Living ~400lbs

… and believe me I am still alive

Fat Demographics

I ran across some interesting US data from the CDC recently.

Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in Adults

It might add some illumination to the assumption that fat people are all poor.

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Living 400lbs

I blog about what it’s like to be live life at about 400lbs. :)

14 responses to “Fat Demographics”

  1. tehomet Avatar
    tehomet

    Interesting. Thank you for posting. this.

    Reply
  2. Fivehundredpoundpeep Avatar
    Fivehundredpoundpeep

    I think past a certain weight, that poverty is a given. I would say most super-sized people who become that weight by their early 20s, would definitely be facing poverty unless they had an exceptional skill as far as the marketplace goes. Disability checks average $10-12,000 a year for those who used to work and even far less if you never have worked. If you can’t walk, do stairs or breathe, poverty is coming your way. Mid-sized folks can still manage professional careers if they retain mobility, and breathing ability and remain small enough to dress “professionally”. I know they have done other studies dictating that people lose so much income based on weight. I am surprised that there are more poor fat women then men, perhaps “poverty” raises the cortisol levels in women differently, they feel more chronic stress, in managing and maintaining households. Of course I feel kind of like a lone lower socio-economic voice, out there in the fat-o-sphere, probably because few people of my income level can afford computers and Internet, and I only do so due to special circumstances. Are there any other fat blogs out there where economic struggle is even part of the story?

    Reply
    1. KellyK Avatar
      KellyK

      Michele Allison (Fat Nutritionist) talks about poverty some and has been poor (not sure if she still is). Also Patsy Nevins, though I’m not sure if she has a blog or is just a frequent commenter on other posts.

      Reply
      1. KellyK Avatar
        KellyK

        This was meant to be a reply to fivehundredpoundpeep’s post.

        Reply
        1. Living 400lbs Avatar
          Living 400lbs

          Hi Kelly –

          It was, it’s just this style is a bit weird with comments. :)

          Reply
      2. Living 400lbs Avatar
        Living 400lbs

        Patsy has definitely been there, but not sure if she’s a blogger per se either.

        For that matter, Seanan McGuire is a writer with thoughts on growing up poor and fat that I find useful, but she isn’t supersize and does not identify as a fat blogger. :)

        Reply
      3. Fivehundredpoundpeep Avatar
        Fivehundredpoundpeep

        Thanks I went to go check out some of those websites. Hey I am glad there are a few others.

        Reply
    2. Living 400lbs Avatar
      Living 400lbs

      I’m not sure how many supersize fat bloggers there are…offhand, Vesta (at http://bigfatdelicious.blogspot.com/ and editor of http://fathealth.wordpress.com/ ) doesn’t have a job, but I’m not sure if she’s retired or disabled. Heidi (http://www.attackofthesugarmonster.com) was on disability for a while (not sure she still is). Marianne (http://therotund.com) and Leslie (http://blog.twowholecakes.com/) are employed as writers and editors. Stef (not a fat blogger but of the fat-friendly professionals list and supersize clothing resources list) is a technical writer and editor.

      I know I’ve got a lot of things in my favor — 20 years’ experience in software, basic mobility, etc — and I still have trouble due to general bias. I also assume that jobs where I’d need to be on my feet all day (some lab environments) or dress more “professionally” (some employers) are right out. In Seattle this can be gotten around thanks to the Microsoft / Amazon “polo shirt is dressing up” casual influence + general need for people, but elsewhere? Not so sure.

      Reply
      1. Fivehundredpoundpeep Avatar
        Fivehundredpoundpeep

        Thanks for the links. I appreciate it, and went to read many. Sorry you face general bias. Computer tech/software, does seem to be a field that is more amendable to supersized people who are mobile. Glad you do not have to be on your feet all day. I think for young fat people we need to stress even a higher degree of obtaining sellable skills given the way the work world is going. Clothing was a big problem for me due to poverty even in obtaining jobs to begin with.

        Reply
        1. Living 400lbs Avatar
          Living 400lbs

          I think for young fat people we need to stress even a higher degree of obtaining sellable skills given the way the work world is going. Clothing was a big problem for me due to poverty even in obtaining jobs to begin with.

          Absolutely! Job skills are huge, and I can’t really find clothes at the drop of a hat either :)

          Reply
      2. closetpuritan Avatar
        closetpuritan

        I would guess that Kath at Fat Heffalump is about the same size as Marianne and Lesley. I’m not sure if she’s mentioned what she does for work. I did a really quick search of her blog for “work” (only looked at the first page), and she did write in a review of some boots, “I ran around one really busy day last week all over the shop all day, for a 9.5 hour work day, and was still standing when I finally got home, having had them on for about 12 hours!” which makes it sound like she works in a retail job. It sounds like she doesn’t have any major mobility issues, so I don’t know if that’s much help to you.

        Reply
    3. notblueatall Avatar
      notblueatall

      Yes! Well, mine. I don’t know of many other fat blogs that speak from a poor/working-poor person’s point of view, but mine certainly does. NotBlueAtAll.com Though I’ve been writing mostly personal stuff lately, I’d love to get back into the struggles of fat/poor living and am always open to suggestions/advice. :)

      Reply
      1. Fivehundredpoundpeep Avatar
        Fivehundredpoundpeep

        I’ll check your blog out too. I have dealt with many poverty issues on my blog and have faced years of poverty during my adult life. Many are ending up poor even have obtained college degrees, and working jobs that earlier on paid decent wages but now do not. I am disabled which of course cut down the money making propositions, but pre-disability, was very underpaid. I believe America is in a second Depression. Poverty does influence obesity to an extreme amount.

        http://fivehundredpoundpeeps.blogspot.com/search/label/Poor%20People

        Reply
        1. Fivehundredpoundpeep Avatar
          Fivehundredpoundpeep

          See this article too:

          http://fivehundredpoundpeeps.blogspot.com/2012/01/poverty-wolf-at-door-trying-to-gobble.html

          Reply

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Former software tester, now retired heart patient having fun and working on building endurance and strength. See also About page.

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