The Local is not responsible for content posted by users.
This discussion forum closed permanently on 25th February 2021.
3 Pages 
1 2 3 >
|
 |
Life as a fat person in SwedenAre any of you fat and if so how are you treated? |
 13.Aug.2009, 05:07 AM
Post
#1
|
|
|
Location: Skåne Joined: 13.Aug.2009 |
Now, I've got a question for you
 Are any of you Local posters fat (and willing to admit to it)? If so, do you feel any discrimination towards you or what? I'm moving to Skåne in a month and, yes you guessed it, I'm fat. Let's not categorize or use "medical" terms. Suffice it to say that I'm fat. Having heard/read that the Swedes are so healthy and thin, what kind of attitude can I expect from people? Anyone care to venture a guess??? |
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 07:14 AM
Post
#2
|
|
|
Joined: 30.Aug.2004 |
Hey,
Im a fat girl and live in Skåne. I dont really think that swedes care about your size...The most problems Ive had have been young punk kids on the bus or street that make a comment...Im a adult I can handle it...I told off some kid when he callled med fat ass when I asked him to move so I could get off the bus. The kid was shocked when I told him off in english...He just sat down and his buddies laughed at him and called him a jackass... The biggest problem you will have if your a girl and wear over a size 18 is finding cute clothing that fit. If your a man you have more choices but its still hard from what I understand. Believe me there are obese people in Sweden..Its not like the states but thet exist...Ive been to festivals and open markets in the south of Skåne and I'll tell you there are some HUGH swedes out there...So its not as taboo as one thinks. I would stock up on clothing and get a good winter jacket and rain jacket that fits you well...If your a girl buy underwear and bras that fit...It could be a problem finding bras that fit...at least I have a problem...and buy clothing that you like and fit well..and shoes if your a women and wear a 10 or larger...You also wont find wide here...There is a shoe store that has cute shoes outside Lund that carries big shoe sizes and most ecco shoe shops can order you a bigger size.. Hope this helps Where are you going to be living in Skåne?
|
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 07:21 AM
Post
#3
|
|
|
Joined: 12.Aug.2007 |
“Hug a fat person today . . . ” “get a tetanus shot tomorrow.” No problem here in Skane, they are all fat, so you will blend in.
Seriously though, my wife and I have some overweight friends and we look past the body mass, and see the person with a heart and a mind. Get out of your mindset ref this fat thing, as you are imposing on yourself limitations that will limit your ability to be accepted. The only thing we ask is...don't eat all the food. 
|
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 08:20 AM
Post
#4
|
|
|
Joined: 7.Oct.2007 |
Guys, honest thread!
What do you believe has contributed to your (self-perception of) being overweight? Do you comfort feed? Or is it a thyroid issue? Maybe just think 'feck it - I like food, it releases endorphines, and that's what I'll indulge in..'. Does it stem from childhood conditioning or is it mainly genetic? To be honest seeing a larger person doesn't register with most people (or me) unless the situation is on top of them, so to speak. Such a situation might be in a tight aircraft where all the elbow room goes (!) but that's just a practicality and not a 'fatist' reaction. Sunshine, we've met and that's not a category I'd instantly place you in at all. Sorry for my dumb questions - still waking up I think... |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 09:07 AM
Post
#5
|
|
|
Location: Gothenburg Joined: 11.Oct.2008 |
The biggest problem I have found here is finding clothes.I am a guy (my nick is a little ambiguous) and finding anything over an XL is problematic at best. Jeans are no problem (size 44) but I like a T-shirt which is not tight so a XXL or 4XL is sometimes wanted but the XXL are always sold out quickly in stores.
Back in the UK we have John Banks (http://www.bigtall.co.uk/contents.asp?p=1) who sell large branded clothes by Adidas, Ben Sherman and so on which proves these people do make them but shops don't stock them. Buying from there is a little expensive, especially if sending to Sweden. Does anyone know of any larger (tall and wide) shops in Sweden? Cheers. |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 09:36 AM
Post
#6
|
|
|
Joined: 24.Jul.2009 |
I'm a fat girl, hover between a womens 16-18 and mens 36-38 jeans. May not sound too bad but I'm only 4'10" tall, so I'm definitely nowhere near thin. I'm not living in Sweden yet, but I visited for extended periods last year and traveled from Stockholm up to Umeå every time. I did see other large people in the city, but can't be positive as to whether they were Swedes or fellow tourists/expats.
Several of the people I was friendly with in Umeå are heavier, and they seem to do just fine. I didn't encounter any bad attitudes toward my weight when I was there, although I'm sure they were present. I even did some clothes shopping in one of the malls in Umeå and saw several things that were my size. Didn't end up buying but they were there. Not sure on some of the larger sizes as the biggest I've worn has been an XL, so I can't say for certain, but I'd imagine there has to be at least a special order place for the larger sizes. As to being fat in Sweden, I'd say that the vast majority of people couldn't care less about someone else's weight. As Sunshine said, kids might say something just to be asses, but I'm sure any adult would simply hold their tongue rather than say anything if they cared at all. My best friend, whom I went to Umeå to see, told me that Swedes tend so show bigger people in commercials and ads so as to be inclusive of them and not discriminate. Can't really say for sure as I haven't watched a great deal of Swedish TV, but I did see several commercials featuring bigger women while there. Was rather nice, since commercials in the States tend to feature stick figures. Eric, to answer your questions...it's complicated. I'm a Type 1 diabetic and the insulin I take makes it tough to lose weight, and my thyroid is a bit low. I'm medicated for that, though, and I do love food. I cook a lot and as such I also eat a lot. I walk/jog at least half an hour five days a week, and could obviously be doing more in that regard. the kicker is that intense exercise usually sends my blood sugar a bit low, so I have to eat to bring it back up to normal again. But that's only a small part of why I'm fat. I'd say it's a combination of factors, but my love of food is obviously the main culprit. |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 09:40 AM
Post
#7
|
|
|
Joined: 12.Oct.2005 |
There are fat people in Sweden. Perhaps not the morbibly obese like the US, but some chubbies.
You may find you're not as fat anyway. I am a fat bastard but the last time in Sweden I dropped 10% in a matter of weeks just because of walking everywhere and even after consuming mass quantities of chocolate pucks and beer. If I made any kind of effort to lose, I probably could have done 25% easy. |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 09:59 AM
Post
#8
|
|
|
Location: Gothenburg Joined: 1.Aug.2008 |
Sweden seems to have something inherent which makes people lose weight! When I arrived in Sweden, I had few extra kilos on me. But one year on, I am as skinny as a bamboo stick. Blame it on all the walking and biking!
|
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 09:59 AM
Post
#9
|
|
|
Joined: 20.Apr.2009 |
Yeah I'm fat. I wasn't when I came to Sweden ten years ago, in fact I was a fit and muscular rugby player but swapping an active life in the English countryside for a sedentary office job in Stockholm helped turn the muscle to blubber. The feeling of loneliness and isolation I've had in Sweden hasn't helped either so I'm afraid the comfort eating has added more than just a few kilos.
My biggest issue is finding clothes to fit and I get the feeling that "fashion is not for the fat" in Stockholm. I'm not *that* big and wear a 38" in jeans but finding anything that side in a brand or with any sense of style is almost impossible. I end up having to get stuff from Kapp Ahl or Dressman which means it's a case of dressing like my dad. No problem finding nice clothes in my size back in the UK but a decent pair of jeans in any size over a 34" waist or a t-shirt/shirt larger and XL is a problem. Ironically, while not obese I *do* get teased a lot by people for my size and it's had a very negative affect on my self confidence. I'm tired of being the "fat funny foreign guy" at parties and have been told to my face by girls that "it was a lovely date, but I'm looking for someone smaller". Engelkott - Don't know if you're in Stockholm but there's a store for "the larger gent" called Dressman XL next to McDonalds at T-Centralen under the bridge. It used to be called "Living Large" - geez rub it in our faces why don't you.
|
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 10:22 AM
Post
#10
|
|
|
Joined: 19.Jul.2007 |
I think in general swedes if they are single they are shy and do not discriminate anyone atall. Because they need some support. Atleast one person. Then they get confidence and start to discriminate. Almost many young kids are racists. Of course adults are also racists. But, don't care too much. Adults murmur slowly and laugh by looking other side.
The Kids make fun. And especially most girls go out in groups. They try to discriminate others. No matter how you look. Such people just imitate in whatever way they can. Just ignore them. I can tell you some embarassing example: The best thing to escape from such ass holes are ... travel by car, walk in places where you don't see such ugly kids. Matured youth are not racists. Rest of them all are racists. It's better if you do not understand swedish well. Then everything will be fine. Simple thing is... you also discriminate them or just ignore them. It works. Showing finger is best way for kids/youth if they discriminate. But show finger as if you are showing otherside. Because, there is no proof for law also if you show other side. Correct me if i am wrong. |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 10:38 AM
Post
#11
|
|
|
Joined: 5.May.2009 |
QUOTE (Stüpid @ 13.Aug.2009, 10:22 AM) 
The best thing to escape from such ass holes are ... travel by car, walk in places where you don't see such ugly kids. Matured youth are not racists. Rest of them all are
... (show full quote)
I don't agree with that, any person fat or slim must be free to use public transports and learn the language (even if sometimes not understanding helps) I agree that they shoud be ignored, but showing the finger in my opinion is not a good way to show indifference. Ah, and to answer the topic starter, yes I'm fat, or overweight or chubby... don't know. I am Italian and in my country I have experienced lots of discrimination especially when I was younger. Now I'm almost 40 and nobody expects me to lbe superskinny. In Sweden anyway things seem a little better, at least from what I saw in the advertising, |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 10:49 AM
Post
#12
|
|
|
Joined: 19.Jul.2007 |
QUOTE (Fiamma @ 13.Aug.2009, 11:38 AM)
I don't agree with that, any person fat or slim must be free to use public transports and learn the language (even if sometimes not understanding helps)I agree that they s
... (show full quote)
I agree. But, sometimes you do not know what to do. Ofcourse they should use public transport and also show finger. How does that sound then? Not a bad idea though.
|
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 11:01 AM
Post
#13
|
|
|
Location: Gothenburg Joined: 11.Oct.2008 |
QUOTE (DoobieDucksDiscoBus @ 13.Aug.2009, 10:59 AM)
Ironically, while not obese I *do* get teased a lot by people for my size and it's had a very negative affect on my self confidence. I'm tired of being the "fat f
... (show full quote)
Isn't it funny that fat and funny seem to go hand in hand? I don't mean visually but verbally bigger people seem to be better at making people laugh. Perhaps it is self deprecation which seems to be frowned upon here? However I do think thinner people take themselves far too seriously and seem to be up their own backsides most of the time whereas larger people are past caring so we are more daring with humour. Personally, I just think we have a better humour in England and play on words a lot more which appeals to Swedes... QUOTE (DoobieDucksDiscoBus @ 13.Aug.2009, 10:59 AM)
Engelkott - Don't know if you're in Stockholm but there's a store for "the larger gent" called Dressman XL next to McDonalds at T-Centralen under the bri
... (show full quote)
Thanks for the tip off, which is what I told the circumstision surgeon! Seriously, I was there about 14 months ago and they did not seem to have anything in larger sizes then, has it recently gone over to XL? I used to find some things in the Kungsgatan store towards Stureplan. The worst place to get clothes in or size but they do have clothes up to 8XL is the Ellos catalogue! Their own brand line is not good quality as it fades quickly and loses shape but a T-shirt for 49:- is ok and they do carry some better labels in larger sizes. You could also try these shops I just found http://www.storaklader.se/shop/ http://www.bigaclothing.co.uk/ http://www.bigmatts.com/index.html |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 11:37 AM
Post
#14
|
|
|
Joined: 22.Mar.2008 |
I know quite a few fat Swedes and it seems just the same for them as it would be back home- the odd dickhead insulting them, trouble getting laid but generally myeh.
If anything things are better here, one of them is getting that stomach band surgery and a friend of hers already has, its very hard to get that back home i hear. |
|
|
|
|
13.Aug.2009, 02:08 PM
Post
#15
|
|
|
Joined: 1.Jun.2008 |
QUOTE (Engelkott @ 13.Aug.2009, 11:01 AM)
Isn't it funny that fat and funny seem to go hand in hand? I don't mean visually but verbally bigger people seem to be better at making people laugh. Perhaps it is sel
... (show full quote)
Christ, you sure do need to have a sense of humour living in England. |
|
|
|
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members: