had since he was very young and NOT obese)......just 'obesity.' They could just as easily have written "Nicotine" .

I don't mind Morbidly Obese.....it helps me remember why I had surgery in the first place. I came near death one to many times and I'm just not ready to anybody to fill in the blanks on my death certificate yet. I'd rather they write as my Cause of Death: 'She was VERY VERY OLD!!!"

[jojo41 0]

I think people are too quick to jump onto the "obesity bandwagon" these days.

10 years ago it was smokers....smoking related illnesses are the no 1 cause of death...smokers are a burden to our health system...smokers are selfish....etc etc

Now it's.... obesity related illnesses are the no 1 cause of death....obese people are a burden to our health system....obese people are selfish.... etc etc

It seems like every 10 years or so they look for a new group to "persecute".

Don't get me wrong I know the health hazards in being obese, that is why I am having WLS BUT I hate the way obese people are currently viewed and treated by society.

Has anyone read "The Obesity Myth"?......very interesting reading.