Too Fat To Work? Let the Government Pay Your Way!
Ok, normally I let topics like this slide because I really don’t want to get into a battle over being PC, or not, as the case may be. That said, this topic really irritated me and I felt it was important to share with you guys…plus, I admit. I’m curious to know what you guys think.
I first read about this story over at Fabulously Broke, who found the story from L.L at I’m On My Way, who got it from the newspaper. Now that I’ve done my due diligence on linking to everyone, let me tell you what’s going on.
There is a family of four living in Britain that claim to be too fat to work. They are currently receiving the equivalent of $30,000 (overseas readers, help me out, is that pounds???) in benefits and disability. The mother has seizures and epilepsy, which are both a result of being overweight. As if this is bad enough, they say that the income they’re receiving from the government isn’t enough. After paying bills, it’s barely enough to put food on the table.
Where to begin on this monstrosity?
Are you freaking kidding me?????
Everyone in the family is claiming that this is some sort of hereditary thing; everyone in the family is big, therefore, they’re too big too work.
What a crock of s^*t! Pardon me, but this sort of behavior and attitude is the reason people of a larger size are perceived as lazy. I have no problems with their choice – and let’s be clear, it’s a choice – to be overweight. I have no intention of standing on a soap box and calling them names. However, I will stand here and say that treating obesity as a disability is ridiculous and a drain on society’s resources!
This family has gone so far as to say that fruits and vegetables are expensive, and quite frankly, while they’d like to lose weight, they just don’t know how. Here’s a tip: Eat less of what you’re already eating, throw in a little FREE exercise (walk around the block for goodness sakes), and read a book on weight loss.
Really? They’re going to use those lame excuses? And the government is buying this crap? I’m not sure whose the bigger idiot, the family or the government. In reality, the family isn’t stupid. They’re clearly working the system to their advantage. They’re banking on the fact that people are too politically correct to call them out on it. While I disagree with the notion that people of a larger size should be treated cruelly, I do believe this family needs to be called to task for taking full advantage of the system. They’re able to walk and dress themselves, why can’t they go to work?
I’m fairly certain these kinds of shenanigans wouldn’t be going on here in the U.S., but then again, we have the octuplet mom and John and Kate Plus Eight drama, so who knows. But, realistically, I think many people in America would stand up and say something about obese people taking disability money. It is a personal choice, in 95% of the cases, for people to be overweight. There are certain medical conditions that cause people to be overweight, and in those circumstances, I can see where some disability might make sense. However, that’s not the case here, they’re just lazy.
So, my personal thoughts on this are that the government should deny the family’s request to increase the money and require that they attend nutritional health classes where they can work with dietician. I further think that this family should be required to find at least part-time work. The only thing I can come up with on the “not able to work” line is that perhaps these claims stem from emotional trouble. Maybe they can’t work because they feel discriminated by their coworkers for their size. I don’t see that being the case either, but I’m just throwing it out there.
In any event, this is becoming a case of equal rights versus special privileges. This obese family expects that they should be treated just like any other disability, but the government is catering to poor personal choices, which is really setting a precedent for special privileges. In no way does being obese mean you can’t work. There is something that can be done, even if it’s working from home and taking call center type calls. I think this is truly a sad story, not because I sympathize – or even empathize – with them, but because I can’t believe the government is allowing this to continue!
How do you guys feel about this? Are we coddling obesity, teaching our kids that it’s ok? Do you agree with the government giving these people money?
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Hi Kirsty,
The article indicates that the family receive 22k GBP, which equates to about 32k USD as of today (http://www.xe.com/ucc/).
I agree that they can’t buy much food for 4 people for 50 pounds a week. My husband and I have a fairly tight budget of 60 pounds per week for both of us, although our diet includes lots of fruit & veg and very little in the way of pre-prepared (i.e., high fat and sugar, often hidden) foods. Something doesn’t ring true about how much they’re spending. Even if they’re really only eating what they indicate, I don’t see how they can buy enough of it to generate 3000 calories per day times 4 people.
Don’t get me started on how much I pay in taxes to provide for the benefits culture here in the UK. While I’m fully supportive of universal health care, it’s just too easy for people to get into the benefits system (at least if they have children) and stay in it for life. There are some who want to make some changes — for example, requiring that single mothers go back to work after their children are in primary school. But there will always be ‘benefit cheats’…. as well as those situation that look bad on the outside but are perfectly legitimate when the full facts are known. Who knows what category this family fits into?
A stone is 14 (weight) pounds, btw. Mom and dad are 336 pounds, daughters are 252 and 238 pounds.
Vegetables are expensive? It would seem that bacon is considerably more expensive. I agree with SlaveToLenders that the weekly grocery cost and calories don’t seem to mesh.
Emma doesn’t have time to exercise because she’s a student? Wow. How about all those students who are holding down fulltime (or part time) jobs?
Some aspects of obesity might be hereditary, but those folks don’t seem to be making much of an effort to fight it.
I’m also not sure why the weight would keep them from working. There are a lot of pretty heavy people who hold down regular jobs.
These folks are cheating the system. I wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt (call it my optimistic nature) but then I read the article and saw the photos. As kosmo says, there are plenty of people far heavier than them that are working. There are also others with more challenging disabilities who are working. I am guessing though that if they do work, their disability benefits are cut quite a bit. I have known people in that situation before – if they work, their benefits are cut by more than what they are bringing in. None the less, in my opinion, these folks are working the system and shouldn’t be complaining at all.
1. Obesity is not a choice.
2. You don’t know the whole story. The media tends to share the sensationalistic aspects of stories like this to feed the stigma about “fat lazy people” and get attention. (Mission accomplished here I’d say).
3. It is difficult to get on a disability pension (I’ve personally assisted a number of patients with various circumstances and they are put through the ringer) so I’m confident that there are other things going on here. Furthermore, epilepsy is “real” disability, one that is not soley caused by overweight (despite what the story might say). Review point #2.
As distasteful as i find people taking advantage of govt benefits is, i think you’re wrong to say that obesity is “a choice.” No one wants to be overweight, but due to emotional problems, ignorance about proper nutrition, the eating habits their parents passed on to them or a myriad of other reasons, they are overweight.
When being overweight worsens and becomes obesity, it’s very hard to lose the pounds. Just look at the success of the TV show, The World’s Biggest Loser. Some of the people on those shows were obese as children and never experienced anything else. It took a regimented schedule with professional trainers to help them lose the pounds.
I’m not saying these people should get a life pass from employment, but let’s try to be civil.
In reading various reactions to this story, I wonder if people are confusing their frustration over abuse of a system and their feelings about social programs to treat self-induced illness.
Self-induced illness is not at all limited to obesity. In fact, Id go so far as to say that obesity isnt really very different at all from things like stroke, heart attack, kidney or liver or lung disease, diabetes, back problems, etc.
What about someone who injures themselves engaging in a healthy activity and subsequently goes on disability?
If you dont believe in social welfare programs at all, well ok then. But it seems odd to base the decision on who should be helped on whether their lives meet your standards.
@ SlaveToMyLenders – Thank you for clearing that up!
@ kosmo – I agree that something about their story does not add up, which makes the situation more infuriating.
@ Dawn – Yes, they’re cheating the system and the government is letting them. Both parties are at fault, in my opinion!
@ psychsara and fern – Yes, obesity and being overweight is a choice. I’m not suggesting that these people actively wake up every morning and say “gee, I think I want to be fat, so that’s what I’m going to do.” However, all of the reasons you’ve listed, fern are excuses. All of them. As someone who spent most of her life being overweight, I know them all too well. It is their choice not to actively seek help for their condition. It is their choice not to educate themselves. It is no different than someone that’s in debt. They choose to be in debt. If not, they’d get out of debt. Lack of education may be the problem, but there are resources available to educate themselves, they just choose to ignore that and go with the ‘woes me’ mentality. Now, with regard to knowing the whole story, you’re absolutely right that I don’t. However, whether or not the government puts people through the ringer isn’t the issue. The government in question has allowed obesity to become a disability, when in fact, it should not. Obese people are perfectly capable of making it around and living a normal life – I was there. I know. And I realize that epilepsy is a real problem, but there are lots of causes for it, including in some cases, being overweight. I didn’t just write this article on emotion from the news story alone, I did consider the situation. My point to writing all of this was that I disagree with the precedent it sets for larger people, and I don’t think their weight should be grounds to not find a job! At one point in my life, I weighed more than both of the daughters. Not once did I use that excuse as a reason not to work. Not once did I apply for any disability benefits. So, maybe you think I’m being uncivil fern, that’s fine. But as someone who’s been in the shoes of these people, I don’t. My opinion is that they are furthering the perception that large people are lazy and I object to that!
@ dollar – I don’t think that we’re confusing the issue. I think social welfare has it’s place, but I do think people abuse the system, despite what psychsarah says to the contrary. This just happens to be one example of it. The only one of them with the medical problems appears to be the mother, perhaps they all have medical problems, but I highly doubt it. I don’t see how any one of them but the mother should be on disability. To me, that’s taking advantage of the system and taking funds from others who may need it more. These people can find work. The one daughter is able to go to school, I fail to see why she can’t find a part-time job. I went to school and worked two jobs at my heaviest – 300 pounds. It can be done. Someone injuring themselves in healthy activity is a lot different than someone claiming they’re too fat to work.
You guys may have noticed from my comments that I’ve given examples personally related to me. “Obesity” runs in my family, too. I was raised to clear my plate and I was fed for at least 2 people. I was completely uneducated about making smarter decisions when it came to food, so when I moved out on my own, the patterns I was raised with continued. However, I made the choice to stay that way. My doctor urged me to make changes. At 300 pounds when I didn’t fit in the roller coaster at Six Flags, I decided to make that change. I saw a dietitian, I read books, I started exercising. I made the choice to change my life and I did. I still have more to lose and I work on that everyday. But, even at 300 pounds, I didn’t use that as an excuse to say I couldn’t work, I couldn’t be a functioning part of society, etc. Disagree with me if you like, but coming from the same place as this family, their story and their reasons are nothing but a bunch of excuses that I tossed around in my head for years. They can change and they can stop gaming the system. They have to want to.
I agree it IS a choice in most cases. They can continue to eat the same ammount of calories, not work, etc.. even when they are educated and know better. I see it every day – my coworker is close to 400 pounds who KNOWS exactly what the problem is. Every doctor (OBGYN, regular physicial, emergency room doctors who have treated her) tell her the same thing – eat less, work out, lose weight. People like this CHOOSE not to even when surrounded by people who are at a healthy weight with healthy habits.
And it’s taking money from people who really need disability – what about the mentally handicapped who end up homeless? Maybe THEY could use this help!!
How they get “away” with obesity as a disability in the US: Gain weight, then wonder why you have knee problems and claim disability because you can’t walk.
Well yes, you ARE going to have health problems if you weight 336 pounds. They say that for every pound you weigh, you put four pounds of pressure on your knees. Being obese causes *severe* health problems, beyond the social stigma and general discomfort.
Losing weight is a struggle. It really is. I’ve bounced between normal- and overweight for half my lifetime, but I don’t understand how someone could let themselves gain so much weight that they can’t physically work. It’s sad, and a bit disheartening. I’ve got several family members in this situation right now – yes, they fully qualify for disability, but they really caused the problem themselves.
Thanks for sharing, Kristy.
Read “Rethinking Thin” (and a million other research studies) that show that size is not dictated solely by “calories in, calories out” and then explain to me how obesity is a choice.
I’m not saying one cannot work just because one is obese. This is why I’m saying that we don’t know the whole story. Anytime anyone says “well I did X, so they should be able to” I just lose it. Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France 7 times, why can’t you? Bill Gates gives millions to charity, why don’t you? Obviously I’m being absurd to make a point, but really, we don’t know the entirety of someone else’s circumstances. It goes back to the old “until you walk a mile in their shoes” edict.
There’s a great post today at plonkee monkey, http://plonkee.com/2009/03/26/keeping-down-the-smiths/. It doesn’t speak to this issue directly, but I think it eloquently states that we might be better off if we just mind our own business, take care of our own finances, and stop worrying about “benefit theives”.
I think obesity should be categorized with alcoholism and drug addiction – are they classified as disabilities? I honestly don’t know. People that big are usually that way for the same reasons that alcoholics are alcoholics – it’s just that their compulsion of choice is food, and unfortunately it’s not something you can just give up forever like you can with all the other addictions.
And by the way, I distinctly recall that, in the UK in the 1990s, all kinds of addicts would be given cars – sometimes with drivers! – for them and their families to use to shuttle them to their appointments, clinics, dealers, etc. I sort of knew a family in this situation, and when the alcoholic father died, they bitched about having to give the car back. Would you say that’s better or worse than paying disability to the morbidly obese?
As for this family…wouldn’t it be worth the government’s investment to fix the problem rather than throw money at it? You’d think that would be easier with a nationalized health care system, but I guess no one wants to dip into their budget if they can pawn it off on another’s. Either that or, as a previous commenter mentions, there’s a lot more to this family’s situation than the Telegraph chose to report.
this is ridiculous. if this was legal in the US can you imagine what would happen? I’m going to blog about this and link to you in a minute. i’m grossed out.
This is ridiculous and enraging…But your tone makes this totally readable and the chosen accompanying photo cracks me up!
@ psychsarah – you contradicted yourself. You said it goes back to “walking a mile in their shoes…” I’ve done that, that’s my point. You can sit here and list all the literature and the books you want, the fact is, being overweight is their choice because they are not choosing to seek help – whatever their problem is in being overweight. I think it’s probably safe to say that you and I will have to agree to disagree on this issue. With regards to plonkee monkey’s post, it’s a nice sentiment, but we’re sort of in on the story now that it’s been made public. Obviously they wanted it talked about or they wouldn’t have agreed to the interview in the first place. But, my finances are in order all the same, so I’m not worried. Again, my point to this story was the negative impression that this type of story gives to overweight people. As far as minding my own business, well, you’re commenting on this too, so there you go.
Thanks for the linky link!
And I’m sorry to all the above commenters, but obesity IS a choice.
How many years has it been since Americans have been THIS FAT? Not too long, let me tell you.
It’s only been in recent human history that Americans have had the dubious honour of reaching such levels of obesity first (other First World nations are catching up like France, Japan)..
I totally get that it’s hard for some people to lose weight, there’s a gene in some that BLOCKS the signal to let them know they’re full.. I get it.
But if you KNOW you have a problem, you deal with it. You work out, you eat less, you eat healthier, you go vegetarian, whatever.
And if it still doesn’t work, then I truly sympathize, but only if I can specifically see that you are giving it your all and making an effort.
That family up there, may have problems, but they do NOT work out, do NOT cut back in food and are PROUD to be sponging off the government. It’s a whole different ballgame than someone who tries very hard to lose weight and cannot.
They don’t even put in the minimum effort, and other “fat” people have posted answers and commented that they feel a bit sick that these people are getting govt assistance when they feel that they are fat enough to receive the same benefits.
Maybe it’s for the better — they’ll end up getting phased out of the gene pool earlier because of their bad lifestyle choices if you know what I mean.
;)
Fabulously Broke in the City
“Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.“
I choose to be anonymous because I am obese. I weigh 254 pounds, and I fully admit that it is my fault. My dad’s whole family is overweight (I seem small in comparison!), but it is my choise to snack on cookies instead of fruits. My children do not have the same problem because DH and I have been teaching them about eating healthy foods since the day they were born.
All that said, I WORK part time and am on my feet for at least 4 hours a day. I went to college and earned my degree while WORKING. I also WORK by being home for my kids – I spent this morning chasing my youngest around the park. If my weight prevented me from doing that which is important to me, I’d be scarfing down salads and pulling out my ancient TaeBo videos in a heartbeat.
I was raised to believe that it is my responsibility to take care of myself and my family, not the government’s job to take care of me. I can understand the wife needing disability, even if the asthma and epilepsy were exacerbated by her weight, but not the husband. Suck it up and get a job! Millions of people with Type 2 Diabetes (including most of my family) work full time. The daughters in this case are not to blame in my mind. Not because I believe that they are incapable of losing weight, but because I believe they have been brought up to believe that big brother is supposed to take care of them, and that they don’t need to take care of themselves. Stories like this make me sad because it is further “proof” for people that fat=lazy.