Weight Watchers Discriminating Against Heavy People?

Dr. Cheese · #1 09-03-2010, 09:59 AM

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/double-s...rweight-people

This is pretty ironic because by real world standards, this woman is a very successful example of weight loss.

csala · #2 09-03-2010, 10:14 AM

Yeah but by real world standards she's still fat if she wears a size 12 dress.

blendermassacre · #3 09-03-2010, 10:18 AM

They obviously wouldn't want a Weight Watchers teacher that could be the same size or bigger than a perspective customer.

Chebass88 · #4 09-03-2010, 10:24 AM

Hmmm. This is interesting. It is possible for an individual to be outside of the "healthy" range for BMI calculations and yet have a healthy percentage of body fat, particularly if they have a muscular build.

If she did have a muscular build, and could prove that the BMI statistic was incorrect via a doctor's note (as described by the WW rebuttal to AOL), with a healthy level of body fat%, she would have a job. She did not pursue this, which tells me she still has some additional weight to lose to reach the BMI as specified as part of the job requirements.

Good on her for losing a significant amount of weight.

blendermassacre · #5 09-03-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chebass88

Hmmm. This is interesting. It is possible for an individual to be outside of the "healthy" range for BMI calculations and yet have a healthy percentage of body fat, particularly if they have a muscular build.

If she did have a muscular build, and could prove that the BMI statistic was incorrect via a doctor's note (as described by the WW rebuttal to AOL), with a healthy level of body fat%, she would have a job. She did not pursue this, which tells me she still has some additional weight to lose to reach the BMI as specified as part of the job requirements.

Good on her for losing a significant amount of weight.

+1 to this. When I was avidly training for football, I was 6'5" and 295 lbs. I could run a 4:30 mile, bench press over 300lbs and obviously worked out on a daily basis for hours. I wore an XL shirt because I needed the length, not the girth. Our school had mandatory BMI testing, and I was "obese" for my height. How dumb.

Kwesi · #6 09-03-2010, 10:39 AM

Sad but not surprising. Considering how people typically view a fitness instructor Weight Watchers would likely want to uphold that not-exactly-realistic standard. In the end, at least for WW, it's much more about the end results than what it took to get there.

macaroni tony · #7 09-03-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

+1 to this. When I was avidly training for football, I was 6'5" and 295 lbs. I could run a 4:30 mile, bench press over 300lbs and obviously worked out on a daily basis for hours. I wore an XL shirt because I needed the length, not the girth. Our school had mandatory BMI testing, and I was "obese" for my height. How dumb.

I was going to post something almost identical to this....when I was going out for football, I was 5'7" 180lbs. I was considered...I forgot, whatever one step below obese is. I had very, very little body fat. A bunch of muscle

Eublet · #8 09-03-2010, 11:13 AM

Good for Weight Watchers. Regardless of how much weight she has lost, if she's still the image of an overweight person, it's their prerogative to not hire her. She can lose some more and reapply for the job if she wants.

CrispyDelicious · #9 09-03-2010, 11:25 AM

As futile as a flat-chested woman applying to SCORE.

They want extremes only.

Eublet · #10 09-03-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrispyDelicious

As futile as a flat-chested woman applying to SCORE.

They want extremes only.

The trunk is more important than the glove box.

Truktek2 · #11 09-03-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eublet

Good for Weight Watchers. Regardless of how much weight she has lost, if she's still the image of an overweight person, it's their prerogative to not hire her. She can lose some more and reapply for the job if she wants.

+1 It's like going to a dentist that has no teeth

L-A · #12 09-03-2010, 12:15 PM

To most of the replies up to now:

Read the article.

Quote:

She would be working with Weight Watchers' employees, not with clients.

MatticusMania · #13 09-03-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Truktek2

+1 It's like going to a dentist that has no teeth

Great for extractions?

pointbass · #14 09-03-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-A

To most of the replies up to now:

Read the article.

Don't go messing up a topic by posting factual stuff .....

Eublet · #15 09-03-2010, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L-A

To most of the replies up to now:

Read the article.

Still a representative of the company with a physical appearance that doesn't advance what they are about. Folks wouldn't get upset if she wasn't hired to be a Playboy Bunny, and this is no different.

blendermassacre · #16 09-03-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

I was going to post something almost identical to this....when I was going out for football, I was 5'7" 180lbs. I was considered...I forgot, whatever one step below obese is. I had very, very little body fat. A bunch of muscle

except you were (and still are) the size of my leg...

macaroni tony · #17 09-03-2010, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

except you were (and still are) the size of my leg...

Yeah....and thanks for making me feel like the little guy again. Seriously, whenever I go and play basketball with a bunch of average-sized dudes, I'm the "Big man."

I'm much more at home with being the little guy

MX21 · #18 09-03-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

+1 to this. When I was avidly training for football, I was 6'5" and 295 lbs. I could run a 4:30 mile, bench press over 300lbs and obviously worked out on a daily basis for hours. I wore an XL shirt because I needed the length, not the girth. Our school had mandatory BMI testing, and I was "obese" for my height. How dumb.

Yeah, that BMI thing has no basis in reality. It's just too simplistic to say that all people that are the same height should be the same build/weight.

I am 6'2" and weighed 212 when I was practicing 2nd degree martial arts. I was in great shape (I've put on a few pounds since then, but still not too bad). I still counted as overweight according to BMI.

Truktek2 · #19 09-03-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Great for extractions?

Every cloud has a silver lining

FilterFunk · #20 09-03-2010, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blendermassacre

+1 to this. When I was avidly training for football, I was 6'5" and 295 lbs. I could run a 4:30 mile, bench press over 300lbs and obviously worked out on a daily basis for hours. I wore an XL shirt because I needed the length, not the girth. Our school had mandatory BMI testing, and I was "obese" for my height. How dumb.

Are you serious about the 4:30 mile time at 295 lbs.? That's awesome! You should have been a decathlete.