"Bill Maher is right about the fat-acceptance movement"

[C C]

https://www.acsh.org/news/2022/08/09/bil...ment-16479

INTRO EXCERPTS: Comedian Bill Maher is in trouble after attacking the fat-acceptance movement on his show last week. Not only was the segment hilarious, but it highlighted an important fact many people would rather not discuss: social-justice activists are rewriting science to protect their ideological commitments.

[...] As far as edgy comedy goes, Maher's segment was rather mild. I was obese for most of my childhood and young adult years, yet I found no offense in what he said. But even if someone thought Maher's jokes were out of line, the facts behind them are imminently defensible. In so many words, he argued that:

• Our society no longer treats obesity as a preventable health condition but a protected status. This is an example of people “rewriting science” to fit their ideology.
  
• Obesity carries significant health risks.
  
• We know why most people gain weight and how they can lose it; arguments to the contrary are stupid.
  
• Overweight people who slim down are routinely and wrongly criticized for their efforts.
  

So far, all Maher's critics have either straw-manned his points or accused him of oversimplifying a discussion they have actually convoluted with feel-good gobbledygook. Forbes senior contributor Bruce Y. Lee made both errors in an August 6 piece titled Bill Maher Claims ‘Fat Celebration’ Is Happening In U.S., Oversimplifies Obesity Epidemic. Let's take a closer look at Lee's response. As we'll see, someone is confused about obesity, but it isn't Maher.

“Just to be clear, Maher is not a scientist. During this segment, he also didn’t present any real scientific studies or have any, you know, real live scientists present.”

This actually raises an important question: why is Maher the one taking on the “fat acceptance” movement? If doctors, obesity researchers, and health journalists would honestly but respectfully communicate the risks of obesity to the public, which they increasingly refuse to do, Maher wouldn't have any material. That's why his bit is so funny. Not only has society turned a blind eye to the problem, we've reached a level of absurdity where major retailers run ad campaigns called 'Fat Girls Can Do Whatever They Want' so they can sell more plus-size clothing... (MORE - missing details)

New Rule: Fat Acceptance | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yfiWjnStE3w

[Magical Realist]

Experiencing my own bout of unhealthy fatness now after seeing the doc, getting my A1C down by dropping some pounds. I need to drop about 20 lbs to make that happen. It just makes sense to keep our weight down, whatever you have to do. Intermittent fasting is my method, limiting myself to one hamburger or one burrito a day. Some days I just don't eat at all. It all depends on what my activity level is for that day.

[Zinjanthropos]

Do they sell clothes for the anorexic? Remembering Twiggy and the skinny models back in the day. People would critically say they should gain weight but would that be acceptable today? What can a doctor say re weight gain/loss?