Lululemon isn't made for fat women like Lane Bryant is isn't made for skinny chicks. People need to get over it and stop catering to the obese/fat/overweight which is exactly what society is doing. From a Marketing/PR standpoint his comment was a little brazen but it's the truth.

I agree with you, except on the Biggest Loser part. Have you ever watched the BL? I think the BL does a great job of showing obese people it is possible to lose weight and literally "get a life". I love me some fat people "getting it", and becoming fit and no longer a potential drain on the health care system. If the BL gets 100 people off their asses and into a gym or serious dieting, its a win for everyone.

"Catering to the obese/fat/overweight which is exactly what society is doing."

ARE YOU JOKING ME. Society shames fat people. Constantly. Every day. Fat people are devalued, less like to earn promotions, get jobs, and get help from service workers. People deemed "too fat" by arbitrary standards get ridiculed, kicked off planes and publicly humiliated. Fine, maybe you might be a heartless person who thinks "well that's what they deserve," regardless, society does absolutely nothing to cater to fat people. There might be certain brands of clothing who "cater" to fat people, but that's not catering. From your Marketing/PR standpoint I hope you can see that's business. People need clothes. All people.

Let me bring my eyes back from the giant roll they just did to the back of my head, and point out a few things.

1) I'm pretty sure 100% of people pointed out on this thread that thighs rubbing together does NOT NECESSARILY EQUAL fat, obese or overweight.

2) obese and overweight are medical definitions that the media throws around, without properly citing their source of definition. One definition that is commonly used is BMI. Which of course, as we all know, as athletes, is not the most accurate portrayal of health/fitness. But it is the most common way to define these terms, so everyone should know what they mean. http://www.cdc.gov/...adult_bmi/index.html

3) studies show being overweight (defined by a BMI of 25- 29.9) or obese (defined by a BMI of over 30) does NOT necessarily indicate any kind of health problems. http://www.health.harvard.edu/...obesity-201309246697. in fact, some studies go as far to say that mortality rates are less for those who are overweight versus those who are normal. http://www.digitalnewsrelease.com/?q=jama_3867

4) fat people exercise. it's a shocker, I know. But they do. just because you see a person and deem them "overweight"- how do you know they didn't run three miles that morning and eat a healthy lunch? you don't. so don't judge.

This world would be a better place if people stopped making snap judgements about a person's health, worth, work ethic and abilities based solely on their appearances.

As athletes, we often put ourselves in the moral righteousness seat. Fair enough. Not proud of it, but I've done it too. But, we can be respectful and helpful, or we can judge. I hope you can see the benefits of the former.

That's interesting. Thanks for posting that. I looked up the article, a meta analysis, which reviewed relevant studies and reported:

Data Synthesis: Eight studies (n = 61 386; 3988 events) evaluated participants for all-cause mortality and/or cardiovascular events. Metabolically healthy obese individuals (relative risk [RR], 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.55) had increased risk for events compared with metabolically healthy normal-weight individuals when only studies with 10 or more years of follow-up were considered. All metabolically unhealthy groups had a similarly elevated risk: normal weight (RR, 3.14; CI, 2.36 to 3.93), overweight (RR, 2.70; CI, 2.08 to 3.30), and obese (RR, 2.65; CI, 2.18 to 3.12).

So, in comparing metabolically healthy patients, this analysis found that obese patients were more likely than normal weight patients to have a cardiac event. It did not, however, find that overweight patients were more likely than normal weight patients to have an event.

Interestingly metabolically unhealthy patients--regardless of BMI category--all had similarly elevated risks. In other words, you can be thin and be at risk for a cardiac event too.

So, I'm inclined to stress that we use established definitions for the conversation. Time magazine can say something like "you can't be fit and fat," but we need to define "fit" and "fat".

You absolutely can be fit and overweight, as determined by BMI. To determine otherwise would require some original research that has yet to be done. Even this meta analysis found no difference between healthy weight individuals and overweight individuals for risk of cardiac events. They had to go out to a normal v. obese comparison.


Now we are definitely pretty far afield from the Lululemon conversation :)

I do think we have an obesity problem in this country. I am very concerned by the number of obese kids I see. I also would have no problem with a fast-food or a soda tax. Bring it. This is really a different issue entirely than having your thighs touch in yoga pants that don't even go up past a size 12.

Why are people so sensitive and defensive when it comes to the feelings of Fat America? If you are obese or severely overweight and you are shoving a Big Mac and super size fries in your mouth, you bet I will look you directly in the eye with pure disgust. If you are going to allow your overweight child with type 2 diabetes to slurp down a coke and eat Oreos, you bet I'm going to think you're not a very good parent.

Pretty sure this is EXACTLY what I said a few posts up.

And I'll stand by my statement there is nothing wrong with lululemon wanting slimmer/athletic people trotting around in their apparel.

Personally, I don't even like Lululemon. I don't need to look that coordinated and put together when I got for a run and sweat like a pig. I wear Nike and Oakley workout clothing. I swear by the fit and longevity of Nike Dri-Fit clothing.

Incidentally, Nike makes clothing for overweight women and men starting at 1x going up.

I come from a family of doctors, and the topic of obesity/overweight is often heavily discussed. Recent studies show a person cannot be both overweight/obese AND healthy.

Why are people so sensitive and defensive when it comes to the feelings of Fat America? If you are obese or severely overweight and you are shoving a Big Mac and super size fries in your mouth, you bet I will look you directly in the eye with pure disgust. If you are going to allow your overweight child with type 2 diabetes to slurp down a coke and eat Oreos, you bet I'm going to think you're not a very good parent.

One possible reason -- rehabilitation is that much harder if people feel excluded/shunned/shamed by individuals in the group they ought to be joining. Athletes especially need to be compassionate -- we're missionaries for a healthy life.