I was just thinking about how tall people are more likely to be hired. Or how attractive women got better grades from male professors when taking a class in person, but there was no difference online.

It would be difficult to root out discrimination based on appearance in hiring, even if it would be desirable to do so.

reminds me of a radio interview with some guys in the tech sector who were talking about the changing workplace, and how people who won't hire a person with tattoos are reducing the

pool of qualified applicants by 40%.

It is all true, but I think we should aim for solving the obesity problem and providing people with resources and support to make them healthy rather than stating that obesity is a disability.

It's not a permanent condition that cannot be treated. And I believe that this nomenclature gives obese people the wrong idea and can easily trap them in a vicious circle of self pity.

I'm not trying to be mean or insensitive. I used to be obese myself. I changed it, although it wasn't easy. I am better now. Happier, more confident and yes, more productive.

And I know that all the things said by people with good intentions that were supposed to make me feel better like "it's not your fault, it's the side effects of meds you're taking" or "it's genetic"

Lead me into thinking that it indeed is some form of disability and I have no power to change it. So I was excused from even trying and kept maintaining my unhealthy lifestyle.

And obviously got even bigger and more miserable.

It depends though. I know someone with PCOS, and while she's being treated for it and exercising, it still makes it much more difficult for her to lose weight.

So I think it depends on the circumstances.

How about an anorexic person? Is that a choice or a disability? Just curious where we should draw the line.

Yeah, there is a difference when obesity is a consequence of an illness, I was thinking the other way around, when it's the obesity that is causing health issues.

I had the same thoughts. It would be like alcoholism or smoking: choices people make that cause them to be less healthy, and thus cost a company more money. At least here, where businesses pay for insurance.

I'm not convinced that the obesity epidemic is entirely the result of people being lazy though. I was thinking about it a lot, because I was on this genetics forum, and people were going on and on about

Americans being obese, like it's a particularly American phenomenon. And, being a healthy eater, I felt like hey, the picture is bigger than an individual eating McNuggets. It's a whole McNugget culture!

It's the amount of money to be made pushing sugar and salt and fat, not building sidewalks, people not having a safe, free place to exercise, fast food being cheaper and less time-consuming than veg.

And even things like the microbiome and viruses and genes that cause a ghrelin disorder. So I'm not letting the individual off entirely, but if we ant people to be healthy, we have to address this on

a societal level. Just look at all the bacon sh*t online. And cured meats are carcinogens. But bacon is pushed at you everywhere you go. It's in ice cream and donuts now.

I can't tell you how many times people have asked me what I eat as a vegetarian. Because people don't learn to cook anymore. They've never had a home grown tomato. It's really sad.

It's not only the US. I agree with your point about fast food culture. And as much as I believe that a person shouldn't be judged by their physique, I reckon the governments should put their resources

into giving their obese citizens support for changes and guidance to help adapt and sustain a healthy lifestyle rather then implement laws to accommodate their needs.

I know with the scale of the problem that would take a lot of effort, but it would be a game changer. We are talking health, wellbeing, productivity, but also economy boost.

Reducing the cost of treating side effects of obesity, potential growth for small businesses providing fresh and healthy produce etc.

If I was a president of the world, I would introduce a "health tax" on crapfood chains

You have my vote!