Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 19, 2014 8:12:44 GMT -5
www.newser.com/story/200192/europe-court-obesity-can-be-a-disability.html–" Obese people who feel discriminated against in the workplace scored a potentially big legal victory in Europe today. The European Court of Justice ruled that obesity can be a disability that requires special protections, reports the BBC. The ruling is "nuanced," however, observes Al Jazeera America. The court didn't say outright that obesity is a disability, only that it can be under certain circumstances—specifically if the obesity hinders "full and effective participation" at work. The case in question involves a 350-pound man in Denmark who says he got fired from his job as a child caregiver because of his weight. His case now goes back to a lower court that will determine whether he qualifies as disabled under the new guidelines."
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Dec 19, 2014 8:25:10 GMT -5
In other words, please pass the Twinkies.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 19, 2014 8:29:42 GMT -5
Nom, nom....
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Dec 19, 2014 8:44:33 GMT -5
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 19, 2014 9:16:07 GMT -5
The smart employer will simply find a way to get rid of that employee before it's too late. I looked at the supervisors of the different units at the hospital DF frequents. Not a good example of healthy people. Kinda like a cancer doctor that smokes.
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mroped
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Post by mroped on Dec 19, 2014 9:40:53 GMT -5
Just because a person is oversized or heavier than the standards set by the Health Department doesn't mean he/she is obese. I had an employee for5 years that was constantly weighing in at #300. Now imagine a 6' tall 24 years old that every time he went for a medical routine check up was told that he is "way overweight"! He was absolutely fine from a physical ability standpoint. No problems breathing, his weight didn't interfere with his job( stone mason involving climbing scaffolding on regular basis or fitting in a narrow trench). my point is that the definition of obesity is all relative. A few or more extra pounds don't necessarily make you "unhealthy". And if you can hack your job unfazed by the weight why bother with how much you weigh? If is an image issue than yeah, I see it but that has to be your own not some shmucks opinion in a back office
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 19, 2014 19:50:24 GMT -5
Being fat is a disability, EU judges have ruled, meaning that companies must offer obese staff bigger chairs, special parking spaces and a lighter workload. www.thestarphoenix.com/health/court+rules+fatness+disability/10665933/story.htmlReally? Special parking spaces and a lighter workload? I also read they have to have bigger doors and a bigger work station. I would get around that by not hiring them in the first place.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 19, 2014 19:54:05 GMT -5
Why would I hire someone who won't be able to pull his own weight AND cost me money?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 20:00:00 GMT -5
This is a complete B.S ruling.
Being overweight is not a disability. It's a choice. (and I'm saying that knowing that I'M fat!)
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Dec 19, 2014 21:58:25 GMT -5
It can be a choice and it can be medical as well.
And overweight isn't obese anyway- very obese people are in fact disabled- and usually that is coupled with many other problems. I don't think anyone in the world would want to trade places with them.
I am less worried about the designation than the ability to get proper treatment (at least in this country ).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:48:01 GMT -5
I agree that it can BECOME medical. But even a person with the most out-of-whack metabolism can choose... to take steps to deal with it in such a way that it is NOT a hindrance, or not.
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EVT1
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Post by EVT1 on Dec 19, 2014 23:01:51 GMT -5
I agree that it can BECOME medical. But even a person with the most out-of-whack metabolism can choose... to take steps to deal with it in such a way that it is NOT a hindrance, or not. Some people cannot choose- there are mental components. And some people are screwed no matter what they do. No matter the cause- the result is still a disability. Not arguing whether the law is right or wrong just stating a fact. Drug addiction is similar- though our SS system will not pay benefits for addiction. The fact is unchanged that these people are incapable of working a normal job until they are treated. And sadly there are people that will never beat it.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 20, 2014 8:07:20 GMT -5
Oh, 10lbs of baloney. The very same people rush out and get handicapped placquards. And, instead of walking through the store, they ride and electric cart. You should be taking every opportunity to walk and maintain your health. Sheesh.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 20, 2014 8:08:57 GMT -5
BTW, where is the religious community on gluttony? Gluttony is a sin.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Dec 20, 2014 8:48:03 GMT -5
BTW, where is the religious community on gluttony? Gluttony is a sin. The seven deadly sins are out of fashion: Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Envy, Anger and Pride. Everyone is focused on lust these days.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 20, 2014 8:54:11 GMT -5
Yes, they go apeschit over sexual sins while ignoring the rest. Helloooo!
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 20, 2014 11:51:13 GMT -5
Wow, you guys are rough.
Which comes first, the weight or the disability? It is obscenely hard to get the sort of workout that you need, when your joints ache. It's not a matter of being a glutton, just YOU CAN'T MOVE COMFORTABLY. I fight it like crazy, I'm not a glutton and probably eat less than most but as I can't move, weight doesn't come off.
TD has a woman at work that desperately needs new knees and hips. She's fairly young, but like me has had joint issues since birth. Since for many of us that are fairly young, they do not want to do surgery until your joints are totally destroyed, and the process of destruction HURTS, you move less. Exercise is limited use because early in the destruction process, it does help but later you wind up hurting for several days afterwards. BTDT. So while waiting for the doctor to ok her new knees and hips, she gained weight. Now she weighs too much for any orthopedic surgeon to help her. And sadly, she recognizes the impression that an obese person makes when they use the electric carts. The other day, I asked her why she didn't go to the company Christmas party. She had gone out earlier in the day to pick up some Christmas presents and when she got home, she hurt too much to go out. So she stayed home. All of this feeds back on itself, and the problem gets worse, not better.
Then, add the wise words that I have seen on this board. No wonder the woman doesn't want to use the electric carts and is willing to put up with the pain, after observing all the derision I have seen on the board.
Nice, guys......really nice.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 20, 2014 12:03:39 GMT -5
I've got a girlfriend who is missing part of her leg. Exercising is near to impossible but although she is overweight, she is NOT obese. She watches very carefully what she eats and she does as much physical activity as she can. It's avoidable.
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 20, 2014 12:08:22 GMT -5
I've got a girlfriend who is missing part of her leg. Exercising is near to impossible but although she is overweight, she is NOT obese. She watches very carefully what she eats and she does as much physical activity as she can. It's avoidable. It's a huge difference between losing part of your leg and hurting. Have you ever tried to put weight on a joint when you're not sure it's going to support you? When the pain is so bad when you take a step that you gasp in pain.....while taking narcotics? Right now, I go to the grocery store and by the time I get the groceries in, my hips are screaming at me. So the groceries sit on the counter for 30 min, until the screaming stops. However, I can walk and I am not in a wheelchair (to my surgeon's surprise). At this point, I don't know how much longer though.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 20, 2014 12:12:09 GMT -5
She hurts when she uses her prosthesis which is why she wheelchairs unless she leaves the home. She has to drive and take care of herself in every way. She lives alone with zero help. I've driven her around. The most she can walk without pain is a max of ten minutes. Shopping with her is an adventure. Unreal that she had trouble getting disability.
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resolution
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Post by resolution on Dec 20, 2014 14:29:16 GMT -5
Sorry for coming across as insensitive on this. I know a lot of people become disabled first and then put on the weight due to the pain or inability to move around much.
My workplace promotes an environment of constant, unhealthy eating. I go back there every year, and every year people are heavier and in more pain, but we keep having event after event that centers around food. I feel really helpless because I see people that I care about, and every year they are sicker and sicker.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 19:21:16 GMT -5
Wow, you guys are rough. Which comes first, the weight or the disability? It is obscenely hard to get the sort of workout that you need, when your joints ache. It's not a matter of being a glutton, just YOU CAN'T MOVE COMFORTABLY. I fight it like crazy, I'm not a glutton and probably eat less than most but as I can't move, weight doesn't come off. TD has a woman at work that desperately needs new knees and hips. She's fairly young, but like me has had joint issues since birth. Since for many of us that are fairly young, they do not want to do surgery until your joints are totally destroyed, and the process of destruction HURTS, you move less. Exercise is limited use because early in the destruction process, it does help but later you wind up hurting for several days afterwards. BTDT. So while waiting for the doctor to ok her new knees and hips, she gained weight. Now she weighs too much for any orthopedic surgeon to help her. And sadly, she recognizes the impression that an obese person makes when they use the electric carts. The other day, I asked her why she didn't go to the company Christmas party. She had gone out earlier in the day to pick up some Christmas presents and when she got home, she hurt too much to go out. So she stayed home. All of this feeds back on itself, and the problem gets worse, not better. Then, add the wise words that I have seen on this board. No wonder the woman doesn't want to use the electric carts and is willing to put up with the pain, after observing all the derision I have seen on the board. Nice, guys......really nice. For the record, I was referring to obesity ONLY as it's own "disability" when there's no other factors (other, real disabilities) contributing to it. If weight becomes an issue because you have a joint disease and can't exercise... it's not the same as choosing to not exercise "just because it's exercise". However, if you get joint damage BECAUSE OF chosen extra weight... well... that's a choice you made. If you go to McD's every day and pack on 200 pounds... it's a choice. If you have metabolism that is so slow a tortoise moves faster, and you eat calorie rich foods (even home cooked ones)... it's a choice. Do you (general) see the distinction?
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Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Dec 20, 2014 20:36:16 GMT -5
My point is, there are a myriad of things that can cause one to gain weight, not just joint issues. Some antidepressants can cause issues, some treatments for certain conditions use prednisone, which can cause problems. A lot of things cause weight gain, and sometimes the weight gain is the lessor of 2 evils.
You don't know that.
I have a metabolism smaller than a tortoise.....medically defined. When I was 28, my metabolism was about 40% less than the average person. I got involved in a diabetes study, where the researchers actually measured my basal metabolic rate via how I used glucose and insulin, and I KNOW I'm not the only one like this (according to the researchers who were doing the study). If you want the name of the study, I know the authors names, you can google them.
I just love the automatic assumption that one MUST go to Rotten Ronnie's if they are fat. Do people go there? Probably as much as the rest of the population....but no one looks sideways at anyone else, just the fat ones. Kind of along the same lines that when I couldn't walk, I used an electric cart but no one gave me a sideway look because I'm not obese. However, TD's coworker knew she'd gets "the look" if she used the cart, so didnt.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2014 21:08:37 GMT -5
And I'm not talking about the "sideways glances" that people give overweight people. I'm just referring to calssifying obesity, itself, as a "disability"
If I, out in public, see another fat person (remember, I'm fat too), I don't wonder about their issues, or look down on them for being fat. But, I'm not the one at the disability office giving out handicapped placards.
Obesity is not, in and of itself, a disability. It's a choice.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 21, 2014 4:12:55 GMT -5
This is a seriously stupid discussion. No one chooses to be obese. Unless we are talking about someone who is gaining weight just to get disability which would take a really long time and I don't think happens very often at all. I have really bad feet. As I got older my metabolism really slowed down. I kept eating the exact same foods in the same amounts but started gaining weight anyway. I didn't have an exercise problem until after I gained the weight. Once I did that added weight made it way more difficult to do any exercise. but everyone keep saying it is a choice I made.
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weltschmerz
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Post by weltschmerz on Dec 21, 2014 5:01:05 GMT -5
This is a seriously stupid discussion. No one chooses to be obese. Unless we are talking about someone who is gaining weight just to get disability which would take a really long time and I don't think happens very often at all. I have really bad feet. As I got older my metabolism really slowed down. I kept eating the exact same foods in the same amounts but started gaining weight anyway. I didn't have an exercise problem until after I gained the weight. Once I did that added weight made it way more difficult to do any exercise. but everyone keep saying it is a choice I made. You have really bad feet, so running is out of the question. How about swimming? Kayaking or canoeing?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2014 6:21:41 GMT -5
This is a seriously stupid discussion. No one chooses to be obese. Unless we are talking about someone who is gaining weight just to get disability which would take a really long time and I don't think happens very often at all. I have really bad feet. As I got older my metabolism really slowed down. I kept eating the exact same foods in the same amounts but started gaining weight anyway. I didn't have an exercise problem until after I gained the weight. Once I did that added weight made it way more difficult to do any exercise. but everyone keep saying it is a choice I made. After the metabolism slowed down, who chose for you to keep eating the same foods in the exact same amounts? I'm guessing it wasn't forced on you.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 21, 2014 7:46:07 GMT -5
There are all manner of exercises one can do to maintain health. If you can't walk you can use light handweights while sitting in a chair watching TV. There is yoga, cycling, swimming or just plain old fashioned stretching. Yes, not all weight gain is preventable. SOme medications cause people to gain weight like anti depressants or steroids, etc. But, of course if you are put on those things, you should be congnizant of that and adjust accordingly. And, being overweight is not the same thing as being obese. Lots of people are overweight. And, your metabolism does slow down. And, I think we expect everybody to be the same shape and size as well which is ridiculous.
I think the point is that there are so few people who are willing to help themselves but now expect society and everyone else to help them when they aren't even willing to do even the smallest amount of work on their own behalf.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 21, 2014 7:47:20 GMT -5
But, if people want to paint this as a disability, then don't be surprised that more and more employers decide to stay away. It is something that one cannot hide so they will simply not hire but of course aren't usually dumb enough to say why.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 21, 2014 11:28:40 GMT -5
This is a seriously stupid discussion. No one chooses to be obese. Unless we are talking about someone who is gaining weight just to get disability which would take a really long time and I don't think happens very often at all. I have really bad feet. As I got older my metabolism really slowed down. I kept eating the exact same foods in the same amounts but started gaining weight anyway. I didn't have an exercise problem until after I gained the weight. Once I did that added weight made it way more difficult to do any exercise. but everyone keep saying it is a choice I made. After the metabolism slowed down, who chose for you to keep eating the same foods in the exact same amounts? I'm guessing it wasn't forced on you. How was I supposed to know it was slowing down? Was there some blinking light that was supposed to come on in neon lights that said "metabolism slowing down"?? Cause if it is, then mine is obviously broken because I only found out after I had gained the weight.
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