The UK is a nation of -porkers- discuss

Correction - there are some some fatties who are content to be that way. Most of us do care about our weight and try our best to keep it under control. When I see examples of people who have lost many stones in weight I can't help but think "Why did you let yourself get that big in the first place?". The sooner airlines charge passengers by weight or seat capacity the better!!

I'm sorry some people haven't had much luck with IAPT because I have nothing but praise for the support for the service in my area. The current service is expanding over 4 years, so things could change. Also, I would not dismiss CBT because it has its place and is important in helping many people before things get more serious. Like most things, it does depend on the experience of the practioner and most are trained in more than CBT, so they can bring more to the experience than CTB. I would also like to point out that many of the MIND practioner are also NHS employees as MIND, IAPT and the NHS all work together to provide local services. There is also a lot of CBT support materials available online where a person can work through training materials on their own.

Mental health this is a difficult subject for many people to discuss and right now I don't have the energy to keep this part of the discussion going, especially after reading the post by Merseymog which I do find judgemental. However, I do agree with daisy and don't find her comments judgemental, but both posters fill me with despair.

seacliff it sounds like you have some ideas about what to do next, so I wish you well and remember those first steps can always be tippy toe size. [flower ]

Despair is a very strong, emotive word. Surely you don't mean that literally?

And I'm not sure where mental health was flagged up as a reason for putting on weight . Are loneliness and lack of a social life indicative of poor mental health? Is comfort eating also an indication of mental health issues?

Suggesting that someone gets counselling for overeating does not, surely, mean there is a mental health problem. It simply means that person needs guidance and support to achieve their aim. Doesn't it?

I agree Anya, that's why I thought a personal trainer would provide any guidance and support that Seacliff might have felt she needed.
It's a big leap from that to suggest mental illness and the need for CBT and/or anti-depressants.

Thanks Jane I was beginning to think I'd missed something. Pity personal trainers are so expensive because exercise is important and can certainly lift moods too.

Perhaps a like minded 'friend' to go for regular walks and natters might serve both purposes - exercise and a bit of a social life.

seacliff might consider placing an advert for a walking companion.

I'm not sure I agree that it's such a big leap. If a person thinks they simply cannot control their comfort eating and the effect that has on their physical health and self-esteem puts it all in a vicious circle of defeat, then I think it could be categorised as a mental health problem and one that CBT could well help.

There's nothing to be ashamed of in having a mental health issue or illness. I think they are as varied as other health issues that we are quite happy to own. I don't really understand why people think there is some stigma about mental health. Our minds are part of our physical bodies so having a mind health problem is just the same as having health problem affecting a different part of our bodies.

Or better still volunteer to walk dogs at your local RSPCA, Dog's Trust, Blue Cross or animal shelter.

That way you'll get to know more people too.

People tend to speak or post from where they are in life and I think it's rather judgmental to condemn Daisy for expressing her opinion which she is perfectly entitled to. Some people do feel despair and for everyone having a nice little life in a big house in a village with a clutch of lovely grandchildren, there are others struggling in life with emotional, financial and other difficulties. Some of us are in despair about the situation regarding migrants and the sort of things people are saying about other human beings who are fleeing war.

Given that seacliff has already acknowledged an emotional component to overeating, as have others myself included, it's a bit odd to be trying to pretend that nothing more is needed than a nice walk with a couple of dogs. It is well known that some people overeat because they are unhappy, people do lots of things when they are unhappy, each of us will have our own solution and it's offensive to ignore that just as it's offensive to abuse overweight people and call them horrid names.

We've just had a report published about the UK having the unhappiest children in Europe. Maybe part of that is not allowing people to express themselves.

I hope you didn't think I was implying that having a mental health problem was anything to be ashamed of Bags because I certainly don't think that, and I don't think I wrote anything which suggested that either.

Obesity can be the result of a physical condition, or a mental condition, or neither or even both.

I just don't think any of us are in a position make a diagnosis on the pages of an internet forum, that's all. There is a tendency to medicalise everything these days - unhappiness, social isolation and loneliness are problems for many people, I agree, but they are not mental illness or even 'mental health problems'.

Oh, I know just what daisy60 means! She is talking about that oh-so-marvellous generation that assistants in shops always address their conversation to, quite regardless of the fact that it is granny waiting in the wings, proffering the plastic!

'Young' is the be all and end all these days.

Hello again - just rang the Cinammon Trust offering dog walking services - nothing needed atm but I'm registering for when they next need someone locally. The only other dog walking I can find is Blue Cross a good hours drive from me! (am out in sticks)

A like minded friend would be good, but my few friends are involved with young grandchildren and can't commit to a regular walk, may be once a month. In past I've registered with walking forum for Womand & Home no response in my area. Ramblers are too long and fast for me, I'm pretty unfit.

Suppose I could put ad on local paper, bit scary who I might get.

There are occasional wildlife walks etc. Really need a get fit buddy (not jogging).

and thanks Wilma and all you other helpful people

Good for you seacliff and I was just wondering if there's a someone local to you who has a dog they can't walk (perhaps out at work, elderly, disabled) who might appreciate some help?

I like your idea of a fit buddy (walking) and if you're out in the sticks there are probably some wonderful walks close by.

Wow! Lots of heavy words being thrown around such as 'condemn' and 'despair' Rosannabanana I don't see any 'condemnation' just a difference of opinion

Sometimes the simplest solutions do work and it seems to me that seacliff has actually acknowledged, by being proactive and actually ringing the Cinammon Trust, that she is willing to give something new a try.

Why can't anyone just go out of their front gate and walk for half an hour or so, turn round and come home again? Forget the five mile thing.

Btw, I really don't think obese people, or any other groups of the population in the UK, are in danger of being treated in a Nazi-ish manner.

Also btw, do you know you can get a really good cross-trainer machine from Decathlon for just under £100! I tried one today and I want one!

Children in this country have no problem whatsoever with expressing themselves.

"Some of us are in despair about the situation regarding migrants and the sort of things people are saying about other human beings who are fleeing war."

Well! That's a new excuse for over-eating!

If loneliness is caused by social phobia, does that make it a mental health thing? I think it probably does.

Where has everyone gone?!

The point I was trying to make is that too many people judge others because they do not fit the norm. I have two great kids (30 somethings - three gorgeous grandchildlren) and we have great debates about the issues I raised. I cannot believe some of the comments and I am sad that people do not seem to realise how awful discrimination is.

I do love a political debate about the societal reasons for stigmatising and discriminating against fat people, or any marginalised group, god help anyone who is gay, has a disability, black, mental health issue and fat.

Apologies to anyone who I have offended, however, I do feel as grandparents and older citizens we do not do ourselves justice by refusing to enter debates about issues that many people have to contend with on a daily basis or throwing our arms up in horror if someone else does.

Oh and one final point as I am sure you are judging me, I am a slim, health conscious vegetarian as are the rest of my family.

[phew]!

Why did I think that was an emoticon?

Who is judging you daisy?

Oh come on! Things have got a lot better for gay people. And for black people.