Are we inherently meaner towards fat people?

As much as I like most of your posts, you're showing a clear lack of knowledge about body metabolisms, somato-types and genes with this statement.

You're naturally entitled to your opinion though.

Fine: endomorphism notwithstanding.

I find that overweight guys are actually generally funnier and popular while obese guys are shunned.

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It's not so much mean-ness. I consider myself a go-getter and so I really don't have anything in common with overweight people. Fat isn't just a physical thing, it's also a mentality. (excluding thyroid/elephantitis etc before the lefties jump down my throat)

I think parents escape the blame all too often though. The fattest teen in the world was sent to US fat camp and made some really fantastic progress but the second she came home. Her mom gave her fish and chips. She soon put back on all the weight then needed the side of the house demolished so she could be craned to hospital; costing the taxpayer £100k.

People really should see it for the parental abuse it is.

Being overweight doesn't mean they won't have nothing in common with you, though does it? Like, sure they may be lazy in terms of physical activity (some, others as you say are unfortunate with medical issues/body metabolism etc), but they could have plenty of other stuff in common with you...

I agree with the parenting bit you've written completely though.

There isn't a massive difference in overall life expectancy between the obese and healthy people since most complications are fairly manageable with modern medicine (though I don't know the exact figures). Obese people can have bypass operations, long term diabetes treatment, joint replacements, blood pressure treatment, bariatric surgery etc etc and still live reasonably long. Massive drain on the economy

Being fat and ugly, though not ideal, can be quite enlightening, because people underestimate you. They're not on their guard, and they don't particularly like you, and because of that they can be much more natural. Losing weight allowed me insight into a completely different world. Yes, a lovely world of feeling more energetic, being fitter, a little more confident and being able to fit into better clothes - but also a world of bitchiness and cattiness, an inability to be friends with someone who might be thinner than you.. and believe it or not, it's exhausting.

People are probably meaner towards fat people, just coming out with it - but there are subtle prejudices all around us that you might not even see until you've stood on both sides of the fence.

First off, I mean no offense to anyone overweight. Anything but, infact. I'm a former super fat bloke, whose worked incredibly hard in the gym the last 4 years to get a good physique and this thread comes through the change I've experienced in the manner people interact with me because of that.

I've noticed a massive change in my life from back when I was overweight (and it was significant, mind). Dating's one thing. I understand people want to date others they're attracted to, so I have no issues there, but terms of friendships or even ordinary day to day behavior?

I've noticed fatter kids being shunned all the way from younger years in school through sixth form. They can't ever hang out with the "cooler" people, and are socially excluded more so than others.

Its depressing to me that girls who wouldn't even talk to me when I was fat have recently (2 of them) shown an interest in me romantically. I mean seriously? (not a woman hating line just incase anyone jumps on me, just an example ). I mean they wouldn't even speak to the fat kid...and now I'm "date-able"?

See, I realize we're all superficial to varying degrees, but are we, as a society on the whole that messed up that makes fat people uncomfortable and feel secluded ? I hope most people aren't the way I think they are in this regard, but my experiences and of those around me suggest otherwise.

In your experience do you think society judges fat people and forms massively generalized opinions about them ? Would you ever date someone overweight or would it affect you being friends with someone?

It's just human nature to look down on people who have traits that society deems as negative.
I was a little overweight at school. I was extremely nice, but overweight. The "cool" girls didn't want to be seen near me, neither did the guys.
When I lost a lot of weight and became slender, suddenly the guys who had been dismissive of me suddenly wanted to date me. The girls suddenly wanted me to hang out with them and I'd get invited to all their parties. I declined all of those offers.