[MERGED] Britains fattest teenager

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

Stop with the fancy words - Culpability. It does not need it imo.

Does she *have* to eat it?

Lets not forget that she lost 15 STONES in the USA here yet put is ALL back on when she returned.

Only one person to blame here, her, hmmm fatty meal do I eat it? (y/n) well you see what i am getting at...

You seem to be viewing this as black and white.

Yes, she chose to eat, being aware of the danger, but that is how addiction works. Your desire to do something is so great that it becomes more important than *anything* including your own life.

Most drug addicts are aware that their next hit might kill them. Most alcoholics are aware that their next drink might kill them. Most smokers are aware that their next cigarette will reduce their life, Yet all three groups choose to do the thing that might well kill them.

Not that I am excusing her family, or the authorities. Someone bought that food. Someone prepared it. Someone should have noticed and said something before it got this bad.

[Tuftus]

Originally Posted by Stuart

You seem to be viewing this as black and white.

Yes, she chose to eat, being aware of the danger, but that is how addiction works. Your desire to do something is so great that it becomes more important than *anything* including your own life.

Most drug addicts are aware that their next hit might kill them. Most alcoholics are aware that their next drink might kill them. Most smokers are aware that their next cigarette will reduce their life, Yet all three groups choose to do the thing that might well kill them.

Not that I am excusing her family, or the authorities. Someone bought that food. Someone prepared it. Someone should have noticed and said something before it got this bad.

Yes. Perhaps i am dealing with it in a very black and white way. Mainly because that is the way that it is.

As i have stated already she said that she wanted to stop the teasing, get a job etc. So bloody do something about it!

I have very little sympathy to be honest and before you ask, yes i drink, smoke and probably have an eating disorder since I only eat one meal a day. Other end of the spectrum I guess but hey, I won't need a low loader to get me to A&E if I need a visit...

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Tuftus

Yes. Perhaps i am dealing with it in a very black and white way. Mainly because that is the way that it is.

As i have stated already she said that she wanted to stop the teasing, get a job etc. So bloody do something about it!

I have very little sympathy to be honest and before you ask, yes i drink, smoke and probably have an eating disorder since I only eat one meal a day. Other end of the spectrum I guess but hey, I won't need a low loader to get me to A&E if I need a visit...

And you've totally misunderstood my point.

Which was when you are dealing with an addiction, it's not black and white. For people who are seriously addicted to something, you can't just tell them to pull themselves together. That often doesn't work. In fact, it may drive them further into their addiction, as they may be depressed or upset by having failed you, and take to what they may see as their one source of comfort: food, drink or drugs.

One thing you either didn't notice, or have ignored is that she did try and do something. She went to that fat camp in the US and lost 15 stone. The fact that she came back and put the weight back suggests that the root cause of her addiction was not addressed, however.

I agree with Russell Brand (who is, after all, a recovering addict so in a good position to know what he is talking about) when he says addiction is a disease. It needs to be treated. Something which we do terribly in this country.

Snide comments, and being told to sort yourself out or pull yourself together are certainly not the answer.

Can I ask: Have you ever dealt with someone who is really addicted to something? I don't just mean someone who gets drunk regularly, or has a little trouble saying no to food, but someone who actually thinks they will die without their next drink or drug dose (when they actually know that logically they might die as a result of their next drink or drug dose)? Someone who secretly stashes bottles of Scotch or Vodka in various places in their home? Someone whose first thought of every day is to open the bottle of Scotch they have in the bedside cabinet?

I ask, because that's the level of addiction I think this girl has. Getting over that isn't just a case of conditioning yourself to say no. Although that does help.

[Tuftus]

Originally Posted by Stuart

And you've totally misunderstood my point.

Which was when you are dealing with an addiction, it's not black and white. For people who are seriously addicted to something, you can't just tell them to pull themselves together. That often doesn't work. In fact, it may drive them further into their addiction, as they may be depressed or upset by having failed you, and take to what they may see as their one source of comfort: food, drink or drugs.

One thing you either didn't notice, or have ignored is that she did try and do something. She went to that fat camp in the US and lost 15 stone. The fact that she came back and put the weight back suggests that the root cause of her addiction was not addressed, however.

I agree with Russell Brand (who is, after all, a recovering addict so in a good position to know what he is talking about) when he says addiction is a disease. It needs to be treated. Something which we do terribly in this country.

Snide comments, and being told to sort yourself out or pull yourself together are certainly not the answer.

Can I ask: Have you ever dealt with someone who is really addicted to something? I don't just mean someone who gets drunk regularly, or has a little trouble saying no to food, but someone who actually thinks they will die without their next drink or drug dose? Someone who secretly stashes bottles of Scotch or Vodka in various places in their home? Someone whose first thought of every day is to open the bottle of Scotch they have in the bedside cabinet?

I ask, because that's the level of addiction I think this girl has. Getting over that isn't just a case of conditioning yourself to say no. Although that does help.

I think you will find that I did draw attention to the fact that she lost weight over in the USA and then put it back on.

I do take your other comments on board, however I do stand by my comments.